Senior Estimating Analyst (San Diego)

Title: Senior Cost Estimating Analyst

Company: Privately Held Technology Solutions Company

Compensation: $90,000 to $120,000 base + discretionary bonus + strong benefits package

Location: Fully remote.

***Eligible states include: AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, SC, TX, VA, WA***

As a Sr. Cost Estimating Analyst, you'll transform complex technical, financial, and operational inputs into clear models that guide business decisions. This is a highly collaborative, front-facing position where you'll work closely with engineering, supply chain, and program teams to validate assumptions, identify risk, and build estimates that leadership can trust.

You'll begin with smaller change orders, but with mentorship from a senior program-finance leader, you'll rapidly grow toward owning full proposals from start to finish. If you're analytical, curious, and eager to develop deep expertise in cost estimating, this role offers a strong growth track.

What You'll Do

• Build, validate, and document cost models aligned to WBS structures and proposal requirements.
• Challenge assumptions, pressure-test inputs, and ensure timing, scope, and cashflow estimates are realistic.
• Translate RFPs, milestones, and risk data into financial outputs, including cashflow forecasts, P&Ls, and review packages.
• Collaborate with engineering, program management, supply chain, and contracts to gather accurate data.
• Participate in estimate reviews alongside senior leadership; grow into presenting your own estimates.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of cost-estimating tools, templates, and processes.

What You Bring

• 5-9 years in cost estimating, pricing, financial analysis, or related experience (government or complex RFP experience strongly preferred).
• Advanced Excel skills - you can build, audit, and troubleshoot models confidently.
• A critical, curious mindset - you verify numbers rather than accepting them at face value.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain assumptions and methodology.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or a related field preferred, though relevant experience is equally valued.
• Comfort working under tight deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Bonus: experience with ERP/CRM systems (e.g., NetSuite, Salesforce) or working with international RFPs.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (we, our, or Vaco by Highspring) are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [email protected] .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that .

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English and in French .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies .

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).