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Preconstruction Manager - Substation Estimating - Michels Power, Inc.

Neenah, WI  

Preconstruction Manager - Substation Estimating
Location: Flexible
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Up to 25% Travel Required

Lead the Technical Excellence Behind Winning Substation Projects
Delivering successful substation projects starts long before construction begins. Accurate estimates, sound technical assumptions, constructability expertise, and strong preconstruction planning are critical to securing work and positioning projects for success. As utilities continue to modernize the grid and invest in transmission, distribution, renewable energy integration, battery energy storage systems, and system reliability improvements, organizations need experienced technical leaders who can translate field knowledge and construction expertise into competitive project strategies. At Michels Power, Inc., we help utilities, developers, and energy providers build and maintain the infrastructure that powers communities across North America. From transmission and distribution systems to substations, renewable energy facilities, and battery energy storage systems, our teams deliver the critical infrastructure needed to strengthen and modernize the electric grid. As one of the nation's leading power delivery contractors, Michels Power combines engineering expertise, construction excellence, and operational experience to deliver some of the industry's most complex electrical infrastructure projects safely and successfully. Find out how a career at Michels Power, Inc. can change yours.

Position Overview
As a Preconstruction Manager - Substation Estimating, you will lead substation preconstruction activities while serving as the primary technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting the estimating team. You will play a critical role in project pursuits by overseeing estimate development, validating technical assumptions, evaluating execution strategies, identifying project risks, and helping position projects for successful execution. While this role will support the development of select conceptual, budgetary, and strategic estimates, its primary focus is providing technical leadership, mentorship, and preconstruction guidance to estimating professionals working across utility, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, battery energy storage, and EPC substation opportunities. You will collaborate closely with estimating, operations, engineering, procurement, project management, project controls, and business development teams to develop competitive proposals and executable project strategies. Success requires extensive substation construction expertise, leadership capabilities, commercial awareness, and the ability to guide teams through complex preconstruction challenges. This role is critical to strengthening the technical capabilities of Michels Power's estimating organization, improving estimate quality, supporting strategic pursuits, and helping establish consistent preconstruction best practices across the company's growing substation portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead substation preconstruction activities and provide technical oversight throughout the project pursuit lifecycle.
  • Serve as the primary technical Subject Matter Expert (SME) for substation estimating, constructability reviews, and execution planning.
  • Support estimating teams through estimate planning, technical reviews, strategy development, and proposal preparation activities.
  • Review project specifications, engineering drawings, customer standards, and construction requirements to ensure estimate completeness and accuracy.
  • Evaluate labor productivity assumptions, construction methodologies, equipment requirements, resource planning, and project execution strategies.
  • Promote estimating consistency, quality, and continuous improvement across substation preconstruction processes and standards.

What You'll Do

  • Provide technical leadership and preconstruction expertise for estimates involving greenfield substations, brownfield expansions, transmission interconnections, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage facilities, and EPC substation programs.
  • Prepare and support conceptual, budgetary, and strategic estimates for complex and high-profile project opportunities.
  • Partner closely with estimating, engineering, procurement, operations, project management, project controls, and business development teams throughout project pursuits.
  • Lead technical reviews of drawings, specifications, material requirements, labor assumptions, construction methodologies, and execution plans.
  • Identify key project risks, constructability challenges, market considerations, and opportunities to improve competitiveness and execution success.
  • Develop and deliver training, mentoring, and coaching programs that strengthen estimating and preconstruction capabilities throughout the organization.

Why Michels Power, Inc.?

  • Engineering News-Record ranks us as the No. 1 Electrical Transmission & Distribution Contractor.
  • Our steady, strategic growth revolves around a commitment to quality.
  • We are family owned and operated.
  • We invest an average of $5,000 per employee per year in training and career development.
  • We perform challenging, meaningful work that helps build and strengthen the nation's electric grid.
  • We believe everyone is responsible for promoting safety, regardless of job title.
  • We are part of the Michels Family of Companies, one of North America's largest and most diversified energy and infrastructure contractors.
  • Our teams help deliver the transmission, distribution, substation, renewable energy, and battery energy storage infrastructure that powers communities across the country.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Legal Plan
  • Identity Theft Protection and Monitoring Plan

Benefits may vary based on position and location.

Why You?

  • You like to surround yourself with dedicated, value-driven people.
  • You relish new challenges and evolving technology.
  • You cringe when you hear: “Because that's the way we've always done it.”
  • You enjoy sharing knowledge, mentoring others, and helping teams grow their technical capabilities.
  • You want to influence project success before construction even begins.
  • You are motivated by ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What It Takes

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related discipline and 10+ years of substation construction, engineering, project management, estimating, or EPC experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Strong technical expertise in utility substation construction, transmission and distribution infrastructure, EPC delivery, renewable interconnections, battery energy storage projects, and power delivery systems.
  • Experience leading or supporting preconstruction efforts, estimate development, constructability reviews, and project pursuit strategies.
  • Experience reviewing and validating estimates for substation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, battery energy storage, or utility infrastructure projects.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, one-line diagrams, protection and control documents, electrical equipment layouts, and construction work packages.
  • Strong understanding of substation construction sequencing, labor productivity, equipment installation, procurement strategies, risk evaluation, and execution methodologies.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor, train, and develop estimating professionals and preconstruction teams.
  • Experience collaborating with operations, engineering, procurement, project controls, project management, and business development teams.
  • Experience with estimating software, Bluebeam, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, HeavyBid, InEight, or similar preconstruction and project management platforms is preferred.
  • Professional Engineer (PE), PMP, CCM, or industry-related certifications are preferred but not required.
  • Strong analytical, leadership, organizational, presentation, facilitation, and communication skills.
  • Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
  • Ability to travel up to 25% to support estimate reviews, customer meetings, project visits, proposal activities, and team development initiatives.

Join a company that powers progress. Be a part of Michels Power, Inc.—where you don’t just build projects, you build a career.

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