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Estimation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

T he Estimation Engineer will be responsible for collaborating with our engineering department, project managers, and business development team to prepare cost proposals for our relay panels and ...

Proposal Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$72K - $99K/yr

T he Estimation Engineer will be responsible for collaborating with our engineering department, project managers, and business development team to prepare cost proposals for our relay panels and ...

T he Estimation Engineer will be responsible for collaborating with our engineering department, project managers, and business development team to prepare cost proposals for our relay panels and ...

Proposal Engineer

Fontana, CA · On-site

$72K - $99K/yr

T he Estimation Engineer will be responsible for collaborating with our engineering department, project managers, and business development team to prepare cost proposals for our relay panels and ...

Estimating Engineer We are currently seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Estimating Engineer to join our team. This role is key to supporting the successful bidding and preconstruction phases of ...

As an Estimating Engineer, you will collaborate with experienced industry leaders, gain hands-on exposure to complex heavy-civil projects and play a critical role in the estimating process. If you're ...

As an Estimating Engineer, you will collaborate with experienced industry leaders, gain hands-on exposure to complex heavy-civil projects and play a critical role in the estimating process. If you're ...

As an Estimating Engineer, you will collaborate with experienced industry leaders, gain hands-on exposure to complex heavy-civil projects and play a critical role in the estimating process. If you're ...

Showing results 21-40

Estimation Engineer information

See California salary details

$12

$55

$79

How much do estimation engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for estimation engineer in California is $55.26, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.62 and $73.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an estimation engineer?

Estimation Engineers are professionals responsible for calculating the costs, resources, and time required for engineering projects. They analyze project specifications, collaborate with other departments, and use specialized software to prepare detailed estimates. Their work helps companies make informed decisions when bidding on projects and planning budgets. Estimation Engineers play a vital role in ensuring that projects are financially viable and delivered within budget constraints.

What do estimation engineers do?

Estimation engineers analyze project requirements, costs, and resources to develop accurate cost estimates for construction, manufacturing, or engineering projects. They use tools like spreadsheets and estimation software, and their work helps ensure projects stay within budget and are completed on time.

How does an estimation engineer typically collaborate with other departments during a project bid?

Estimation Engineers frequently work closely with departments such as procurement, engineering, and project management to gather accurate cost data, review technical specifications, and ensure all aspects of the bid are covered. This collaboration often involves regular meetings, document reviews, and clarifications to align on project requirements and constraints. Effective teamwork is essential, as Estimation Engineers rely on input from various specialists to produce precise and competitive estimates. Strong communication and coordination skills are key to navigating these interactions and delivering successful proposals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an estimation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Estimation Engineer, you need strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, and a background in engineering or construction, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with estimation software like AutoCAD, CostX, or Microsoft Excel, and sometimes certifications like AACE or PMP, are commonly required. Excellent communication, problem-solving skills, and teamwork help you collaborate effectively with project managers and clients. These skills ensure accurate cost assessments, minimize project risks, and support successful project planning and execution.

What is the difference between Estimation Engineer vs Cost Engineer?

AspectEstimation EngineerCost Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; certifications like AACE or PMI often preferredBachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field; certifications like AACE or PMI often preferred
Work EnvironmentPre-construction phase, project bidding, proposal developmentProject execution, cost control, budgeting, and financial analysis
Industry UsageConstruction, engineering, manufacturingConstruction, engineering, infrastructure projects

Estimation Engineers primarily focus on preparing cost estimates during project bidding and planning stages, while Cost Engineers monitor and control project costs during execution. Both roles require similar credentials and often work within the same industries, but their responsibilities differ in project lifecycle stages.

What are the most commonly searched types of Estimation Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Estimation Engineer jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Estimation Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Estimation Engineer jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Estimation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $114,938 per year, or $55.3 per hour.

Senior State Estimation Engineer - Localization

General Motors

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$170K - $261K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


General Motors rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

General Motors

Based on 306 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Automakers average

Based on 6,282 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Description
At General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We're turning today's impossible into tomorrow's standard -from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.
Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.
Description:
As a Senior State Estimation Engineer within the SEAM Embodied AI organization, you will be a senior individual contributor driving cutting-edge sensor calibration and state estimation solutions that directly impact autonomous driving performance. Your role is pivotal in designing, architecting, and deploying advanced systems for purposes including pinpointing the vehicle's location in the world, and calibrating parameters of all sensors to ensure they optimally support many other vehicle subsystems. You'll lead critical technical initiatives, collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, mentor engineers across the organization, and significantly shape the future of onboard autonomous driving capabilities.
About the Organization:
The SEAM Embodied AI team is at the forefront of developing groundbreaking sensor fusion systems powering fully autonomous vehicles. We leverage modern approaches that are both practical and theoretically sound, supported with top quality code and rigorous testing. Our solutions enable robust state estimation for the purposes of real-time localization, static and dynamic sensor calibration, as well as onboard and offboard high-fidelity map creation at scale. Join a collaborative and innovative team redefining autonomy through state-of-the-art methodology, delivering solutions that move beyond current technological boundaries.
What You'll Do:
  • Drive the design, development, and deployment of advanced solutions for state estimation, localization, sensor calibration and more.
  • Lead and architect complex projects, from conception through validation to onboard implementation, emphasizing scalability, robustness, and safety-critical operation.
  • Drive innovation in vehicle motion estimation, determination of vehicle pose in global maps, multi-sensor self-calibration in unstructured environments, state estimation architectures, and fault tolerance strategies suited for real-time onboard deployment.
  • Provide technical mentorship and thought leadership, elevating engineering practices, and fostering innovation across teams.
  • Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary engineering groups, ensuring seamless integration of localization, sensor alignment, and other capabilities into autonomous vehicle systems.
  • Influence technical roadmaps, shaping strategic priorities aligned with company objectives and product milestones.

Your Skills & Abilities:
  • Master's or Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • 5+ years of extensive experience developing and deploying advanced state estimation and/or sensor calibration systems, particularly in real-time onboard applications.
  • Proven track record as a technical leader and expert in state estimation, localization and/or sensor calibration, operating on a wide variety of sensor inputs to perform robustly within safety-critical systems.
  • Strong software engineering proficiency, particularly in C++ and Python, alongside extensive hands-on experience with development, integration, and testing tools.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring abilities, comfortable influencing technical strategy and guiding engineering excellence across the organization.

Bonus:
  • AV/ADAS experience is a big plus

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the assigned office three times per week, at minimum.
Compensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The compensation may not be representative for positions located outside of the California Bay Area.
  • The salary range for this role is $170,600.00 to $261,300.00. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.

  • Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.

Benefits:
  • Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.

#GM-AV-1
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, emailus or call us at 1-800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.

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About General Motors

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908