E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Senior Cost Estimator roles in construction, engineering, and infrastructure qualify as E-3 specialty occupations when the position requires a bachelor's degree in quantity surveying, civil engineering, or a related field. Australian professionals can secure E-3 visa sponsorship without entering a lottery, with renewals available indefinitely as long as you hold a qualifying offer.
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Amazon's Worldwide Grocery Stores, Growth & Development team is looking for a Cost Estimator to join our Store Development team.
Are you ready to play a critical financial role in one of the world's most ambitious physical retail expansions? In this role, your cost models and analysis will directly shape how Amazon builds hundreds of grocery stores across North America. You won't be tracking project budgets, you'll be building program-level cost baselines, driving portfolio analytics, and delivering the executive-level insights that help leadership make smarter investment decisions across a portfolio of 600+ locations.
Here's what makes this role different:
- You work at the program level, not the project level. Your job is to understand what it costs to build a store, why those costs shift, and how to keep our financial models current, contributing directly to how leadership makes smarter financial decisions at scale.
- Your work reaches the top. The baselines you build and the analyses you run feed directly into senior leadership conversations, monthly executive reports, and financial planning for the broader organization.
- You'll be a true cross-functional connector. You'll work closely with design, construction, finance, capital planning, and procurement teams, engaging directly with general contractors and external consultants, connecting you to some of the most important work in the business.
- You'll contribute to shaping the tools, not just use them. You'll provide input on the AI-powered analytics platforms and construction management systems our team relies on, supporting process improvements and governance that help the whole organization run more efficiently.
- You'll make the whole operation smarter over time. Every project you close out, every driver you identify, and every lesson learned feeds back into sharper baselines and better assumptions, so the next store format or new market benefits from everything we've already built.
If you're energized by the idea of bringing financial rigor to a fast-moving, large-scale retail operation, you have construction experience, and you want your work to compound in impact as the portfolio grows, this is the role for you.
Key job responsibilities
- Build and maintain program-level cost baselines across store formats and retail concepts, keeping financial models current as market conditions and construction costs evolve
- Execute portfolio-wide budget variance analyses and reconcile actual spend against planned baselines, covering both active and completed projects
- Support proforma updates as cost drivers shift, and collaborate with design, construction, capital planning, and procurement partners on trade-offs that impact financial goals
- Prepare monthly and quarterly cost performance data and supporting analyses for leadership review, contributing to executive review meetings and coordinating follow-up items
- Engage directly with general contractors and external consultants to gather cost data, validate assumptions, and support governance and cost validation processes
- Support process improvement, governance, and controls within construction management systems to improve data quality, consistency, and operational efficiency at portfolio scale
- Contribute to the team's AI and analytics strategy by gathering requirements, supporting tool adoption, and tracking the impact of new platform implementations
- Apply lessons learned from completed projects to continuously sharpen cost baseline assumptions and inform cost models for new store formats and capital programs
A day in the life
Most of your time centers on keeping cost models and financial baselines sharp: analyzing why costs are shifting, costing out new initiatives/formats, and making sure the right data is ready before big decisions get made. On any given day, you might be on a call with a general contractor validating cost assumptions, or working through how a design change affects an overall program cost. What you learn from each closed project feeds directly back into sharper models for the next store format. Beyond the routine, expect rapid executive requests, new concept launches, and engagement across the entire organization.
About the team
The Cost Management team is the financial accountability and controllership engine of our Store Development organization. We own the cost intelligence, vendor performance, and financial governance programs that help leadership invest smarter and operate more efficiently across 600+ grocery locations. We are a direct execution team: we do not advise on problems. We own and solve them. Every program we run is designed to scale with the business. If you join this team, you will be expected to execute with precision, build with rigor, and make the work better than you found it.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field
- Experience as an Architect, Engineer, Construction Manager, Development Manager, Owner's project management representative or in other Commercial Development and Construction related disciplines
- Experience with advanced use of Excel and using statistical analysis applications, or experience in construction or project management
- Experience in financial modeling, or experience with data analytics platforms (Power BI, Python, SQL, Tableau)
- Experience working with General Contractors and construction consultants on cost-related deliverables
- 5+ years of experience in cost management, financial analysis, or construction cost management
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in commercial construction
- Experience in retail or grocery construction projects
- Familiarity with construction cost indices (e.g., CCI) and industry benchmarking methodologies
- Experience supporting external consultant relationships in a construction or real estate development context
- Track record of contributing to cost reduction strategies
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, IL, Chicago - 77,400.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
USA, NJ, JERSEY CITY - 89,000.00 - 155,800.00 USD annually
USA, TN, Nashville - 69,700.00 - 122,000.00 USD annually
USA, TX, AUSTIN - 77,400.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 82,700.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Amazon's Worldwide Grocery Stores, Growth & Development team is looking for a Cost Estimator to join our Store Development team.
Are you ready to play a critical financial role in one of the world's most ambitious physical retail expansions? In this role, your cost models and analysis will directly shape how Amazon builds hundreds of grocery stores across North America. You won't be tracking project budgets, you'll be building program-level cost baselines, driving portfolio analytics, and delivering the executive-level insights that help leadership make smarter investment decisions across a portfolio of 600+ locations.
Here's what makes this role different:
- You work at the program level, not the project level. Your job is to understand what it costs to build a store, why those costs shift, and how to keep our financial models current, contributing directly to how leadership makes smarter financial decisions at scale.
- Your work reaches the top. The baselines you build and the analyses you run feed directly into senior leadership conversations, monthly executive reports, and financial planning for the broader organization.
- You'll be a true cross-functional connector. You'll work closely with design, construction, finance, capital planning, and procurement teams, engaging directly with general contractors and external consultants, connecting you to some of the most important work in the business.
- You'll contribute to shaping the tools, not just use them. You'll provide input on the AI-powered analytics platforms and construction management systems our team relies on, supporting process improvements and governance that help the whole organization run more efficiently.
- You'll make the whole operation smarter over time. Every project you close out, every driver you identify, and every lesson learned feeds back into sharper baselines and better assumptions, so the next store format or new market benefits from everything we've already built.
If you're energized by the idea of bringing financial rigor to a fast-moving, large-scale retail operation, you have construction experience, and you want your work to compound in impact as the portfolio grows, this is the role for you.
Key job responsibilities
- Build and maintain program-level cost baselines across store formats and retail concepts, keeping financial models current as market conditions and construction costs evolve
- Execute portfolio-wide budget variance analyses and reconcile actual spend against planned baselines, covering both active and completed projects
- Support proforma updates as cost drivers shift, and collaborate with design, construction, capital planning, and procurement partners on trade-offs that impact financial goals
- Prepare monthly and quarterly cost performance data and supporting analyses for leadership review, contributing to executive review meetings and coordinating follow-up items
- Engage directly with general contractors and external consultants to gather cost data, validate assumptions, and support governance and cost validation processes
- Support process improvement, governance, and controls within construction management systems to improve data quality, consistency, and operational efficiency at portfolio scale
- Contribute to the team's AI and analytics strategy by gathering requirements, supporting tool adoption, and tracking the impact of new platform implementations
- Apply lessons learned from completed projects to continuously sharpen cost baseline assumptions and inform cost models for new store formats and capital programs
A day in the life
Most of your time centers on keeping cost models and financial baselines sharp: analyzing why costs are shifting, costing out new initiatives/formats, and making sure the right data is ready before big decisions get made. On any given day, you might be on a call with a general contractor validating cost assumptions, or working through how a design change affects an overall program cost. What you learn from each closed project feeds directly back into sharper models for the next store format. Beyond the routine, expect rapid executive requests, new concept launches, and engagement across the entire organization.
About the team
The Cost Management team is the financial accountability and controllership engine of our Store Development organization. We own the cost intelligence, vendor performance, and financial governance programs that help leadership invest smarter and operate more efficiently across 600+ grocery locations. We are a direct execution team: we do not advise on problems. We own and solve them. Every program we run is designed to scale with the business. If you join this team, you will be expected to execute with precision, build with rigor, and make the work better than you found it.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field
- Experience as an Architect, Engineer, Construction Manager, Development Manager, Owner's project management representative or in other Commercial Development and Construction related disciplines
- Experience with advanced use of Excel and using statistical analysis applications, or experience in construction or project management
- Experience in financial modeling, or experience with data analytics platforms (Power BI, Python, SQL, Tableau)
- Experience working with General Contractors and construction consultants on cost-related deliverables
- 5+ years of experience in cost management, financial analysis, or construction cost management
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in commercial construction
- Experience in retail or grocery construction projects
- Familiarity with construction cost indices (e.g., CCI) and industry benchmarking methodologies
- Experience supporting external consultant relationships in a construction or real estate development context
- Track record of contributing to cost reduction strategies
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, IL, Chicago - 77,400.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
USA, NJ, JERSEY CITY - 89,000.00 - 155,800.00 USD annually
USA, TN, Nashville - 69,700.00 - 122,000.00 USD annually
USA, TX, AUSTIN - 77,400.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 82,700.00 - 135,400.00 USD annually
See all E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding E-3 Visa Sponsorship in Senior Cost Estimator
Frame your Australian credentials for U.S. employers
A three-year Australian bachelor's degree in quantity surveying or civil engineering satisfies E-3 visa degree requirements. Pair it with an AIQS membership or CPEng registration to signal professional standing that U.S. hiring managers recognize as equivalent to AACE certification.
Target project-heavy sectors with established LCA pipelines
Construction management firms, defense contractors, and large infrastructure consultancies file Labor Condition Applications regularly. Roles tied to active capital projects, highways, data centers, industrial plants, give employers a clear business case for sponsoring an E-3 cost estimator.
Clarify the specialty occupation requirement before applying
If a job posting lists a degree as preferred rather than required, the role may not qualify as a specialty occupation under E-3 rules. Ask the recruiter directly whether the position requires a bachelor's degree in a specific technical discipline before investing time in the process.
Negotiate LCA filing timing into your offer timeline
Your employer must obtain a certified LCA from DOL before you can apply at the consulate. Standard DOL certification takes seven business days. Build that window into your start date negotiation so neither side is caught short before your visa interview.
Use Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service to coordinate LCA and consulate prep
The LCA, DS-160, and consulate appointment must align precisely or your start date slips. Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service manages the entire process from offer to consulate appointment, so your employer handles the cost estimation work and you handle the visa paperwork together.
Prepare for specialty occupation scrutiny at the consulate
Consular officers sometimes question whether cost estimating requires a specific degree rather than general experience. Bring your degree transcript, a detailed job description linking duties to your field of study, and any professional certifications to demonstrate the role is genuinely degree-dependent.
E-3 Visa Senior Cost Estimator: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find Senior Cost Estimator jobs that offer E-3 visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for Australian professionals searching for U.S. roles with E-3 sponsorship. Rather than filtering through general job boards that don't surface visa status, Migrate Mate connects you with employers who have active E-3 hiring intent for specialty occupation roles like Senior Cost Estimator.
How much does it cost to get an E-3 visa?
Migrate Mate's E-3 filing service covers the entire process for $499, including the Labor Condition Application, visa document preparation, and consulate appointment guidance. Traditional immigration lawyers charge $2,000–$5,000+ for the same work. The E-3 has less paperwork than most work visas, so paying thousands for legal help is usually unnecessary.
Does a Senior Cost Estimator role qualify as a specialty occupation for the E-3 visa?
Yes, provided the employer's position description requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field such as civil engineering, construction management, or quantity surveying. If the job description accepts any degree or treats education as optional, the role may not satisfy the specialty occupation standard, and the employer will need to tighten the requirements before filing the LCA.
How does the E-3 visa compare to the H-1B for Senior Cost Estimator roles?
The E-3 is available year-round with no lottery and no annual cap, so your employer can sponsor you as soon as a role opens rather than waiting for an April registration window. H-1B visa selection is random and limited to 85,000 slots annually. For Australian nationals in cost estimating, the E-3 is a materially faster and more predictable path to starting work in the U.S.
Can I change employers or projects while on an E-3 visa as a cost estimator?
You can change employers, but your new employer must file a fresh LCA with DOL and you'll need a new E-3 visa stamp before you can work for them. There is no transfer mechanism equivalent to H-1B portability. If you're moving between projects within the same employer entity, no new filing is required unless your work location, job title, or wage level changes materially.