Lead Estimator Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Lead Estimator roles qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. Employers in construction, infrastructure, and engineering regularly file Labor Condition Applications for this title, making sponsored positions available across the U.S.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout Day and Zimmermann
At our Day & Zimmermann Munitions Plants, we know the stakes and We do what we say! ® We’re the team working behind the scenes to make sure our nation’s front lines have safe, high-quality ammunition. As a trusted premier manufacturer of ammunition to the U.S. Military, some of our capabilities range from production of direct and indirect fire, components, to special projects and beyond. With more than 120 years of experience behind us, it’s no surprise that our teams consistently exceed expectations! Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world!
Job Summary
Responsible for leading with cross-functional teams to plan and schedule production activities, minimizing throughput times while maximizing work center utilization, output and efficiency, in order to meet customer demand for on-time delivery requirements. This will require identifying capacity, material and staffing constraints in advance, then partnering with colleagues, operations, and the procurement team to identify and implement solutions. Responsible for leading and providing all direct labor estimates.
Responsibilities
- Lead team that creates and provides all direct labor estimates for bids and proposals.
- Develop and maintain capacity and staffing for all production resources. Balance workload (staffing) based on a variety of constraints, including schedule, delivery dates, materials, personnel, equipment, capacity, and explosive limits.
- Support New Product introductions through time and motion studies and direct labor estimating.
- Analyze work flow and aggressively identify opportunities for continuous improvement projects to maximize the use of manpower and equipment in order to meet HPUs.
- Analyze material demands and project schedule in order to maintain adequate supply of material to support production while minimizing inventory.
- Responsible for creating and maintaining complete and accurate Production Schedule and associated Reports. Create Integrated Master Schedule for current products as well as products being bid on. Update / Review / Maintain MPS and develop GPP schedule, leading reviews with core teams, program management and Directors. As well as any other duties assigned.
KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Strong Organizational, Prioritization, and Time Management skills. Able to simultaneously coordinate multiple projects and resources to enable timely completion of all tasks and projects, prioritizing as necessary.
- Strong Analytical Skills including the ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; collect and research data; use intuition and experience to complement data and make timely decisions; design work flows and procedures.
- Robust interpersonal skills needed in order to collaborate with direct and indirect team members to collectively address problems and develop solutions. This includes strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft products with demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Project and Excel.
- Detailed understanding of production process.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Business/Accounting/Industrial Engineering Required
- 3+ years in production control / production planning Required
- Radiography experience Preferred
- Defense manufacturing experience with munitions, metal fabrication Preferred
Travel Requirements:
0%
Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.
Compensation and Benefits
In compliance with this state’s pay transparency laws, the wage range for this role is $68,480.00 - $102,720.00. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).
Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity
Day & Zimmermann is committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce, where employees are hired, retained, compensated and promoted based on their contributions to our Company. Our collective strength is rooted in over a century of diverse employees and businesses, commitment to success, and delivery on promises made. Federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status and disability status. Day & Zimmermann is committed to providing an equal opportunity work environment in full compliance with these laws. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation in the application process, please email reasonableaccommodation@dayzim.com, and please specify which position you are interested in, including job title and location.
About Day and Zimmermann
At our Day & Zimmermann Munitions Plants, we know the stakes and We do what we say! ® We’re the team working behind the scenes to make sure our nation’s front lines have safe, high-quality ammunition. As a trusted premier manufacturer of ammunition to the U.S. Military, some of our capabilities range from production of direct and indirect fire, components, to special projects and beyond. With more than 120 years of experience behind us, it’s no surprise that our teams consistently exceed expectations! Come join in on our purpose – We put people to work, we protect American freedoms, and we help our customers power and improve the world!
Job Summary
Responsible for leading with cross-functional teams to plan and schedule production activities, minimizing throughput times while maximizing work center utilization, output and efficiency, in order to meet customer demand for on-time delivery requirements. This will require identifying capacity, material and staffing constraints in advance, then partnering with colleagues, operations, and the procurement team to identify and implement solutions. Responsible for leading and providing all direct labor estimates.
Responsibilities
- Lead team that creates and provides all direct labor estimates for bids and proposals.
- Develop and maintain capacity and staffing for all production resources. Balance workload (staffing) based on a variety of constraints, including schedule, delivery dates, materials, personnel, equipment, capacity, and explosive limits.
- Support New Product introductions through time and motion studies and direct labor estimating.
- Analyze work flow and aggressively identify opportunities for continuous improvement projects to maximize the use of manpower and equipment in order to meet HPUs.
- Analyze material demands and project schedule in order to maintain adequate supply of material to support production while minimizing inventory.
- Responsible for creating and maintaining complete and accurate Production Schedule and associated Reports. Create Integrated Master Schedule for current products as well as products being bid on. Update / Review / Maintain MPS and develop GPP schedule, leading reviews with core teams, program management and Directors. As well as any other duties assigned.
KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
- Strong Organizational, Prioritization, and Time Management skills. Able to simultaneously coordinate multiple projects and resources to enable timely completion of all tasks and projects, prioritizing as necessary.
- Strong Analytical Skills including the ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; collect and research data; use intuition and experience to complement data and make timely decisions; design work flows and procedures.
- Robust interpersonal skills needed in order to collaborate with direct and indirect team members to collectively address problems and develop solutions. This includes strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft products with demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Project and Excel.
- Detailed understanding of production process.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Business/Accounting/Industrial Engineering Required
- 3+ years in production control / production planning Required
- Radiography experience Preferred
- Defense manufacturing experience with munitions, metal fabrication Preferred
Travel Requirements:
0%
Candidates may be required to satisfy additional job-related requirements, including those established and controlled by third parties, as part of the selection process.
Compensation and Benefits
In compliance with this state’s pay transparency laws, the wage range for this role is $68,480.00 - $102,720.00. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. (The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements).
Diversity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity
Day & Zimmermann is committed to maintaining an inclusive workforce, where employees are hired, retained, compensated and promoted based on their contributions to our Company. Our collective strength is rooted in over a century of diverse employees and businesses, commitment to success, and delivery on promises made. Federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity laws prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship status, veteran status and disability status. Day & Zimmermann is committed to providing an equal opportunity work environment in full compliance with these laws. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation in the application process, please email reasonableaccommodation@dayzim.com, and please specify which position you are interested in, including job title and location.
See all 260+ Lead Estimator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Lead Estimator roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Lead Estimator Jobs
Align your degree to the role
H-1B eligibility hinges on a direct connection between your degree field and estimating work. A degree in construction management, civil engineering, or quantity surveying maps cleanly. A general business degree may trigger a Request for Evidence from USCIS.
Pull prevailing wage data before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the Level I through Level IV wage for your metro area before any offer conversation starts.
Target firms with active LCA filing histories
Large general contractors, infrastructure developers, and engineering consultancies file LCAs regularly for estimating roles. Use Migrate Mate to browse verified sponsors in construction and infrastructure, filtered to Lead Estimator and related titles.
Get your credentials evaluation done early
If your engineering or construction degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation from a NACES-member organization before you start applying. Employers filing H-1B petitions need this document to prove specialty occupation equivalency to USCIS.
Understand how project-based contracts affect your petition
Many construction employers hire estimators on project-linked contracts. USCIS scrutinizes itinerary-style employment, so your offer letter should describe your ongoing estimating function, not a single project, to support a durable specialty occupation argument.
Ask about PERM timing if you want permanent residency
Lead Estimator roles can support EB-2 or EB-3 green card petitions through PERM labor certification with DOL. Raise this in final offer negotiations so your employer can build PERM filing into the timeline alongside your H-1B approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Lead Estimator role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, Lead Estimator typically qualifies because the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in construction management, civil engineering, or a closely related field. USCIS evaluates specialty occupation on a case-by-case basis, so your offer letter should clearly connect your estimating duties to the theoretical and practical application of that specific degree field, not just general analytical work.
What visa options are available to foreign nationals seeking Lead Estimator jobs?
H-1B is the primary path for most nationalities. Australian citizens can use the E-3 visa, which has a 10,500 annual cap that has never been exhausted and requires no lottery. Canadian and Mexican nationals may qualify under TN visa if the role maps to an engineer category on the USMCA list. For longer-term options, EB-2 and EB-3 green card petitions through PERM labor certification are both viable for this role.
How do I find employers who sponsor Lead Estimator roles?
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for construction and engineering roles, including Lead Estimator titles. Browsing by role and location on Migrate Mate lets you focus your applications on companies that have already demonstrated willingness to sponsor, rather than approaching firms cold and discovering sponsorship limitations after multiple interview rounds.
Is a construction management degree sufficient, or do I need an engineering degree?
A bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, quantity surveying, or a closely related field all support H-1B specialty occupation for Lead Estimator roles. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree and the job duties. A general business or unrelated STEM degree is less likely to satisfy the requirement without additional evidence linking it to construction cost analysis.
Does the H-1B cap and lottery affect Lead Estimator sponsorship?
H-1B is subject to an annual cap and selection process, and the selection rules have changed recently. However, Lead Estimators hired by universities, nonprofit research institutions, or government research organizations may qualify for cap-exempt H-1B petitions, bypassing the lottery entirely. For cap-subject employers, timing your job search around the annual registration window is part of the sponsorship planning process.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Lead Estimator jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.