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Design & Estimating Manager
Design & Estimating Manager
Truss & Wall Panel Manufacturing
Location: Hartford, South Dakota
Reports to: CEO/President
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Design & Estimating Manager to lead the design and estimating function for our truss and wall panel manufacturing operations in Hartford, South Dakota.
This role is responsible for managing in-office and remote designers and estimators, maintaining design accuracy, improving estimating and design turnaround time, supporting production-ready workflows, and ensuring projects move from quote to design to manufacturing with discipline and accountability.
The ideal candidate will bring advanced hands-on experience in roof truss, floor truss, and wall panel design using the MiTek software suite, including MiTek Structure and MiTek Management. This person must also be capable of building a high-performing team, managing workload capacity, implementing quality control standards, and partnering cross-functionally with sales, engineering, operations, and executive leadership.
This is a key leadership position for a precision-driven manufacturing environment. The right candidate will help Black Tie protect design quality, improve departmental throughput, reduce rework, and support profitable growth through engineered building components, automation-supported production, and measurable execution.
Essential Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
Lead, develop, and mentor a team of designers and estimators in both office-based and remote environments.
Establish performance expectations, training plans, and career development opportunities.
Conduct performance evaluations and provide regular coaching and feedback.
Support recruitment, onboarding, and retention of design and estimating personnel.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service.
Design Management
Oversee the design of roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panel systems utilizing MiTek software.
Ensure all designs meet applicable building codes, engineering requirements, customer specifications, and company standards.
Review and approve complex designs and resolve technical design challenges.
Ensure designs are optimized for manufacturing efficiency, material utilization, and constructability.
Maintain design standards, libraries, and best practices within the MiTek platform.
Estimating Management
Lead the estimating team in preparing accurate and timely quotations.
Review project estimates for completeness, risk exposure, pricing accuracy, and profitability.
Monitor estimate turnaround times and departmental performance metrics.
Collaborate with sales teams to ensure project scope and customer expectations are clearly defined.
Project & Workflow Management
Manage departmental resources and workloads to achieve project deadlines.
Coordinate priorities across sales, operations, production, and engineering teams.
Develop and monitor key performance indicators related to productivity, quality, turnaround time, and customer satisfaction.
Identify workflow bottlenecks and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and scalability.
Quality Assurance
Establish and maintain quality control processes for design and estimating functions.
Audit completed work to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Monitor rework, revisions, and error rates and implement corrective actions as needed.
Ensure projects are delivered on time and with a high degree of accuracy.
Required Qualifications
10+ years of experience in wood component design, including roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panels.
Advanced proficiency with MiTek Structure and MiTek Management.
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience within a truss and/or wall panel design department.
Demonstrated experience leading teams of 10 or more designers, estimators, or related professionals.
Thorough understanding of wood-frame construction, structural loading, and applicable building codes.
Proven success managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
Ability to build relationships with customers, builders, engineers, production teams, and field personnel.
Preferred Qualifications
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or a related field.
MiTek certification or advanced MiTek training credentials.
Experience managing multi-location or remote teams.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training.
Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement experience.
Knowledge of wall panel manufacturing and automated production systems.
Experience implementing departmental KPIs and performance dashboards.
Experience supporting single-family, multi-family, and commercial construction projects.
Key Competencies
Leadership & Team Development
Project Management
Customer Focus
Design Excellence
Estimating Accuracy
Quality Control
Process Improvement
Decision Making
Communication
Strategic Planning
Compensation
Target salary range: $110,000 - $140,000 annually plus performance-based bonus opportunity.
Benefits
401(k), Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Time Off.