Cost Analyst

Ontic•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$85,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ontic is recruiting a Cost Analyst II for its Estimating/Cost Analysis team at its Chatsworth, California office. The role develops accurate, timely, and supportable material and labor cost estimates for aerospace and defense products, repairs, and customer proposals. The analyst independently manages multiple estimating requests, evaluates supplier quotations and historical manufacturing data, and partners with Engineering, Supply Chain, Program Management, Pricing, and Revenue Management. The position maintains cost integrity in Visual ERP, identifies key cost drivers and risks, and prepares recommendations to support competitive, profitable proposals and management approvals. The role prepares detailed estimates for material, labor, and outside processing across new and repeat production, repair, and proposal requirements. It builds and validates bills of material in Visual ERP and Excel, reviews supplier quotations and historical cost information, coordinates estimating activities, maintains supporting records, identifies risks and cost gaps, and presents cost summaries and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience; or an advanced degree in a related field and at least 3 years of relevant experience; or, in lieu of a degree, at least 9 years of relevant experience.
Experience in cost estimating, cost analysis, purchasing, or manufacturing operations; aerospace and defense experience is preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including cost models, data analysis, and reconciliation; strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and manufacturing or repair documentation.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate supplier quotations and historical cost or labor data and communicate cost reasonableness.
Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills; ability to manage competing deadlines and present findings to leadership.
Must meet export control compliance requirements as a U.S. Person, as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15; this includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, and refugees.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Visual ERP, including BOM exports, purchasing history, and RFQ cost maintenance.
Familiarity with aerospace supplier networks, supplier negotiations, MNDA processes, and proposal support for defense customers.

Responsibilities

Prepare detailed material, labor, and outside-processing cost estimates for new and repeat production, repair, and proposal requirements, documenting assumptions, sources, and risks.
Build, validate, and export bills of material (BOMs) from Visual ERP into Excel; review quantities, part numbers, revisions, routings, and potential duplicate or missing costs.
Analyze supplier RFQs, quotations, minimum order quantities, lead times, and cost breaks; assess proposed costs for fairness and reasonableness in partnership with Supply Chain.
Use purchase history, work orders, actual labor performance, prior estimates, and engineering documentation to develop defendable cost recommendations.
Coordinate concurrent estimating and proposal activities with Program Management, Engineering, Purchasing, and other functional stakeholders to meet proposal timelines.
Maintain accurate and current RFQ costs, assumptions, and supporting records in Visual ERP and associated estimating tools, ensuring traceability and data quality.
Identify estimating gaps, cost escalation, obsolescence, manufacturing complexity, and other risks; raise issues early and recommend appropriate cost contingencies.
Prepare cost summaries and management briefings, explain major cost drivers and variances, and deliver approved estimate packages to Pricing and Revenue Management.