COST ESTIMATOR

E&E Manufacturing Co•Plymouth, MI

About The Position

The Cost Estimator collects and analyzes data to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture assemblies and components. The role prepares quotes for metal fabrications, weldments, machining, forming, stampings, and prototypes by establishing bills of materials and accounting for parts and associated manufacturing processes. The Cost Estimator works with sales, engineering, and other cross-functional departments to develop competitive pricing analyses and pro forma financial scenarios for internal decisions and customer quotes. The position develops and reviews costed bills of materials, estimates labor and materials, analyzes manufacturing processes and cycle times, evaluates make-or-buy options, and prepares quote packages. It also supports supplier sourcing, project cost changes, profitability and capacity analysis, and process improvements. The role may involve travel to customer sites for field checks and work in both office and manufacturing environments.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in the military and/or automotive industry.
At least 5 years of experience as an estimator or quoting engineer.
Experience with steel fabrication, weldments, machining, forming, and stampings.
Experience processing sheet metal or fabrication in a prototype or production setting.
Knowledge of manufacturing processes and ability to interpret engineering layouts and data.
Working knowledge of laser, waterjet, CNC press-brake, welding, and metal-joining techniques.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for analyzing engineering and financial data to estimate costs.
Understanding of welding technical specifications and metal manufacturing industry standards.
Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to multitask and work effectively with minimal supervision.
Knowledge of applicable document-control processes.
Ability to read, write, and converse in English; read and interpret operational and safety documents; and interpret written, verbal, diagram, or schedule-based instructions.
Willingness to travel to customer sites for field checks as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience is highly preferred.
Experience working with multiple markets, including commercial, transportation, defense, and aerospace.
Familiarity with CAD software such as NX, Creo, SolidWorks, Inventor, or Catia.
Familiarity with quoting software and/or PLEX.

Responsibilities

Collect and analyze data to estimate manufacturing time, materials, labor, and costs for assemblies and components.
Prepare quotes for fabrications, weldments, machining, forming, stampings, and prototypes, establishing bills of materials and associated manufacturing processes.
Complete costing information, generate costed bills of materials, identify assumptions and exceptions, and document unique costs and production investment needs.
Design processes using customer-supplied data to assemble BIW details within the scope of work.
Analyze quotations, clarify discrepancies, determine bill-of-material structure, and prepare complete cost analyses.
Review labor, material, non-recurring engineering estimates, and rate structures; calculate profit and loss, estimated margins, and selling prices aligned with financial metrics.
Prepare cycle-time analyses, conceptual processes, operation sequences, and technical descriptions of machine stations and major system components.
Review sketches, engineering data, and RFQ information to determine quoted items; perform make-or-buy analyses for components.
Verify and finalize quote packages, and present them to the sales team and/or Estimating Manager before customer submission.
Provide executive management with quote-package analysis focused on profitability and capacity.
Determine and track engineering-change cost impacts and standard costed bills of materials, including material, freight, labor, burden, and customer-formulated value-added costs.
Work with purchasing to issue RFQs to candidate suppliers and processors for components, subassemblies, and services, seeking the best overall value.
Prepare and maintain a directory of suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors.
Collaborate with project management to negotiate project changes and costs, including with customers when required.
Apply a basic understanding of dimensioning, tolerances, and inspection practices.
Consult with sales, company employees, and customer engineers on product development and improvement; recommend estimating process improvements and procedures.
Adhere to company policies and procedures, including ISO14001, IATF16949, and safety regulations; treat colleagues and customers with dignity and respect and support company values.
Travel to customer sites for field checks as needed.