Cost Estimator
About The Position
The Manufacturing Cost Estimator is responsible for developing accurate and competitive cost estimates for custom fabricated equipment in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. Working closely with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Finance, this role reviews project specifications, engineering drawings, and fabrication requirements to develop reliable cost estimates that support profitable project bids. This position also serves as the primary resource for outsourced fabrication, maintains estimating standards and historical cost data, and provides ongoing cost analysis to improve estimating accuracy and manufacturing performance.
Requirements
- Minimum of two years of manufacturing cost estimating experience in a custom fabrication or engineer-to-order manufacturing environment.
- Experience estimating stainless steel fabrication projects strongly preferred.
- Experience interpreting engineering drawings, fabrication prints, and customer specifications.
- Experience with outsourced fabrication and supplier quotations preferred.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction Management, Business, Finance, or a related technical discipline preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant manufacturing estimating experience will be considered.
Responsibilities
- Prepare accurate cost estimates for custom fabricated equipment and assemblies.
- Review project specifications, engineering drawings, and customer requirements to identify unique fabrication requirements, manufacturing risks, and special materials.
- Develop estimates for materials, labor, purchased components, outside services, and subcontracted fabrication.
- Support Sales by providing timely and accurate estimates for project quotations.
- Partner with Engineering and Manufacturing to evaluate fabrication methods and recommend cost-effective manufacturing solutions.
- Identify opportunities for value engineering and improved manufacturability.
- Support new product introductions and engineering changes.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for outsourced fabrication.
- Solicit and evaluate supplier quotations.
- Perform make-versus-buy analyses.
- Partner with Supply Chain to support supplier selection and cost negotiations.
- Maintain labor standards, estimating databases, routing information, and historical cost records.
- Analyze actual project costs versus estimates and recommend improvements.
- Develop reports and metrics that improve estimating accuracy and profitability.
- Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Finance throughout the project lifecycle.
- Support bid reviews and provide technical costing guidance.
- Respond to estimating requests while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Continuously improve estimating methods, cost models, and estimating tools.
- Support process improvement initiatives that improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce waste, and increase profitability.
- Identify opportunities to improve data quality and estimating accuracy.
- Maintain estimating databases, labor standards, cost models, and historical project data.
- Ensure ERP data related to costing and estimating is accurate and current.
- Support development of standardized estimating procedures and documentation.
Benefits
- health care (medical, dental, vision) with coverage starting on first day of employment
- 401(k) with company match
- holiday pay
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
