Manager, Pricing & Cost Estimating

Stark Aerospace • Columbus, MS

8d

About The Position

The Manager, Pricing & Cost Estimating leads pricing and cost-estimating activities for competitive and sole-source U.S. government proposals. The role develops detailed cost estimates and pricing models, prepares bottom-up estimates, conducts price-to-win and other financial analyses, and evaluates risks and pricing assumptions. It works across Engineering, Program Management, Operations, Finance, Accounting, and subject-matter experts to develop and validate Basis of Estimate documentation and maintain traceability among technical, management, and cost proposal volumes.

The manager leads development of proposal cost and pricing volumes, ensuring compliance with solicitation instructions and government contracting requirements. Responsibilities include reviewing supplier and subcontractor proposals, applying indirect rates, supporting financial and business-case analysis, and maintaining audit-ready documentation. The role also supports DCAA and DCMA audits and government proposal reviews, presents pricing recommendations to leadership, mentors pricing analysts and estimators, and contributes to process improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, engineering, mathematics, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in government contract pricing, cost estimating, program finance, or proposal management.
• Extensive experience supporting U.S. government and Department of Defense proposal efforts.
• Strong knowledge of FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements.
• Experience developing cost volumes for competitive and sole-source acquisitions.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced proposal environment with aggressive deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• MBA, master's degree, or professional certification in Finance, Accounting, or Program Management.
• Experience supporting DCAA and DCMA audits.
• Experience with Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS).
• Knowledge of Forward Pricing Rate Agreements (FPRAs) and Forward Pricing Rate Recommendations (FPRRs).
• Prior experience within a major aerospace, defense, or government services contractor.
• Experience leading complex capture efforts exceeding $100 million in contract value.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of detailed cost estimates and pricing models for competitive and sole-source government proposals.
• Prepare bottom-up estimates using labor, material, subcontract, travel, and other direct cost inputs.
• Develop and maintain pricing models for firm-fixed-price, cost-plus, time-and-materials, and other contract types.
• Conduct price-to-win, sensitivity, affordability, and competitive analyses to support capture strategy.
• Evaluate cost, schedule, technical, and execution risks and incorporate appropriate pricing assumptions.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and subject-matter experts to develop and validate Basis of Estimate documentation.
• Review labor-hour estimates, technical assumptions, material requirements, and program execution plans for completeness and realism.
• Ensure traceability between technical, management, and cost proposal volumes.
• Lead preparation of cost and pricing volumes in response to RFPs, RFQs, and other government solicitations.
• Ensure proposal compliance with solicitation instructions, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.
• Coordinate cost-volume content, pricing narratives, and supporting documentation across functions.
• Review supplier and subcontractor cost proposals and price quotations; perform cost and price analyses to assess reasonableness and adequacy.
• Support subcontract proposal evaluations and negotiations and ensure compliance with FAR subcontract cost-analysis requirements.
• Apply approved indirect rate structures, including fringe, overhead, material handling, and G&A rates.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to assess forward pricing rates and long-range financial impacts.
• Analyze profit objectives, investment requirements, and business-case considerations.
• Ensure proposal compliance with FAR, DFARS, CAS, and Truthful Cost or Pricing Data requirements; maintain audit-ready documentation and implement compliant estimating practices as regulations change.
• Support DCAA and DCMA audits, fact-finding sessions, and proposal reviews; respond to government questions and prepare supporting analyses and documentation.
• Lead pricing reviews during capture and proposal development.
• Present pricing recommendations and risk assessments in management reviews, including Pink Team, Red Team, and Executive Review sessions.
• Advise senior leadership on pricing strategy, win probability, and financial performance considerations.
• Mentor pricing analysts and estimators and support continuous process improvement initiatives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager