Senior Cost Estimating Analyst

AAM•Detroit, MI

About The Position

The Senior Cost Estimating Analyst prepares, coordinates, and documents financial analysis projects, including financial and expense performance, rates of return, depreciation, working capital, and investments. The role provides analysis for forward-looking financial and business projects, prepares forecasts and trend analyses, reconciles internal accounts, and identifies developments in competitive environments for presentation to senior management. The analyst evaluates and analyzes cost changes for products and processes—including castings, stampings, forgings, and machining—and associated tooling investments by reviewing technical specifications and requirements. The role costs Engineering Bills of Materials for new and current programs and supports Purchasing in securing market-competitive sourcing that meets organizational standards for price, quality, and timing. It maintains cost analyses using real-time quotes or valid technical data, coordinates with internal teams and outside suppliers, trains associates in other Dauch global locations, and identifies cost-reduction opportunities and process-efficiency improvements. The position also organizes and records domestic and international commodity market studies to identify material-cost trends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent preferred.
4–6 years of relevant experience in the automotive industry.
Strong technical expertise in casting, stamping, machining, and related categories.
Experience with the MS Office Suite.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including for presentations and meeting facilitation.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently as required.
Willingness to travel to plant and supplier sites as required, approximately 15%.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of driveshaft or unibody products and associated manufacturing methods and processes.
Experience with integrated ERP systems such as Oracle or SAP is recommended.
Program Management experience.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent is preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare, coordinate, and document financial analysis projects, including financial and expense performance, rates of return, depreciation, working capital, and investments.
Provide analysis for forward-looking financial and business-related projects; prepare forecasts and analyses of trends in manufacturing, sales, finance, general business conditions, and related areas.
Reconcile internal accounts.
Identify competitive-environment trends and developments and present findings to senior management.
Evaluate and analyze cost changes for products and processes, including castings, stampings, forgings, and machining, as well as associated tooling investments, using technical specifications and requirements.
Cost Engineering Bills of Materials for new and current programs.
Support Purchasing to ensure market-competitive sourcing and that bids meet standards for price, quality, and timing.
Implement, maintain, and update cost analyses using real-time quotes or valid technical data, as applicable.
Coordinate with Engineering, Cost Estimating, Purchasing, and outside suppliers as required.
Train additional associates in related Dauch global locations.
Identify and implement cost-reduction opportunities and process-efficiency improvements.
Organize and record domestic and international market studies for commodities to identify material-cost trends.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Travel to plant and supplier sites as required to assess products and process systems, approximately 15%.