SR ESTIMATOR

Job Description

Job Description

Description :

Summary (Main Purpose)

The Sr. Estimator will primarily be responsible for working collaboratively with business development team members, customers, and facility engineering team members from one or more operating divisions to develop price quotations for machined components, assemblies, and / or sheet metal fabrications based on requests for quote (RFQ) data submitted by customers. The individual will create cost estimates by synthesizing labor, material, outside processing, production lead-time and miscellaneous costs (i.e. part programming, tooling & fixturing, PPAP) estimates based on a variety of inputs. The Sr. Estimator completely owns and is responsible for managing workflow to meet on-time delivery of quoted packages to the customer.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Support cost estimating across at least two facilities serving Aerospace, Defense, Industrial, and Medical customers; travel as needed for alignment.
• Assimilate each site’s equipment / process capabilities; partner with site leadership and engineering to ensure quotes align with core competencies and capacity.
• Analyze RFQs, 2D drawings, and 3D CAD to develop end-to-end process flows from prototype through production, including make / buy decisions.
• Interpret GD&T per ASME Y14.5, tolerances, material specifications, finishes (anodize, chem film, passivation, powder coat), and special / specialty processes.
• Build complete, costed BOMs and routings (material, setup, cycle / run, inspection, scrap / yield, outside processing) using established labor / burden rates for :
• CNC machining : 3–5-axis milling, turning / mill-turn, Swiss, EDM.
• Fabrication & assemblies : laser / waterjet / turret punch, press brake, welding, hardware insertion.
• Generate pricing and proposals including NRE, tooling / fixtures, FAI / PPAP (as applicable), first article, packaging, freight, and expedite fees; provide multi-quantity / tiered pricing and lead-time options with clear assumptions / exceptions and quote validity.
• Collaborate with customers and internal engineering on manufacturability, alternate materials, process sequencing, and risk / feasibility; recommend DFM changes to reduce cost / lead time and flag risk features (e.g., thin walls, tight true position, critical surface finish, burr-critical edges).
• Source and evaluate supplier quotes for raw materials, castings / forgings, hardware, and outside processes (heat treat, plating, coating); maintain documentation with the Approved Supplier List.
• Load and maintain quotes / BOMs / routings in the ERP / MRP / estimating system; ensure revision and configuration control.
• Track quote status, cycle time, hit rate, estimate-to-actual cost variance, and margin performance; communicate insights and pricing strategies to leadership.
• Lead business-development handoff; participate in contract / kickoff reviews to validate scope, assumptions, and readiness for launch.
• Drive continuous improvement of estimating standards, cost libraries, and templates; mentor junior estimators.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100 / ISO 9001 (and ISO 13485 where applicable), customer quality requirements, and ITAR / EAR; safeguard customer confidential information.
• Perform other related duties and projects as assigned.

Requirements :

Required Skills and Experience (Minimum requirements in terms of educational background, work experience, licenses / certifications or other knowledge, skills, and abilities).

7+ years total experience across precision machining and / or manufacturing engineering of medium-to-high complexity components or equivalent combination of hands-on machining plus cost estimating experience.

Demonstrated proficiency with 3–5-axis milling and multi-axis turning concepts (cycle drivers, workholding, tooling) and EDM fundamentals sufficient to estimate setup / run times.

Strong capability to interpret 2D drawings (ASME Y14.5 GD&T) and 3D CAD / MBD; able to extract features, tolerances, and PMI to define process flow.

Working knowledge of aerospace-grade materials (stainless, nickel / high-temp alloys, aluminum, titanium) and related process specifications / finishes.

Experience using estimating tools and ERP / MRP to build BOMs and routings (labor / burden rates, scrap / yield, inspection, outside processing).

Ability to develop cost models and pricing for multiple quantities / lead times; document assumptions and BOE; understand learning curve and setup amortization.

Supplier RFQ experience for materials, hardware, and outside processes; ability to analyze quotes for total cost and lead-time risk.

Excellent communication and collaboration with customers, suppliers, and internal teams; strong organization and multitasking in a deadline-driven environment.

Familiarity with Lean concepts relevant to quoting (SMED / quick-change, cellular flow, standard work).

Proficiency with Excel (lookups, pivots) and comfort presenting data-driven recommendations.

Additional Skills and Experience (Preferred or helpful)

5+ years dedicated estimating within Aerospace / Defense or Medical devices.

Background in sheet metal / fabrication and assemblies (laser / waterjet / turret, press brake, welding, hardware insertion) in addition to machining.

AS9100 / ISO 9001 (and ISO 13485) familiarity; AS9102 FAI, PPAP / APQP, basic NADCAP process awareness.

ITAR / EAR knowledge; experience with FAR / DFARS contexts and certified cost or pricing data (formerly TINA); BOE authorship.

Exposure to CMM / inspection planning from an estimating perspective.

Experience with common CAD / CAM and estimating / ERP platforms (e.g., SolidWorks, Mastercam, Epicor, Paperless Parts).

CNC programming experience.

This description covers the primary purpose and principal duties of the job. It is not designed to be a complete list of all the duties and responsibilities required of this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.