Engineering Cost Estimator

Job Details: Job Location: Michigan - LUDINGTON, MI, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Job Purpose: Develop accurate, timely, and technically sound cost estimates and quotations for new business opportunities provided by the sales team, using customer requirements, product documentation, tooling needs, capital requirements, process design, and manufacturing assumptions.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; 8–10 years of automotive industry experience, including 3–5 years directly supporting process design and development, preferably for manufactured products.
Knowledge: Strong understanding of automotive manufacturing products and processes (i.e. stamping, machining, bending, forming, welding, assembly).
Skills & Abilities: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; solid understanding of tooling design and construction; working knowledge of automotive documentation (e.g., GD&T, APQP, PFMEA, DFA/DFM). Proficient with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD/DraftSight, CATIA, NX). Solid understanding of cycle time analysis and process development. Proficient in MS Office, Outlook, and Project.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1.       Review customer documentation to support development of accurate and complete quotations.

2.       Using CAD software to review and analyze product design.

3.       Develop fabrication & assembly processes (including cycle-time calculations), tooling cost estimates and capital investment requirements to meet customer demand.

4.       Work with all disciplines (Sales – Cost Coordinator, Purchasing - Buyers, Quality, Extrusion, Plant Mfg.) within the organization to fully understand quoting requirements and support a thorough, accurate quotation.

5.       Conduct quote reviews with the management team, explaining the process, any assumptions, tooling requirements, capital needs, and technical concerns.

6.       Collaborate with customer engineering teams to fully understand the product and be able to develop a quote that meets their needs.

7.       Conduct internal and external technical meetings to confirm quote assumptions, resolve open technical questions, and ensure the quotation meets stakeholder needs.

8.       Prepare a DFM (Design for Manufacturing) template to support customer technical reviews by clearly explaining the quoted process, materials, and assumptions.

9.        Other duties as defined by supervisor in support of engineering.

Key Performance Metrics:

1.       Quote turnaround time meets both internal and external customer requirements.

2.       Quote accuracy meets internal KPI targets, including ROI, NPV, and IRR assumptions.

3.       Internal and external communication is timely, thorough, and effective enough to meet quotation timing requirements and ensure process assumptions are understood.

4.       Proposed processes are well designed, technically feasible, and aligned with internal requirements and external customer needs.

Level of Authority: Limited authority to develop and recommend quote assumptions, tooling concepts, process estimates, capital requirements, and technical inputs for management review and approval.

Training Requirements: New employee orientation; safety training; Plex ERP; Power BI.

Physical Demands: The role may require occasional time on the manufacturing floor and must follow all company safety requirements, including use of required personal protective equipment when entering production areas.  Work is primarily performed in an office and manufacturing environment, with infrequent travel to customer, supplier, or company locations as needed to support quoting, technical reviews, and project handoffs.

Requires sitting for extended periods, with opportunities to stand or move at least every two hours.
Occasional travel required
Qualifications: