Estimator / Concept Engineer

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly technical and commercially minded Estimator / Concept Engineer to lead early-stage solution development and cost modeling for industrial automation projects. This role bridges Sales, Engineering, and Operations - translating customer needs into technically sound concepts and accurate, competitive proposals.

Projects range from conveyance systems and rack indexers to robotic cells, vision-guided automation, inspection gantries, tooling systems, and full turnkey manufacturing lines.

This position plays a critical role in defining scope, mitigating risk, and setting projects up for execution success.

Key Responsibilities

Concept Development

• Develop system concepts for:
  • Robotic work cells (welding, material handling, assembly, inspection)
  • Conveyors (indexing, palletized, power & free, accumulation)
  • Dunnage handling and rack sequencing systems
  • Vision systems and part validation processes
  • Custom tooling and EOAT
• Generate conceptual layouts in AutoCAD
• Perform cycle time analysis and capacity validation
• Evaluate manufacturability and field install considerations
• Identify technical risks and mitigation strategies

Estimating & Proposal Development

• Develop detailed cost models including:
  • Mechanical engineering hours
  • Controls engineering hours
  • Panel build & field wiring labor
  • Fabrication and machining
  • Purchased components (robots, conveyors, vision, pneumatics)
  • Installation and debug
• Solicit vendor quotes and manage supplier pricing
• Build structured Bills of Material (BOMs)
• Prepare scope narratives and assumptions
• Support RFQ responses for OEMs (Ford, Tier 1s, etc.)
• Work closely with Sales to ensure competitive positioning

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with:
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Controls Engineering
  • Manufacturing
  • Field Installation
  • Purchasing
• Support handoff meetings to project teams
• Assist in technical presentations to customers
• Participate in design reviews and risk assessments

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in industrial automation, tooling, or machine design
• Strong background in:
  • Robotic systems (Fanuc, ABB, etc.)
  • Conveyor and material handling systems
  • Pneumatics and mechanical assemblies
• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Ability to read and interpret:
  • Mechanical drawings
  • Electrical schematics
  • Customer specifications (OEM standards preferred)
• Strong understanding of automation build costs and labor models
• Excellent communication skills (internal & customer-facing)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience quoting large-scale automation projects ($250K–$5M+)
• Familiarity with automotive OEM standards
• Understanding of vision systems and inspection processes
• Experience with cost modeling tools or Excel-based estimating systems
• Knowledge of installation sequencing and field labor planning

Core Competencies

• Systems thinking
• Commercial awareness
• Risk identification
• Problem solving
• Time management under RFQ deadlines
• Detail-oriented but able to think big picture

Why Us?

• Diverse automation projects across multiple industries
• Strong in-house engineering and build capabilities
• Direct impact on company growth and profitability
• Opportunity to shape concepts from napkin sketch to production launch
• Collaborative, hands-on team culture

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Health benefits
• 401(k)
• Professional development opportunities