Estimator

Position Summary/Reporting Relationships:

The Estimator is a technical-commercial specialist who owns costing, cost analysis, and accurate quote execution. The Estimator translates customer prints, CAD, BOMs and scoping inputs into complete, auditable quote packages, maintains estimating tools, and provides the technical validation and pre-production readiness inputs that allow Production and Engineering to convert quotes to manufacturable jobs. The role supports Account Managers with scenario costing, margin sensitivity, and value-engineering suggestions while partnering closely with Sales Engineers/SMEs, Engineering, Purchasing and Production to validate costs, lead times and manufacturability.

Important governance note (team operating model): Methods and the costing matrix (the “methods/matrix” used to determine machine times, standard work, and final costing rules) will be owned by the SME / Engineering function. Estimators will operate the estimating templates and cost models and will collaborate with SME/Engineering to apply and refine methods. Estimators do not own (nor should they unilaterally change) the engineering methods or final matrix governance. 

Reporting relationships: Reports to Director of Sales; interacts routinely with Account Managers, Sales Engineers/SMEs, Engineering, Production/Shop Management, Purchasing, Quality and Customer Service/CSR.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Estimator must be able to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Quote preparation and costing

• Request and interpret customer prints, CAD files and BOMs; clarify scope and document assumptions.
• Build complete costing worksheets that include materials, parts, finishes, labor, overheads, freight and margin consistent with Dalsin costing policy and estimating templates.
• Produce timely, accurate quote packages and support quote revisions and scenario costing requests to enable sales responsiveness.

Technical validation and pre-production readiness

• Collaborate with Engineering, SME, Purchasing and Production to validate manufacturability, lead times and cost inputs; translate quotes into pre-production documentation and support NQA requirements.
• Document technical assumptions, known risks and required approvals within quote packages.

• Perform technical validation of scope with Engineering/SME and Production: confirm manufacturability assumptions, process selections and lead-time implications.
• Prepare pre-production handoff materials (cost assumptions, process notes, special tooling or fixturing flags, NQA inputs) so Engineering / SME can finalize methods, and Production can schedule work without rework.

Costing models and estimating tools

• Maintain and improve estimating templates, unit-cost libraries and cost models used for quoting, document changes and rationale.
• Work with SME/Engineering to apply approved methods and costing matrix rules; escalate mismatches or required method updates per governance.
• Ensure all quote inputs and outputs are recorded in ERP/CRM systems and remain auditable.

Commercial support and collaboration

• Support Account Managers with margin sensitivity analysis, scenario costing, and value-engineering recommendations during negotiations.
• Participate in scoping calls when detailed technical interpretation is required and provide clear handoff notes to AMs and SMEs.
• Collaborate with Purchasing to validate supplier costs and with Production to confirm routings and lead-times.

Governance, controls and improvement

• Ensure quotes comply with costing policy and approval matrices; flag margin exceptions and obtain required approvals.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve quote accuracy, reduce cycle time, and reduce rework between quote and production.
• Maintain organized, auditable estimating records and adhering to established change control for costing inputs.

Key Relationships:

• Internal - Account Managers, Sales Engineers/SMEs, Engineering, Production/Shop Management, Purchasing, Quality, Customer Service/CSR, Director of Sales.
• External - Customer technical contacts, suppliers and subcontractors (for cost/lead-time validation).

Measurements & indicators of success (KPIs): 

• Quote accuracy — variance between quoted margin and final actual margin/cost.
• Quote turnaround time — % of quotes delivered within SLA.
• Pre-production rework rate — % of jobs that require quoting rework after engineering methods are finalized.
• % of quotes requiring clarification — frequency of ambiguous specs requiring follow up.
• Internal stakeholder satisfaction — AM/Engineering/Production feedback on quote clarity and handoff completeness.
• Estimating tool improvements — number and impact of costing model updates and process improvements.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Education:

• Associate degree preferred or other combinations of equivalent experience and training considered.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or related field preferred.

• Experience:
• 2–5 years estimating / costing experience in manufacturing, metal fabrication, or contract manufacturing (or equivalent transferable experience)
• Senior roles 5+ years
• Systems:
• Advanced Excel and spreadsheet modeling
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (Epicor preferred) and quoting tools
• Other:
• Familiarity reading prints and BOMs
• Basic CAD literacy preferred
• Microsoft Office (Outlook/Excel)

Competencies:

• Collaboration and Communication — clearly document assumptions and risks; delivers structured handoffs to AMs, Engineering and Production.
• Process Improvement Orientation — continuously seeks measurable reductions in quote cycle time and error rates.
• Attention to Detail and Discipline — precise math, disciplined documentation and reliable recordkeeping.
• Problem Solving and Judgment — recommends value-engineering options and cost tradeoffs that protect margin and manufacturability.
• Stakeholder Management — navigates cross-functional relationships and escalates appropriately per governance.

Skills:

• Estimating and Costing Expertise — builds full, auditable cost builds including materials, labor, overhead and margin.
• Cost Modeling and Margin Analysis — maintains cost models and runs margin sensitivity and scenario analyses.
• Technical Literacy and Validation — interprets prints/CAD/BOMs, identifies manufacturability signals, and prepares pre-production validation inputs for Engineering/SME.
• ERP and Systems Proficiency — practical command of Epicor or similar ERP/quoting systems and advanced Excel.

Travel Requirements & Work Environment:

• Office-based at company headquarters with regular shop/production walkthroughs. 
• Minimal travel (<10%), only occasionally to customer or supplier sites as needed.
• Must be able to perform computer-based work and spend time on the shop floor when required.
• Reasonable accommodations available.