Cost Estimator 4 Position OverviewThe Cost Estimator will develop, analyze, and maintain accurate and defensible cost estimates, including capacity planning and capital equipment utilization analysis, for composite part fabrication and assembly. This role supports proposal development, contract negotiations, and program execution by translating engineering and manufacturing requirements into detailed labor hour models, staffing plans, production rates, and equipment loading assumptions. The position works closely with engineering, operations, manufacturing leadership, supply chain, and program management.
Key Responsibilities / Principle Accountabilities- Develop detailed labor cost estimates for composite fabrication and assembly operations, including touch labor, indirect labor, and production support labor.
- Analyze engineering models, drawings, specifications, routings, and manufacturing plans to determine labor hours, skill mix, learning curves, and production rates.
- Perform capacity analysis to assess labor availability, shift structures, takt times, bottlenecks, and throughput constraints across manufacturing cells.
- Conduct capital equipment utilization analysis, including machine loading, cycle times, utilization rates, and required capital investments to support projected production volumes.
- Translate production scenarios into staffing plans and labor curves to support make/buy decisions, rate readiness, and long-range planning.
- Collaborate with operations, industrial engineering, and program management to validate assumptions related to labor standards, yields, rework, and efficiency factors.
- Create, maintain, and continuously improve labor estimating models, capacity tools, and historical labor databases.
- Identify labor cost drivers, schedule risks, and opportunities for productivity improvement or cost reduction.
- Support proposal development and contract negotiations with well-documented, defendable labor estimates and capacity assumptions.
Skills and Qualifications- Industrial Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering background strongly preferred, with experience in time studies, process/methods analysis, work measurement, line balancing, or production system optimization.
- Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing, preferably within composite fabrication and assembly environments.
- Hands-on experience or working knowledge of composite materials, manufacturing processes is preferred.
- Working knowledge of capacity planning, production flow analysis, and capital equipment utilization.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing plans to assess labor content and production impacts.
- Ability to interrogate 3D CAD models using CATIA to extract labor-driving features such as part complexity, ply counts, geometry, tooling interfaces, and assembly sequences.
- Experience using SEER 3D as a labor estimating tool, including model setup, assumption validation, and output interpretation is preferred.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and time-management skills; able to work under changing priorities and tight deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (labor modeling, capacity analysis, scenario modeling); proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
- Familiarity with enterprise manufacturing or planning systems (e.g., SAP, Apriso, or similar) is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working independently and collaboratively.
Experience and Education Requisites- Must be a U.S. person per ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) guidelines.
- This position is not eligible for Visa sponsorship or a foreign person per ITAR.
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, or business field preferred (or equivalent experience); candidates with an Industrial Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering background are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Typically 10+ years of related cost estimating or aerospace manufacturing experience for senior-level consideration.
- An active clearance is highly preferred. Candidates without an active clearance may still be considered but must be eligible to obtain and maintain one.
What does Qarbon Aerospace have to offer?- Competitive salary
- Company Paid Benefits available immediately upon employment
- Basic Life Insurance
- Short-Term Disability (STD) & Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Flex Time Off
- Medical/Prescription Insurance
- Dental & Vision Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance / Hospital Indemnity Insurance / Accident Insurance
- Life Insurance and AD&D Insurance
- Savings and Spending Accounts
- Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Dependent Care FSA
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Immediate vesting on 401(k) Plans
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge commercial and defense aerospace programs
- Collaborative, growth-oriented team environment
- Flexible work options
- Long-term stability with a proven industry leader
