Job Summary
The Lead Estimator prepares accurate, competitive cost estimates for precision sheet metal fabrication projects and provides daily technical guidance to the estimating team. This role coordinates quoting priorities, reviews estimate for accuracy and completeness, trains team members, and supports profitable business growth. The Lead Estimator works with Engineering, Production, Procurement, Quality, and Sales to ensure quotations reflect customer requirements, manufacturing capabilities, and realistic delivery commitments
Key Responsibilities
Team Leadership
- Coordinate quote assignments, deadlines, and coverage; escalate delays and resource needs to the Engineering Manager.
- Train and mentor estimators, provide technical guidance, and give management performance feedback. Personnel decisions remain with management.
Cost Estimation and Quoting
- Estimate materials, labor, tooling, equipment, outside processing, inspection, packaging, and freight.
- Review drawings, revisions, and specifications; clarify requirements and validate manufacturing methods, capacity, and delivery assumptions with Engineering and Production.
- Review team quotes for accuracy, scope, pricing, and margins; document assumptions and obtain required approvals before submission.
Material and Vendor Coordination
- Evaluate supplier pricing, availability, lead times, and sourcing risks with Procurement; update material costs.
Process Improvement and Documentation
- Maintain estimating tools, ERP records, and quote revisions; compare estimated versus actual costs, track quote performance, and improve estimating practices.
- Follow quality, export control, and security procedures; protect customer information and CUI.
Cross Functional Collaboration
- Support Sales, Customer Service, Engineering, Production, and Quality with technical clarifications, order review, and complete quote-to-production handoffs; resolve scope discrepancies.
Qualifications
- Five or more years of manufacturing estimating experience preferred, ideally in precision sheet metal; equivalent experience considered. Lead or mentoring experience preferred.
- Knowledge of fabrication, blueprints, tolerances, and cost analysis; aerospace and defense experience preferred.
- Proficiency in estimating software, ERP, and Excel; E2 preferred. Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
- Related associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
Office and production floor work with computer use and extended sitting, standing, or walking; required PPE.
Schedule
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM, with flexibility based on business needs.
Compensation
- Salary Range - $85k -95k
- Benefits include shared-cost health care, paid holidays, vacation, paid sick leave, and a 401(k) with company match, subject to eligibility and plan terms.
Additional Information
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee filling this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by management. Management reserves the right to revise or modify this job description as needed. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.