Value and Cost Engineer

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Schweiz; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Vakuumventile AG, headquartered in Haag, Switzerland, is seeking a Value and Cost Engineer to lead cost estimation activities for engineered products, including should-cost analyses, cost modelling, and top-down/bottom-up assessments.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, and Sales to drive Design-to-Cost initiatives, analyze supplier costs, and support cost reduction and VA/VE opportunities across global manufacturing and supply chains.

Qualifications

• Technical background in mechanics, mechanical engineering, or production engineering.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering HF/FH or equivalent.
• 5+ years in cost engineering, development, value engineering, or strategic procurement.
• Experience with cost modelling and supplier cost analysis.
• Fluent in English; German skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost estimation activities including should-cost, cost modelling, and top-down/bottom-up analyses for engineered products.
• Conduct detailed cost analyses and validate supplier cost breakdowns and manufacturing processes.
• Support sourcing for Design-to-Cost projects to ensure cost-effective outcomes.
• Identify VA/VE opportunities to optimize total product cost.
• Analyze tools and part costs for mechanical and electronic components and maintain cost databases.
• Provide analytical input for supplier negotiations through fact-based insights and benchmarks.
• Conduct cost audits to validate accuracy, transparency, and compliance with cost structures.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities and efficiency improvements at suppliers.
• Develop cost models to support product design early in development (DfM, DfSC).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather data and assess risks.
• Provide regular reporting on cost saving initiatives and support central decision-making (target costing, benchmarking, make-or-buy, budgeting).

Skills

Cost engineering

Value engineering

Mechanical engineering

Global experience

Excel

PowerBI

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Multitasking

Risk analysis

Team collaboration

English fluent

Education

Mechanical Engineering HF/FH or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerBI

Job description

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Value and Cost Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead cost estimation activities includingshould‑cost, cost modelling, andtop‑down/bottom‑upanalyses for engineered products
• Conduct detailed cost analyses andvalidatesupplier cost breakdowns and manufacturing processes
• Support sourcing activities forDesign‑to‑Costprojects to ensurecost‑effectiveoutcomes
• Identifyand support Value Added/Value Engineering (VA/VE) opportunities tooptimizetotal product cost
• Analyze tools and part costs for mechanical and electronic components andmaintaincost databases
• Provide analytical input for supplier negotiations throughfact‑basedinsights and benchmarks
• Conduct cost audits to validate accuracy, transparency, and compliance with expected cost structures
• Identify cost‑reduction opportunities and efficiency improvements at suppliers
• Develop cost models to support product design early in development (Design‑to‑Cost,DfM,DfSC)
• Collaborate withcross‑functionalteams (Engineering, Procurement, Sales) to gather data and assess risks
• Provide regular reporting on cost saving initiatives and support centraldecision‑making(target costing, benchmarking,make‑or‑buyanalysis, budgeting)

Qualifications

• Technical background in mechanics, mechanical engineering, production engineering, or similar
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering HF/FH or equivalent
• Over 5 years of experience in cost engineering, development, value engineering, or strategic procurement
• Demonstratedexperience with cost modelling and supplier cost analysis
• Experience working in complex global organizational environments
• Background in machinery, vacuum technology orsemiconductor‑relatedproduction is beneficial
• Strong skills in Microsoft Excel;PowerBIisan advantage
• Strong analytical andproblem‑solvingmindset
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence outcomes throughexpertise(without direct authority)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strongrisk‑basedanalytical approach
• Effective collaboration and stakeholder management
• Fluent in English; good German is preferred (or alternative profile: strong German + B1 English)

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct .