CNC Estimator

Optima UK Inc Ltd; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Optima UK Inc Ltd in Portsmouth seeks an experienced CNC Estimator to review customer enquiries and produce accurate quotes for CNC machined components. The role focuses on milling and turning, with a strong emphasis on understanding drawings, tolerances and manufacturing costs.

You will estimate times, tooling and subcontract costs while liaising with customers to clarify requirements and coordinating with production to choose efficient routes.

Qualifications

• Experience in an estimator/quotations role within CNC machining or precision engineering.
• Strong understanding of CNC milling and turning processes.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Ability to assess machining requirements and establish realistic costs and lead times.
• Good understanding of materials, tooling and production methods.
• Strong commercial awareness and attention to detail.
• Confident communicating with customers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Review customer enquiries, RFQs, drawings and technical specs.
• Prepare accurate, commercially competitive quotations for CNC parts.
• Assess drawings to understand machining requirements, tolerances and materials.
• Estimate machining times, tooling, subcontract costs and other expenses.
• Quote for CNC milling and CNC turning requirements.
• Liaise with customers to clarify technical and commercial needs.
• Work with production and engineering to identify efficient manufacturing routes.
• Identify potential cost risks at quotation stage.
• Maintain quotation records and progress enquiries to order.

Skills

CNC milling

CNC turning

Reading drawings

Estimating

Commercial awareness

Customer communication

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Quotation systems

Job description

Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire

Salary: Up to £60,000 DOE

Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Company

Our client is an established precision engineering business based in Portsmouth, specialising in complex CNC machining and precision-engineered components. Their capabilities include 3- and 5-axis CNC milling, CNC turning, EDM and specialist tooling, supplying customers across sectors including aerospace, motorsport, automotive, defence, marine and medical.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced CNC Estimator to join the team, with responsibility for reviewing customer enquiries and producing accurate, commercially competitive quotations.

This is a customer-facing role where a strong understanding of CNC machining processes is essential. You will be comfortable reading and interpreting engineering drawings, understanding manufacturing requirements and assessing how components can be produced efficiently and cost-effectively.

The role will primarily focus on quoting CNC-machined components, covering both milling and turning. Experience of estimating tooling, fixtures or associated engineering work would be advantageous but is not essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Review customer enquiries, RFQs, engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Prepare accurate and commercially competitive quotations for CNC-machined components.
• Assess drawings to understand machining requirements, tolerances, materials, quantities and complexity.
• Estimate machining times, material, tooling, subcontract processes and other associated costs.
• Quote across CNC milling and CNC turning requirements.
• Liaise with customers to clarify technical and commercial requirements.
• Work closely with production and engineering teams to establish the most efficient manufacturing route.
• Identify potential manufacturing issues or cost risks at quotation stage.
• Support the business in developing competitive and commercially viable solutions.
• Maintain accurate quotation records and follow enquiries through to order.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through a professional and technically credible approach.

Candidate Requirements

Essential:

• Previous experience in an estimator / quotations role within CNC machining or precision engineering.
• Strong understanding of CNC milling and turning processes.
• Confident reading and interpreting engineering drawings and technical specifications.
• Ability to assess machining requirements and establish realistic manufacturing costs and lead times.
• Good understanding of materials, tooling, machining operations and production methods.
• Strong commercial awareness and attention to detail.
• Confident communicating with customers and internal engineering/production teams.
• Able to manage multiple RFQs and prioritise quotations effectively.

Desirable:

• Experience estimating tooling, fixtures or specialist machining projects.
• Knowledge of 3-, 4- or 5-axis machining.
• Experience within precision engineering, aerospace, motorsport, automotive or defence.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP or quotation systems.

What We're Looking For

This role would suit someone with a strong CNC machining background who has moved into estimating, or an experienced CNC estimator who is confident technically as well as commercially.

The most important thing is the ability to look at an engineering drawing and understand what is involved in manufacturing the component, how it should be machined and what it is realistically going to cost.

You will also need to be comfortable dealing directly with customers and discussing technical requirements rather than simply producing quotes from a predefined costing system.