Cost engineer

Vivo Talent Solutions; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vivo Talent Solutions is seeking a Cost Engineer for a Gloucestershire/ Tewkesbury area role focused on CNC milling and turning, materials, heat treatments, and cost modelling. You will analyse drawings, develop cost estimates, set production routes, and support quotations to secure profitable business.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in manufacturing cost engineering, with strong Excel skills and ERP/MRP experience, and a solid grasp of GD&T and manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering.
• Minimum 3 years in a manufacturing, machining, or cost engineering role.
• Strong understanding of CNC milling and CNC turning processes.
• Experience costing precision-machined components; interpret drawings and GD&T.
• Proficient in Excel and ERP/MRP systems.

Responsibilities

• Prepare cost estimates for machined components from drawings and specs.
• Develop detailed cost breakdowns including materials, tooling, heat treatment, finishing, and inspection.
• Define manufacturing routes and optimize production processes.
• Calculate machining times based on material, finish, tolerances, and tool data.
• Analyse actual costs vs estimates and report KPIs.
• Collaborate with engineering, purchasing, quality, and sales teams.

Skills

CNC milling

CNC turning

Costing

Engineering drawing interpretation

Excel proficiency

Process planning

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

CAD/CAM systems

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD/CAM systems

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

ob Title: Cost Engineer

Department

Engineering / Commercial

Reports To

Engineering Manager / Operations Director

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Cost Engineer to support the quotation, costing, and process planning activities for precision-engineered components. The successful candidate will be responsible for analysing manufacturing requirements, developing cost models, estimating machining times, assessing material and treatment costs, and defining efficient production processes for components manufactured through CNC milling and turning operations.

The role requires a strong understanding of machining processes, material specifications, heat and surface treatments, manufacturing methods, and cost analysis to ensure accurate quotations and profitable production.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Estimation & Quotation

• Prepare accurate cost estimates for manufactured components from customer drawings, models, and specifications.
• Develop detailed cost breakdowns including:
  • Raw materials
  • CNC milling operations
  • CNC turning operations
  • Tooling requirements
  • Heat treatment processes
  • Surface finishing and coatings
  • Inspection and quality requirements
  • Packaging and logistics costs
• Support the preparation of customer quotations and tender submissions.
• Analyse margin opportunities and identify cost reduction initiatives.

Process Engineering

• Define manufacturing routes and production processes for new and existing components.
• Determine optimum sequence of operations to achieve quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Establish cycle times for machining operations using machining data and industry standards.
• Recommend suitable machine tools, cutting tools, fixtures, and production methods.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.

CNC Milling & Turning

• Review component designs for manufacturability.
• Assess machining requirements for:
  • 3, 4 and 5-axis CNC milling
  • CNC turning and mill-turn operations
  • Multi-operation component manufacture
• Calculate machining times based on:
  • Material type
  • Surface finish requirements
  • Tolerance requirements
  • Tool paths and cutting data
• Identify opportunities to optimise machining strategies and reduce cycle times.

Materials & Treatments

• Evaluate raw material requirements and costs.
• Maintain knowledge of engineering materials including:
  • Aluminium alloys
  • Stainless steels
  • Carbon steels
  • Titanium alloys
  • Nickel-based alloys
  • Brass and copper alloys
  • Engineering plastics
• Assess and cost external processing requirements including:
  • Heat treatment
  • Hardening
  • Nitriding
  • Anodising
  • Plating
  • Powder coatingPassivation
  • Painting
  • Shot blasting and finishing processes
• Liaise with suppliers and subcontractors to obtain competitive pricing.

Analysis & Reporting

• Maintain and improve manufacturing cost models and databases.
• Analyse actual production costs versus estimates.
• Investigate cost variances and provide recommendations.
• Generate reports and KPIs relating to profitability, efficiency, and cost performance.
• Support budget planning and capital investment evaluations.

Cross-Functional Support

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, and Sales teams.
• Provide technical support during customer reviews and project kick-off meetings.
• Assist with new product introduction (NPI) activities.
• Support value engineering and design-for-manufacture initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Degree, HNC/HND, or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production Engineering, or related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a manufacturing, machining, or cost engineering environment.
• Strong understanding of CNC milling and CNC turning processes.
• Experience costing precision-machined components.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and customer specifications.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP/MRP systems.

Desirable

• Experience within aerospace, defence, oil & gas, automotive, medical, or precision engineering sectors.
• Knowledge of CAD/CAM systems.
• Experience with process planning and routing development.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.

Key Skills

• Manufacturing cost analysis
• CNC machining knowledge
• Process planning
• Engineering drawing interpretation
• Material selection and costing
• Heat treatment and surface treatment knowledge
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Commercial awareness
• Attention to detail
• Supplier management
• Time estimation and capacity planning
• Communication and stakeholder management

Performance Measures

• Quotation accuracy
• Cost estimate accuracy versus actual production costs
• Profitability of awarded work
• Response time for quotations
• Process improvement savings achieved
• On-time completion of costing activities

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Location: [Insert Location]

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary for this role in Tewkesbury

For a Cost Engineer focused on CNC milling, turning, material treatments, process planning, and component costing in the Tewkesbury/Gloucestershire area, I would recommend the following salary ranges:

• Junior Cost Engineer (1-3 years' experience): £35,000 - £45,000
• Cost Engineer (3-7 years' experience): £45,000 - £60,000
• Senior Cost Engineer (7+ years' experience): £60,000 - £75,000+
• Principal / Lead Cost Engineer (strategic quotation ownership, customer-facing, aerospace or defence experience): £75,000 - £90,000+highestpayingjobs+1

For a manufacturing business in Tewkesbury producing precision-machined components and requiring expertise in:

• CNC milling and turning
• Material selection and costing
• Heat treatment and surface finishing
• Process routing and manufacturing engineering
• Customer quotations and margin analysis

This range should be competitive enough to attract candidates from aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, and precision engineering businesses in the Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Bristol, and Midlands markets.