Estimating Engineer

Holt Engineering Ltd; Christchurch; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Holt Engineering Ltd in Bournemouth is seeking an Estimating Engineer to prepare quotations and costings from drawings, BOMs and specifications. You will work directly with customers to clarify prices, requirements and technical details, supporting NPI and manufacturing routes through to production release.

The role splits between estimating, process improvement and manufacturing support, calling for experience in CNC machining, welding/fabrication, and assembly.

Qualifications

• Experience in estimating, quotations, pre-production, production engineering or manufacturing engineering.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications and BOMs.
• Comfortable discussing pricing and handling customer-facing estimating work.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate estimates and quotations from drawings, BOMs and specifications.
• Review RFQs, identify material, supplier, process, cost and delivery requirements.
• Discuss pricing, technical requirements and delivery with customers.
• Liaise with suppliers to confirm pricing, lead times and subcontract needs.
• Plan manufacturing routes, route cards and production release information.
• Support NPI meetings and agree the best way to move new work into manufacture.
• Identify manufacturing risks, cost implications and technical concerns before production release.
• Maintain quotation, routing and manufacturing information in the MRP system.
• Work with production to ensure methods are realistic and achievable.
• Support contract reviews, project reviews and pre-production meetings.
• Contribute to process improvement across estimating, routing, NPI and manufacturing flow.
• Support quotation KPIs, workload visibility and customer response times.
• Mentor or support others within the pre-production function.

Skills

Estimating

Quotations

Pre-production

Manufacturing engineering

CNC machining

Welding & fabrication

Reading drawings

MRP data

Production release

Supplier pricing

Customer facing

Communication

Tools

MRP system

MS Teams

Job description

Estimating Engineer

Bournemouth

Estimating Engineer salary: £46,500 – £54,250

Please note: only applicants with the full‑time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.

Estimating Engineer Overview:

• Prepare quotations, costings and estimates from drawings, BOMs and specifications
• Work directly with customers to clarify prices, requirements and technical details
• Support NPI, route cards, manufacturing routes and production release
• Split role across estimating, process improvement and manufacturing support
• Join a precision engineering business with varied machining, fabrication and assembly work

This Estimating Engineer role is with an established precision engineering business in Bournemouth, supporting customer work through the pre‑production stages before it reaches manufacture. The Estimating Engineer will review drawings, specifications and BOMs, prepare accurate quotations, speak with customers and suppliers, and help turn won work into clear route cards, manufacturing methods and production release information.

This is not a purely desk‑based estimating job. The Estimating Engineer will stay closely involved with NPI, manufacturing routes, supplier input, traceability, production support and process improvement. The role is roughly split between quoting/estimating and wider manufacturing support, so it suits someone who understands how work is actually made, not just how to price it.

The Estimating Engineer role

As Estimating Engineer, you’ll be involved from customer enquiry through to quotation, contract review, NPI discussion and production handover. You’ll need to be confident reviewing drawings, asking the right questions, understanding machining, fabrication or assembly routes, and discussing commercial and technical details with customers.

The business needs an Estimating Engineer who can hit the ground running with quotations and pricing, while also supporting the wider pre‑production team with route cards, MRP data, supplier input and manufacturing improvement. Customer contact is mainly by phone and Teams, with occasional face‑to‑face involvement.

Day-to-day responsibilities of an Estimating Engineer

• Prepare accurate estimates and quotations from drawings, specifications, BOMs and customer requirements
• Review RFQs and identify material, supplier, process, cost and delivery requirements
• Discuss pricing, technical requirements and delivery expectations directly with customers
• Liaise with approved suppliers to confirm pricing, lead times, availability and subcontract requirements
• Plan manufacturing routes, route cards and production release information
• Support NPI meetings and help agree the best way to move new work into manufactureIdentify manufacturing risks, cost implications and technical concerns before production release
• Maintain accurate quotation, routing and manufacturing information within the MRP system
• Work with production to make sure planned methods are realistic and achievable
• Support contract reviews, project reviews and internal pre‑production meetings
• Contribute to process improvement across estimating, routing, NPI and manufacturing flow
• Support quotation KPIs, workload visibility and customer response times
• Mentor or support others within the pre‑production function where needed

What they’re looking for - Estimating Engineer

• Experience in estimating, quotations, pre‑production, production engineering or manufacturing engineering
• Strong understanding of CNC machining, welding/fabrication, assembly or precision engineering processes
• Able to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications and BOMs
• Confident preparing costings, discussing pricing and handling customer‑facing estimating work
• Comfortable speaking with customers by phone, Teams and occasionally face to face
• Able to work with suppliers around pricing, lead times, materials and subcontract processes
• Good understanding of route cards, MRP data, production release and manufacturing handover
• Commercially aware, accurate and able to manage a busy quotation workload
• Good communication skills across customers, suppliers, production, quality and internal teams
• Organised, analytical and able to balance quoting deadlines with manufacturing support

Desirable - Estimating Engineer

• Background in subcontract precision engineering
• Experience supporting NPI or contract review activity
• Knowledge of approved suppliers, traceability and supplier selection
• Previous hands‑on background in machining, fabrication, welding or assembly
• Experience mentoring others or supporting a wider estimating/pre‑production team
• Continuous improvement exposure within manufacturing or production support

What’s on offer - Estimating Engineer

Estimating Engineer salary: £46,500 – £54,250

A varied Estimating Engineer role with involvement from RFQ and quotation through to NPI, route cards and production release.

The chance to work on a mix of machining, fabrication and assembly‑led projects rather than purely commercial estimating.

A 39‑hour working week with a half‑day Friday, plus EAP, Cycle to Work Scheme, free on‑site parking, free hot drinks and training support.

A strong opportunity for an Estimating Engineer who enjoys customer contact, pricing, manufacturability and helping work move properly into production.