Value and Cost Engineer

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Group seeks a Value and Cost Engineer to lead should-cost and cost modelling for engineered products. You will validate supplier costs, support Design-to-Cost projects, and identify VA/VE opportunities to reduce total product cost.

Applicants should have 5+ years in cost engineering, strong Excel and data analysis skills, and experience with cross-functional teams in global settings. Fluency in English is essential; German is a plus.

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.
• Demonstrated experience with cost modelling and supplier cost analysis.
• Experience in complex global organizational environments.
• Background in machinery, vacuum technology or semiconductor-related production is beneficial.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional or category-focused teams.
• Solid project management experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to influence outcomes through expertise (without direct authority).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong risk-based analytical approach.
• Effective collaboration and stakeholder management.
• Fluent in English; good German preferred (or strong German + B1 English).

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 activities for Design-to-Cost projects to ensure cost-effective outcomes.
• Identify and support 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 (DfC, 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 analysis, budgeting).

Skills

Cost modelling

Value engineering

Cost estimation

Supplier cost analysis

Design-to-Cost

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Microsoft Excel

PowerBI

English proficient

German helpful

Education

HF/FH Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerBI

Job description

About VAT Group

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 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

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

• Experience coordinatingcross‑functionalorcategory‑focusedteams

• Solid project management experience

• 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)

Suisse 9469 Haag Seelistrasse 1