Aerospace Estimation Engineer

Jobtailor; Arizona; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced aerospace cost estimator to lead quotation development for composite products and assemblies. You will analyze RFQs, engineering drawings, and BOMs to produce accurate cost models covering material, labor, tooling, and overhead, while collaborating across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in aerospace cost estimation or bid engineering, deep knowledge of prepregs, honeycomb cores, and composite manufacturing

Qualifications

• 5+ years of aerospace manufacturing or cost estimation experience.
• Experience with composite structures, honeycomb cores, prepregs.
• Ability to interpret RFQs, drawings, BOMs and manufacturing requirements.
• Proven ability to estimate labor, materials, tooling and overhead costs.
• Knowledge of curing, layup, trimming, forming and assembly processes.
• Ability to identify cost drivers and manufacturability risks.
• Compliance with aerospace quality standards.
• Must not require employer-sponsored visa.

Responsibilities

• Analyze RFQs, drawings, specifications to develop accurate quotes.
• Review manufacturing routings and process plans for composites.
• Identify cost drivers and manufacturability constraints.
• Develop labor, material, tooling, and overhead estimates.
• Prepare cost estimates and quotations for aerospace products.
• Support proposals and bid reviews.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and supply chain.

Skills

Cost Estimation

Aerospace Manufacturing

Composite Manufacturing

RFQ Interpretation

Engineering Drawings Analysis

Manufacturing Process Planning

Labor Requirement Estimation

Production Routing Methods

Tooling Needs Assessment

Manufacturing Overhead Calculation

Tools

NC Programming

Job description

• Analyze customer RFQs, engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements to develop accurate engineering quotations
• Interpret technical requirements and manufacturing considerations for aerospace composites, honeycomb, commercial, defense, space, and emerging aviation programs
• Review production methods, manufacturing routings, and process plans for composite and honeycomb structures
• Assess fabrication, machining, core forming, trimming, assembly, and other manufacturing operations to identify key cost drivers and manufacturability considerations
• Apply aerospace cost-estimation principles and manufacturing cost-modeling methodologies to quotation activities
• Estimate labor requirements, process cycle times, tooling needs, machine utilization, and manufacturing resources required for production
• Develop detailed cost models covering material, labor, tooling, machine utilization, and manufacturing overheads
• Prepare cost estimates and engineering quotations for aerospace composite products and assemblies
• Support proposal preparation, bid reviews, and quotation submissions for commercial and defense aerospace opportunities
• Participate in technical reviews, customer proposal discussions, and cross-functional decision-making activities
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and business teams to improve estimating accuracy, consistency, and responsiveness
• Leverage NC programming concepts, tooling, process planning, and aerospace manufacturing operations to enhance estimate quality and manufacturability assessments
• Establish scalable estimating methodologies, standards, templates, and best practices to support future growth and operational efficiency

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, cost estimation, bid engineering, or quotation development
• Hands-on experience with aerospace composite structures, honeycomb core products, prepreg materials, or advanced manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with commercial and defense aerospace program requirements, quality standards, and compliance expectations
• Proven ability to develop estimates covering labor, materials, tooling, machine utilization, process time, and manufacturing overhead
• Strong knowledge of composite manufacturing processes, including prepreg handling, layup, tooling, curing, trimming, machining, forming, and assembly
• Experience assessing honeycomb core forming, shaping, machining, fabrication, and production routing methods
• Strong understanding of composite structures, honeycomb core products, prepreg materials, and aerospace manufacturing processes
• Proficiency in interpreting RFQs, engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and manufacturing requirements
• Practical knowledge of core forming, layup, curing, machining, trimming, fabrication, assembly, and inspection processes
• Experience developing labor, material, tooling, machine, and overhead cost estimates for aerospace products
• Working familiarity with NC programming concepts, manufacturing routings, tooling, process planning, and resource loading
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify cost drivers, production risks, and manufacturability constraints
• Effective communication and stakeholder collaboration skills across engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and business teams
• Ability to standardize estimating assumptions, templates, methods, and lessons learned to improve quote quality and turnaround time
• Must be able to work without employer-sponsored or transferred employment visa authorization

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in aerospace manufacturing and cost estimation, with a strong focus on composite structures and honeycomb core products. Proficient in developing detailed cost models and estimates while collaborating effectively across engineering and manufacturing teams.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Aerospace Manufacturing Experience
• Cost Estimation Expertise
• Composite Manufacturing Processes
• NC Programming Knowledge
• Analytical Problem-Solving Skills

Hard Skills

• Cost Estimation
• Composite Manufacturing
• Honeycomb Core Products
• RFQ Interpretation
• Engineering Drawings Analysis
• Manufacturing Process Planning
• Tooling Needs Assessment
• Labor Requirement Estimation
• Production Routing Methods
• Manufacturing Overhead Calculation

Soft Skills

• Effective Communication
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving Skills

Industry Keywords

• Aerospace Composites
• Prepreg Materials
• Commercial Aerospace
• Defense Aerospace
• Manufacturing Standards
• Quality Standards
• Compliance Expectations
• Cost-Modeling Methodologies
• Manufacturing Operations
• Bid Engineering