Cost Analyst

SL Tennessee; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

PTO

Job summary

SL Tennessee in Clinton, TN is seeking a Cost Analyst to analyze manufacturing costs and support cost estimates for new and existing products. You will develop cost models, review BOMs, evaluate supplier costs, and partner with engineering, procurement, and finance to drive cost efficiency.

This on-site role offers competitive benefits and opportunities to influence pricing decisions and continuous improvement across the facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• 2–3+ years of experience in product or manufacturing cost estimation.
• Experience with ABC, BIC, Greenfield/Brownfield costing and should-cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed product cost models and should-cost analyses for mechanical and electronic components.
• Analyze BOMs, manufacturing processes, and supplier quotations.
• Evaluate supplier cost structures and support sourcing negotiations with fact-based cost estimates.
• Conduct cost benchmarking and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Support value engineering and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Perform manufacturing feasibility and process-cost evaluations for new products and programs.
• Develop cost estimates and business cases for Greenfield and Brownfield manufacturing projects.
• Analyze and report product and component costs.
• Generate cost insights to support strategic business decisions.

Skills

Cost estimation

ABC costing

Should-cost analysis

Greenfield costing

Brownfield costing

Cost modeling

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Cost estimation tools

DFMA

Siemens PCS/M

Manufacturing processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

Apriori

Siemens PCS/M

DFMA

Cost Estimator

AI-powered costing tools

Job description

Company Description

SL Tennessee is a leading automotive components manufacturer and the largest non-government employer in Anderson County, Tennessee, with over 1,300 team members. The facility produces a wide range of automotive lamps, including head lamps, rear lamps, fog lamps, and CHMSLs, and is a market leader in high-quality LED lamps and advanced lighting systems. In addition to lighting, the Chassis division manufactures auto/manual shifters, pedals, park brake levers, and e-shifters using shifter-by-wire technology for various car models worldwide. Team members join an established, globally connected organization focused on innovation, quality, and reliable production for the automotive industry.

Role Description

The Cost Analyst role is a full-time, on-site position based in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area-Clinton TN. This role is responsible for analyzing manufacturing and operational costs, preparing detailed cost reports, and supporting cost estimates for new and existing products. Day-to-day tasks include monitoring cost trends, identifying variances between actual and standard costs, and collaborating with production, engineering, and finance teams to improve cost efficiency. The Cost Analyst will assist in budgeting and forecasting, contribute to pricing decisions, and recommend cost control measures to support profitability. The role involves maintaining accurate cost accounting records and supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.

Qualifications

Are you experienced in product costing, should-cost analysis, and manufacturing cost estimation?

At SL Tennessee, you’ll play a key role in developing accurate cost models, analyzing manufacturing processes and supplier costs, and identifying opportunities to optimize product costs throughout the product lifecycle.

You’ll work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Sourcing, and Product Development teams to turn cost data into actionable business decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Develop detailed product cost models and should-cost analyses for mechanical and electronic components
• Analyze BOMs, manufacturing processes, and supplier quotations
• Evaluate supplier cost structures and support sourcing negotiations with fact-based cost estimates
• Conduct cost benchmarking and identify cost reduction opportunities
• Support value engineering and design-to-cost initiatives
• Perform manufacturing feasibility and process-cost evaluations for new products and programs
• Develop cost estimates and business cases for Greenfield and Brownfield manufacturing projects
• Analyze and report product and component costs
• Generate cost insights to support strategic business decisions

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering
• 2–3+ years of experience in product or manufacturing cost estimation
• Experience with Activity-Based Costing (ABC), BIC Model Costing, Greenfield Costing, and/or Brownfield Costing
• Experience with should-cost analysis, cost benchmarking, and cost modeling
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and cost-estimation tools
• Experience with tools such as Apriori, Siemens PCS/M, DFMA, Cost Estimator, or AI-powered costing tools
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes such as plastic injection molding, die casting, electronics, metal stamping, and secondary processes

Why This Role Matters

• Influence product cost decisions from development through production
• Support supplier negotiations with data-driven cost analysis
• Partner directly with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Product Development
• Drive value engineering and cost optimization across automotive products
• Gain exposure to diverse manufacturing processes and advanced costing methodologies

Competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, PTO, and more

#Hiring#CostEstimator#CostAnalyst#CostEngineering#ShouldCost#ProductCosting#CostEstimation#ValueEngineering#ManufacturingEngineering#AutomotiveJobs#ManufacturingJobs#EngineeringJobs#TennesseeJobs#Careers#USJobs