Cost Engineer

Connect-Force; Commerce (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Connect Force is partnering with an established machinery manufacturer seeking a mechanically minded Cost & Estimating Engineer who can turn customer requirements, engineering concepts, and manufacturing details into accurate estimates and compelling proposals.

This on-site role offers involvement from initial concept to a finished machine, with collaboration across engineering and manufacturing teams to influence project scope and pricing.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost engineering, estimating, proposal engineering, applications engineering, or technical quoting within custom machinery, machine tools, automation, tooling, or industrial equipment.
• Strong mechanical understanding of how equipment is designed, manufactured, and assembled.
• Experience preparing estimates, quotations, or technical proposals.
• Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, bills of materials, and customer specifications.
• Strong Excel skills and an organized approach to detailed work.
• Confidence communicating with engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing personnel.
• Judgment to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and identify missing information in an estimate.
• Experience with machine building, machining, tooling, precision manufacturing, or hands‑on mechanical design; engineering degree is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Develop cost estimates and quotations for custom machinery, tooling, equipment modifications, and related manufacturing projects.
• Review customer RFQs, specifications, engineering drawings, and project requirements to define scope and identify cost drivers.
• Estimate materials, purchased components, machining, fabrication, assembly, engineering hours, and outside services.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, controls, purchasing, production, and service teams to build complete, practical estimates.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations, lead times, and technical information.
• Prepare clear proposals outlining pricing, scope, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Identify missing information, technical risks, and opportunities to improve cost or manufacturability.
• Support the transition from quotation to project execution so teams understand what was included.
• Compare estimated costs with actual project information to improve future quoting accuracy.

Skills

Cost engineering

Estimating

Proposal engineering

Technical quoting

Reading drawings

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Engineering or technical degree

Job description

Cost and Estimating Engineer

Custom Machinery | $85,000–$95,000 Starting Base Salary | Full-Time | On-Site

Confidential search managed by Connect Force

If you enjoy figuring out how a machine comes together—and what it takes to build it—this opportunity puts that knowledge to work before production even begins.

Connect Force is partnering with an established machinery manufacturer entering an exciting period of expansion. We’re seeking a mechanically minded Cost & Estimating Engineer who can turn customer requirements, engineering concepts, and manufacturing details into accurate estimates and compelling proposals.

This is an opportunity to influence new projects, work closely with engineering and manufacturing teams, and see your contributions move from an initial concept to a finished machine.

What you will do

• Develop cost estimates and quotations for custom machinery, tooling, equipment modifications, and related manufacturing projects.
• Review customer RFQs, specifications, engineering drawings, and project requirements to define scope and identify cost drivers.
• Estimate materials, purchased components, machining, fabrication, assembly, engineering hours, and outside services.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, controls, purchasing, production, and service teams to build complete, practical estimates.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations, lead times, and technical information.
• Prepare clear proposals outlining pricing, scope, assumptions, and exclusions.
• Identify missing information, technical risks, and opportunities to improve cost or manufacturability.
• Support the transition from quotation to project execution so teams understand what was included.
• Compare estimated costs with actual project information to improve future quoting accuracy.

What makes you a strong fit

• You bring experience in cost engineering, estimating, proposal engineering, applications engineering, or technical quoting within custom machinery, machine tools, automation, tooling, or industrial equipment.
• A strong mechanical understanding of how equipment is designed, manufactured, and assembled.
• Experience preparing estimates, quotations, or technical proposals.
• The ability to interpret mechanical drawings, bills of materials, and customer specifications.
• Strong Excel skills and an organized approach to detailed work.
• Confidence communicating with engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing personnel.
• The judgment to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and identify what an estimate may be missing.
• Experience with machine building, machining, tooling, precision manufacturing, or hands‑on mechanical design is especially valuable. An engineering or technical degree is helpful; relevant practical experience will also be considered.

Why consider this opportunity

• Join during expansion: Contribute as the company takes on new opportunities and strengthens its team.
• Have a visible impact: Your work will help determine how projects are scoped, priced, and launched.
• Stay close to the machinery: Work with people who design and build the equipment you estimate.
• Build your career: Develop broader experience across estimating, applications, proposals, and project coordination as the business grows.
• Bring your ideas: Help improve the quoting process and the accuracy behind important project decisions.

Related experience is welcome

If you’re currently an Estimating Engineer, Applications Engineer, Quoting Engineer, Proposal Engineer, Manufacturing Estimator, or Mechanical Project Engineer with direct costing and quotation experience, we encourage you to apply.

Connect Force is a private, independently owned recruiting firm managing this confidential search. The employer’s identity and exact location will be discussed directly with candidates during the screening process.

Please highlight your machinery estimating, costing, quotation, or proposal experience on your resume so we can clearly understand your fit.