Cost Estimator

Venteon; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Venteon Finance seeks a Lead Costing Estimator / Costing Manager for a large global Tier 1 automotive supplier in the metro-Detroit area. The role leads financial development of business cases, cost analyses, and make-versus-buy decisions for new programs and quotes.

You will partner cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Operations and Plant Finance to build accurate cost models, analyze margins by region, and present recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of automotive/manufacturing experience with at least 4+ years of direct costing and business case development experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical, financial modeling, and problem‑solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed business cases and cost analyses for new opportunities and quotes.
• Perform manufacturing cost analysis, make-versus-buy studies, pricing and volume scenarios, and cost reduction evaluations.
• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Plant Finance, and others to build cost models.
• Analyze margins across regions and monitor financial performance through launch.
• Present program financial status, business cases, and recommended actions to leadership.

Skills

Executive presence

Financial analysis

Presentation to leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Venteon Finance is currently seeking a Lead Costing Estimator / Costing Manager for a large global Tier 1 automotive supplier located in metro-Detroit area. This position will lead the financial development of business cases and cost analyses for automotive product programs. The role will work cross-functionally on new business quoting, engineering changes, make-versus-buy decisions, manufacturing cost models, cost reduction opportunities, and product/program profitability.

The ideal candidate will have hands‑on costing experience within a Global Tier 1 automotive supplier and the ability to analyze complex cost structures and effectively present recommendations to executive leadership.

Requirements of the Lead Costing Estimator / Costing Manager

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of automotive/manufacturing experience with at least 4+ years of direct costing and business case development experience.
• Strong experience within a large global Tier 1 automotive supplier environment; experience with complex global manufacturing and customer programs strongly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical, financial modeling, and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication and executive presence with the ability to develop and present business cases and financial recommendations to senior leadership.

Responsibilities of the Lead Costing Estimator / Costing Manager

• Develop detailed business cases and cost analyses supporting new business opportunities, quotes, engineering changes, and product programs.
• Perform manufacturing cost analysis, make-versus-buy studies, pricing and volume scenarios, and cost reduction evaluations.
• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Operations, Plant Finance, and other functions to develop accurate product and program cost models.
• Analyze customer, product, and program margins across multiple regions and monitor the financial performance of programs through launch.
• Present program financial status, business cases, cost analyses, risks, and recommendations to management and executive leadership.