Estimating Manager

Axius Group, LLC; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Axius Group, LLC is seeking an Estimating Manager to lead the estimating function for a broad range of aircraft components and products. You will translate customer requirements into commercially sound proposals and supervise a team of up to five staff across Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Finance.

You will oversee cost estimates, pricing strategies, and supplier cost data, ensuring accurate, competitive quotations that support profitable programs.

Qualifications

• Lead the estimating and quotation process from RFQ to proposal submission.
• Strong knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, material and labor costing, overhead, tooling, and subcontracting.
• Ability to supervise up to five personnel and develop staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead the estimating and quotation process from RFQ through final proposal submission; review drawings, specs, statements of work, bills of material, quality requirements, and contractual requirements.
• Develop detailed estimates for machined, sheet metal, formed, fabricated, welded, assembled components; tooling, fixtures, and development work.
• Determine manufacturing processes, routings, direct labor hours, materials, tooling, equipment, outside processing, subcontracting, inspection, and other cost elements.
• Recommend pricing based on costs, customer requirements, market conditions, capacity, and profitability; analyze margins and support negotiations.
• Compare estimated costs with actual production results, identify variances, and adjust estimating methods and pricing assumptions.
• Coordinate with Engineering and Manufacturing to identify cost-reduction opportunities and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Lead and coach estimating staff; assign workload and review estimates for accuracy and pricing.

Skills

Estimating

Quotations

Costing

Pricing strategy

Leadership

Tools

Cost modelling software

Job description

Summary

The Estimating Manager leads the estimating function and oversees accurate, competitive, and profitable cost estimates and quotations for manufactured, fabricated, machined, formed, finished, and assembled aircraft components and related products. Serving as a key link between Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and Operations, this role translates customer requirements into commercially sound proposals. The position requires strong knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, material and labor costing, overhead, tooling, outside processing, subcontracting, production capacity, lead times, and commercial pricing strategies. Directly supervises up to five employees.

Summary

The Estimating Manager leads the estimating function and oversees accurate, competitive, and profitable cost estimates and quotations for manufactured, fabricated, machined, formed, finished, and assembled aircraft components and related products. Serving as a key link between Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and Operations, this role translates customer requirements into commercially sound proposals. The position requires strong knowledge of aerospace manufacturing processes, material and labor costing, overhead, tooling, outside processing, subcontracting, production capacity, lead times, and commercial pricing strategies. Directly supervises up to five employees.

Essential Functions

• Lead the estimating and quotation process from initial RFQ through final proposal submission; review drawings, specifications, statements of work, bills of material, quality requirements, and contractual requirements.
• Develop detailed estimates for machined, sheet metal, formed, fabricated, welded, assembled, mechanical, and aircraft structural components; finish and treatment operations; special processes; tooling and fixtures; prototypes and development work; production programs; and repair or rework activities, as applicable.
• Determine manufacturing processes, routings, direct labor hours, materials, tooling, equipment, outside processing, subcontracting, inspection, testing, packaging, freight, burden, overhead, and other applicable cost elements.
• Recommend pricing based on costs, customer requirements, market conditions, competition, capacity, strategic importance, and desired profitability; analyze gross and contribution margins and support contract and pricing negotiations as requested.
• Compare estimated costs with actual production results, identify recurring variances, and recommend adjustments to estimating methods, labor standards, burden rates, cost models, and pricing assumptions.
• Coordinate practical, efficient manufacturing approaches with Engineering and Manufacturing; identify cost-reduction opportunities through process improvements, sourcing, lot sizes, tooling strategies, and make-versus-buy analysis.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor quotations; identify technical cost drivers, manufacturing challenges, assumptions, and risks, and develop contingencies for incomplete information, material volatility, or unusual requirements.
• Lead, coach, and develop estimating personnel; assign workload based on customer needs, deadlines, complexity, and business priorities; review staff estimates for accuracy, completeness, and appropriate pricing.
• Develop strategies for long-cycle aerospace opportunities, extended development periods, and multi-year production programs. Maintain open estimates, assess future labor and material rates, inflation, supplier pricing, capacity, lead times, and process changes, and coordinate escalation assumptions with Sales and Finance. Support recurring price reviews and established-program negotiations.
• Maintain estimating databases, historical pricing, cost models, and standard assumptions; establish consistent methodologies and documentation practices, improve or automate estimating systems, and participate in lean manufacturing, value engineering, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish pricing for new customers and products, existing-product changes, long-term production, prototypes, development work, make-versus-buy decisions, engineering changes, expedites, and non-recurring engineering or tooling. Prepare formal quotations under company policies and approval requirements, ensuring complete, consistent, traceable, and adequately documented estimates.
• Track quote turnaround time, win rate, estimated versus actual labor hours, material and outside-processing costs, gross margin by program/customer, quote value, average quote size, cost variance, and pricing accuracy.
• Develop estimating procedures, work instructions, templates, and approval processes. Partner with Sales, Business Development, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Supply Chain/Purchasing, Quality, Finance/Accounting, Program Management, and Senior Leadership; support new-product introductions and program launches, and communicate significant risks and assumptions to senior management.
  

Quality And Regulatory Responsibilities

• Support the aerospace quality management system and applicable customer requirements; include required inspection, testing, documentation, traceability, certifications, and quality activities in estimates.
• Review specifications for special quality or compliance requirements that affect cost, including applicable aerospace standards, customer-specific requirements, and regulatory obligations.
• Support corrective action and continuous improvement when estimating errors contribute to cost or production issues, and maintain accurate, auditable estimating records.
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Conduct timely, constructive performance evaluations and administer disciplinary actions and employee terminations in accordance with company policy.
• Travel as needed by train, airplane, subway, automobile, or other public or private transportation.
• Conduct toolbox talks and other training, communicate effectively with all contacts, adapt to change, and ensure activities align with the Company Mission Statement.