Estimator

Nefab; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nefab Packaging West in Newark, CA is seeking an experienced Estimator to lead end-to-end estimation and costing for custom packaging solutions. You will convert engineered designs into detailed BOMs, estimate material, labour, and overhead costs, and deliver accurate quotes to sales.

The role collaborates with design, engineering, finance, production, sourcing, and sales, ensuring estimates align with production capability and ROI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 2+ years of experience in estimating in a manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in English, written and verbal.
• Proficient in ERP systems for estimating and product configuration.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to cost details.
• Ability to create accurate BOMs from engineered drawings.

Responsibilities

• Estimate creation and costing for quotes and proposals.
• Convert drawings into detailed BOMs and calculate total costs.
• Develop should-cost models and maintain costing templates.
• Collaborate with design, engineering, finance, production, sourcing, and sales.
• Deliver estimates within tight timelines.
• Prepare monthly reports on estimation accuracy and lead times.

Skills

ERP systems

Excel

BOM creation

Costing & should-cost

Cost estimation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Product builders

Job description

Estimator, Nefab Packaging West

Nefab Group is on a growth journey, and we are dependent on high-performance people to succeed. Our Estimator function in our organization is vital for us to deliver custom packaging solutions to our customers.

As Estimator you will be responsible for end-to-end estimation and costing process.

You will be working with the Regional Supply Chain Director, the Estimator is responsible to develop and maintain manufacturing standards and provide timely and accurate quotes to the selling organization. The Estimator will own and continuously improve the end-to-end estimation and costing process for manufacturing/packaging operations to ensure accurate pricing, protect margins, enable faster ROI on sales, and strengthen execution readiness—particularly for low-volume, high-mix projects. This role integrates process engineering inputs (routing, labour standards, machine time, and layout concepts) into a robust costing methodology that supports both commercial decision-making and initial production planning.

This position is located in Newark, CA, and you will report to the director of Supply Chain and Quality.

Salary: $85,000-$90,000 annually

Main Responsibilities

• Estimate Creation & Costing
• Prepare accurate cost estimates using the ERP system, Excel and product builders.
• Convert engineered drawings/designs into detailed BOMs for custom packaging solutions.
• Calculate material, labor, machine/work center, equipment, and overhead costs to determine pricing.
• Deliver estimates within tight timelines to support quotations, proposals, and project execution.
• ERP & Product Builder Management
• Use the ERP system to create, manage, and track estimates and costing.
• Develop and maintain product builders for standardized components and faster estimating.
• Update and improve the costing template to reflect all required cost elements.
• BOM, Layout & Routing Development
• Analyze drawings and prepare accurate BOMs with material specs, quantities, and process details.
• Create labor estimates through routing, process by process, for costing and initial production planning.
• Estimate machine run hours, standard running times, and work center costs during the design stage.
• Prepare material layouts and die layouts at the estimation phase for use during production.
• Sourcing & Should-Cost Coordination
• Work closely with local sourcing teams to ensure current material pricing and availability.
• Develop and maintain should-cost models for traded materials to improve turnaround on multi-material solutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with design, engineering, finance, production, sourcing, and sales teams.
• Ensure estimates align with production capability, cost control, customer needs, and sales ROI expectations.
• Process Improvement & Reporting
• Continuously improve estimating, BOM creation, ERP usage, and builder efficiency.
• Strengthen costing accuracy to avoid underpricing and support faster business decisions.
• Prepare monthly reports on:
• Estimation accuracy
• Lead time
• Costing performance trends

Minimum Experience And Education Requirements

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent work experience).

Experience

• 2+ years of experience in estimating, preferably in a manufacturing environment for customizable product.
• Proficiency in using ERP systems for estimating and product configuration is required.

LANGUAGES

• Fluent in English, both written and verbal

PROFESSIONAL PRINCIPLES

• To act in a professional and ethical manner at all times
• To maintain a positive work environment and recognize that this is a shared responsibility and includes recognition, respect, co-operation and open communication

Technical Skills

• Strong experience in ERP systems and product builders.
• Proficiency in should-cost modelling and cost analysis.
• Strong manufacturing background: time studies, production flow, machine set up costs
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and other estimating tools.
• Experience in creating and managing Bills of Materials (BOMs) from engineered drawings and designs.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse technical drawings, calculate costs, and develop efficient cost models.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly in coordinating with sourcing, sales, and production teams.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in estimates and BOM creation, with strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Additional Information (i. E. Job Environment)

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment described is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Environment

• The duties of this job include physical activities such as stooping, kneeling, standing, reaching, walking, lifting (1-40lbs), gripping, pushing/pulling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, and repetitive motions.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

Work Environment

• Office working conditions are normal for an office environment. Work may require local and international travel, overnight travel and weekend and/or evening work.
• The Manufacturing Engineer role has daily stress due to customer deadlines and responsibility in accuracy. The incumbent is faced with constant interruptions and frequently meets with others.
• Plant working conditions include noise in excess of 90 dlb, Temperature ranging from 5– 34 Celsius, and some dust. Personal Protection Equipment is provided.

Company values and Ways of Working

Our core values are Simplicity, Empowerment and Respect. Our ways of working are characterized by Customer First, Cooperation, and Communication. This means that we are always putting customers first, through cooperation and communication. We respect each other and the environment. People are empowered to grow and innovate to simplify.

Nefab is an equal opportunity employer, embracing diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to building teams with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

We believe everyone has talent, and therefore welcome all applications.

For further information or questions, please contact [e-mail].

Nefab Packaging West is part of the Nefab Group, which was founded in 1949 and is a world leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions and logistics optimization services. Nefab saves environmental and financial resources by optimizing supply chains. We do this by innovating together with our customers to create smarter packaging and logistics solutions while always respecting people and high ethical standards. This contributes to a better tomorrow for our customers, for society, and for the environment.

With more than 75 years of experience combined with competence and presence in 38 countries, we offer global solutions and local service worldwide to companies in industries such as Telecom, Datacom, Semicon, Energy, Healthcare equipment, Mining & Construction, and LiB & E-mobility. Nefab Group has around 5,000 employees with a yearly turnover of 10.3 BSEK. The owners are the Nordgren/Pihl family and FAM AB, a privately owned holding company within the Wallenberg Ecosystem.