Production Cost Engineer

Keystone Distinction Group; Farmington (CT); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Keystone Distinction Group is seeking a Production Cost Engineer to analyze and improve manufacturing costs across multiple lines. This role interfaces with production, engineering, controlling, and global lead plants to ensure cost transparency and drive cost-reduction initiatives.

You will review MOH, benchmark costs, define targets, and lead cross-site cost-meetings. The position requires 1–3 years in cost engineering with strong Excel, SAP, and Power BI skills.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years in manufacturing cost engineering, production engineering, or process improvement.
• Experience in cost benchmarking, variance analysis, and KPI management.
• Strong project management skills; able to lead cross-site projects.
• Advanced Excel skills; SAP and Power BI experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review monthly production cost reports and identify variances.
• Benchmark assembly hours and fabrication costs against lead plants.
• Develop action plans to close cost gaps and maintain cost-per-hour targets.
• Lead monthly cost review meetings with lead plants and stakeholders.
• Support localization projects with cost analyses and business cases.
• Create structured project plans with timelines and risk analyses.

Skills

Excel PivotTables

Power Query

Power BI

SAP

Benchmarking

Variance analysis

KPI management

Project management

Cross-site work

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

Excel (PivotTables)

Power Query

Power BI

SAP

Job description

The Production Cost Engineer is responsible for analyzing, benchmarking, and improving manufacturing costs across multiple production lines. This role acts as a key interface between production, engineering, controlling, and global lead plants to ensure cost transparency, identify cost drivers, and execute cost-reduction initiatives. The position supports both day-to-day cost monitoring and long-term cost strategy, including localization and process improvement projects.

Cost Analysis, Benchmarking & Target Setting

• Review and analyze monthly group production cost reports; identify cost variances, root causes, and corrective actions.

• Perform benchmark analyses of assembly hours and fabrication costs against lead plants.

• Define cost and time deltas vs. lead plants and develop project-based action plans to close gaps.

• Define and maintain cost-per-hour targets for fabrication processes; lead initiatives to achieve target levels.

• Review manufacturing overhead (MOH) calculations monthly with Controlling; summarize key changes, drivers, and risks.

Stakeholder Coordination & Reporting

• Lead monthly cost review meetings with each lead plant to review production costs, cost measures, and project status.

• Facilitate cross-functional meetings with stakeholders responsible for cost measures and project execution.

• Support and coordinate cost-measure investigations, including data collection, analysis, and follow-up actions.

• Provide monthly or quarterly cost and project performance updates to senior leadership covering all assigned product lines.

Project Engineering Support & Project Management

• Support project engineers with cost analyses for localization projects, including business-case evaluations and financial impact assessments.

• Plan, manage, and execute concurrent improvement, cost-saving, and localization projects ensuring on-time delivery and realized financial benefits.

• Develop and maintain structured project plans with scope, timelines, risk analyses, and cost strategies; monitor and report progress to senior leadership.

Experience

• 1-3 years in manufacturing cost engineering, production engineering, or process improvement, preferably in sheet metal fabrication environments.

• Experience in cost benchmarking, variance analysis, and manufacturing KPI management.

• Strong project management skills; experience leading cross-site projects and stakeholder meetings.

• Advanced Excel skills (PivotTables, Power Query); SAP and Power BI experience preferred.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills; willingness to work on the shop floor and travel occasionally.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration (operations focus), or equivalent.