Lead Estimator

Bascom Hunter; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Bascom Hunter Technologies seeks a Project Estimator to bridge engineering, program management, and business development. The role owns the cost estimating backbone for proposals, translating RFQs, RFPs, and sole-source requests into accurate cost and pricing packages for DoW customers and primes.

The ideal candidate combines engineering judgment with project management and estimating expertise to support capture from scoping through proposal submission and award.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent).
• 5+ years of experience in engineering, project/program management, or cost estimating.
• Experience building cost proposals, BOEs, or pricing packages.
• Strong command of Excel and proposal/estimating tools; comfort building structured pricing models (NRE/recurring, BOM-based).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent proposal efforts under tight deadlines.
• U.S. Person status per ITAR/EAR requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop basis-of-estimate (BOE) packages for labor, materials, NRE, and recurring costs across functions.
• Build detailed cost models and pricing structures in response to RFQs/RFPs.
• Partner with engineering, supply chain, and finance to validate assumptions before submission.
• Prepare pricing and technical response letters, proposal volumes, and supporting documentation for prime contractors and direct DoW customers.

Skills

Strong communication

Project management

Proposal coordination

U.S. Person status

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Proposal/Estimating tools

Job description

Bascom Hunter Technologies is seeking a Project Estimator to bridge the gap between engineering, program management, and business development. This role owns the technical and cost estimating backbone of our proposal efforts — translating customer requirements (RFQs, RFPs, and sole‑source requests) into accurate, competitive, and defensible cost and pricing packages for DoW customers and prime contractors.

The ideal candidate combines hands‑on engineering judgment, project management discipline, and cost/schedule estimating expertise to support new business capture from initial technical scoping through proposal submission and contract award. This is a highly cross‑functional position that plays a critical role in shaping how Bascom Hunter wins new work.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop basis‑of‑estimate (BOE) packages for labor, materials, NRE, and recurring costs across engineering, manufacturing, and program management functions
• Build detailed cost models and pricing structures (NRE, recurring unit pricing, hierarchical BOMs) in response to customer RFQs/RFPs
• Partner with engineering, supply chain, and finance to validate assumptions, rates, and technical scope prior to submission
• Prepare pricing and technical response letters, proposal volumes, and supporting documentation for prime contractors (e.g., Bell Textron, Lockheed Martin, Boeing) and direct DoW customers

Engineering & Technical Liaison

• Translate customer specifications and statements of work into scope, technical approach, and cost drivers
• Assess design, manufacturing, and integration complexity to inform risk‑adjusted estimates
• Identify weight reduction, producibility, or design trade opportunities that improve competitiveness
• Provide technical input on aerospace qualification requirements (e.g., environmental, EMI/EMC, DO‑160, MIL‑STD testing) as they affect cost and schedule

Business Development Support

• Act as a technical resource during customer engagements — representing Bascom Hunter's capabilities in a technical estimating capacity
• Support capture strategy by identifying technical differentiators and cost advantages
• Assist in identifying and evaluating supply chain partners and subcontractors for competitive positioning

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of experience in engineering, project/program management, or cost estimating
• Demonstrated experience building cost proposals, BOEs, or pricing packages
• Strong command of Microsoft Excel and proposal/estimating tools; comfort building structured pricing models (NRE/recurring, BOM‑based)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to represent technical content to both engineers and non‑technical customer stakeholders
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent proposal efforts under tight deadlines
• U.S. Person status (per ITAR/EAR requirements for this role)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with aerospace qualification and certification processes (environmental testing, DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810, EMI/EMC, airworthiness/certification support)
• Familiarity with major aerospace prime supply chains (e.g., Bell Textron, Sikorsky, Boeing, Lockheed Martin) and their sourcing/RFQ processes
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training
• Prior experience in a "Sales Engineer," "Proposal Engineer," or "Estimator" role at a defense contractor

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Proposals are technically sound, competitively priced, and delivered on customer timelines
• Estimating accuracy improves program profitability and reduces cost overruns
• Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter and prime contractor supply chain/technical teams
• Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter business development, engineering, and program management team

Equal Employment Opportunity Information

• Bascom Hunter is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability/veteran, status as a protected veteran, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local law.