Senior Aerospace Cost Estimator: Labor & Capacity Planning

Qarbon Aerospace; Red Oak (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with immediate vesting

Tuition reimbursement

Paid holidays

Flexible work options

Life insurance

Job summary

Qarbon Aerospace is seeking a Cost Estimator to develop and maintain accurate labor and capital equipment cost models for composite fabrication and assembly, supporting proposals and program execution.

This role collaborates with engineering, operations, manufacturing leadership, supply chain, and program management to translate requirements into detailed labor hours, staffing plans, and production rates, with an emphasis on defensible estimates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field; 10+ years aerospace cost estimating preferred.
• Experience in cost estimating for labor, materials, and capital equipment in aerospace environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop labor cost estimates for composite fabrication and assembly operations.
• Analyze engineering models, drawings, specs, routings for labor hours and production rates.
• Perform capacity analysis across manufacturing cells and shift structures.
• Analyze capital equipment utilization, machine loading, and investment needs.
• Translate production scenarios into staffing plans and labor curves for make/buy decisions.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and program management to validate labor standards and efficiency factors.
• Create and improve labor estimating models and capacity tools.
• Identify cost drivers and opportunities for productivity improvements or cost reductions.
• Support proposals and contract negotiations with well-documented labor estimates.

Skills

Industrial Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Time studies

Process analysis

Work measurement

Line balancing

Aerospace manufacturing

Capacity planning

3D CAD CATIA

SEER 3D

Excel modeling

SAP/Apriso

Independent worker

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SEER 3D

SAP

Apriso

Job description

Qarbon Aerospace is seeking a Cost Estimator to develop and maintain accurate labor and capital equipment cost models for composite fabrication and assembly, supporting proposals and program execution.

This role collaborates with engineering, operations, manufacturing leadership, supply chain, and program management to translate requirements into detailed labor hours, staffing plans, and production rates, with an emphasis on defensible estimates.