Senior Aerospace Estimation Engineer – Composite Structures

Kaleidoscope Innovation, Inc.; Pottsville (Schuylkill County); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaleidoscope Innovation, Inc. seeks an experienced Aerospace Estimation Engineer in Pottsville, PA to lead cost estimation for composite aerospace products. The role demands 5+ years in aerospace estimating, knowledge of prepregs, honeycomb cores, and manufacturing processes.

You will produce labor, material, tooling, and overhead estimates for defense and commercial programs. The candidate collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and operations to ensure accurate, timely quotes and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, cost estimation, bid engineering, or quotation development.
• Hands-on experience with aerospace composite structures, honeycomb core products, prepreg materials, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with commercial and defense aerospace program requirements, quality standards, and compliance expectations.
• Proven ability to develop estimates covering labor, materials, tooling, machine utilization, process time, and overhead.
• Strong knowledge of composite manufacturing processes, including prepreg handling, layup, tooling, curing, trimming, machining, forming, and assembly.
• Experience assessing honeycomb core forming, shaping, machining, fabrication, and production routing methods.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer RFQs, engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements to develop accurate engineering quotations.
• Interpret technical requirements and manufacturing considerations for aerospace composites, honeycomb, commercial, defense, space, and emerging aviation programs.
• Review production methods, manufacturing routings, and process plans for composite and honeycomb structures.
• Assess fabrication, machining, core forming, trimming, assembly, and other manufacturing operations to identify key cost drivers and manufacturability considerations.
• Apply aerospace cost-estimation principles and manufacturing cost-modeling methodologies to quotation activities.
• Estimate labor requirements, process cycle times, tooling needs, machine utilization, and manufacturing resources required for production.
• Develop detailed cost models covering material, labor, tooling, machine utilization, and manufacturing overheads.
• Prepare cost estimates and engineering quotations for aerospace composite products and assemblies.
• Support proposal preparation, bid reviews, and quotation submissions for commercial and defense aerospace opportunities.
• Participate in technical reviews, customer proposal discussions, and cross-functional decision-making activities.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, operations, and business teams to improve estimating accuracy, consistency, and responsiveness.
• Leverage knowledge of NC programming concepts, tooling, process planning, and aerospace manufacturing operations to enhance estimate quality and manufacturability assessments.
• Establish scalable estimating methodologies, standards, templates, and best practices to support future growth and operational efficiency.

Skills

Aerospace Estimation

Cost Estimation

Composite Structures

Honeycomb Core

RFQ Interpretation

BOM & Materials

Manufacturing Processes

Manufacturing Lead Time

Stakeholder Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Engineering/Cost Estimation coursework

Tools

NC programming concepts

Process planning & routings

Tooling & manufacturing overhead modeling

Job description

Kaleidoscope Innovation, Inc. seeks an experienced Aerospace Estimation Engineer in Pottsville, PA to lead cost estimation for composite aerospace products. The role demands 5+ years in aerospace estimating, knowledge of prepregs, honeycomb cores, and manufacturing processes.

You will produce labor, material, tooling, and overhead estimates for defense and commercial programs. The candidate collaborates with engineering, manufacturing, and operations to ensure accurate, timely quotes and