Value Engineering & Cost Reduction Engineer

Actalent; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 73,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Cost Reduction Engineer to identify and lead cost-saving initiatives across existing products, ensuring quality and performance while driving a new value engineering function. You will partner with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement to develop strategies and validate cost optimization opportunities.

The role requires 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, expertise in value/cost engineering, and a strong ability to influence design decisions through

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering.
• 5+ years of engineering experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Direct experience in Value Engineering, Cost Engineering, Product Costing, Design-to-Cost, or Cost Reduction activities.
• Demonstrated success leading and delivering measurable cost reduction initiatives.
• Manufacturing industry experience with proven cost savings initiatives and cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Identify and execute engineering-driven cost reduction initiatives across existing products while maintaining quality, performance, and reliability.
• Perform value engineering and should-cost analysis to uncover cost savings opportunities in materials, components, assemblies, and manufacturing processes.
• Evaluate materials, components, assemblies, and manufacturing methods to recommend cost-effective alternatives and process improvements.
• Partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Procurement teams to develop and validate cost optimization strategies.
• Develop clear, data-driven recommendations for product cost optimization that support both technical requirements and business objectives.
• Drive approved cost reduction projects through the full implementation lifecycle, from concept and analysis through validation and release.
• Support cost modeling and value engineering activities across multiple product lines to ensure consistent, scalable cost reduction practices.
• Track, quantify, and communicate savings opportunities and project results to stakeholders and leadership.
• Improve gross margin through engineering improvements, design enhancements, and design-to-cost methodologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles into product designs.
• Contribute to the creation and maturation of a new value engineering function, including processes, tools, and best practices.
• Partner with executive leadership and key stakeholders to align cost reduction initiatives with broader product and manufacturing strategies.

Skills

Cost reduction

Value engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering

Tools

ERP/MRP system

Job description

Actalent is seeking a Cost Reduction Engineer to identify and lead cost-saving initiatives across existing products, ensuring quality and performance while driving a new value engineering function. You will partner with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement to develop strategies and validate cost optimization opportunities.

The role requires 5+ years in manufacturing engineering, expertise in value/cost engineering, and a strong ability to influence design decisions through