Cost Estimator

**About The Role**:
Part of a growing Cost Estimation team and reporting to the Financial Controller, a cost estimator will work closely with the responsible buying, engineering and manufacturing teams. The cost estimator's primary role is to take engineering data and analyse to create a cost up model to allow cost targets to be generated. These targets can then be used as a tool for buyer/supplier cost negotiations to ensure BoM targets are delivered. Additionally, the role is also to analyse supplied supplier QAF data to ensure GMD are receiving value for money and identify opportunities and/or errors in suppliers cost calculations again to be used as part of the buyer/supplier negotiations.

**Requirements**:

- Experience of cost estimation in an high-volume automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier
- In depth understanding of manufacturing processes in automotive manufacturing, preferably:

- Extrusions
- Compression Moulding (with SMC)
- Composites
- Castings
- Quotation Analysis Form interrogation
- Competence in reviewing technical drawings and GD+T
- Bottom-up costing
- Experience with Apriori costing software preferred but not essential
- CATIA V5 (or alternative CAD system) design experience preferred, but not essential
- Principal Accountabilities:
The principal accountabilities of the Cost Estimation function are to conduct detailed analysis of the CATIA data released by the engineering team and to be able to build a bottom-up costing, to assess manufacturing feasibility looking at labour, materials, process times and purchased parts as the integral elements that drives cost. They should be fully up to date with market values on materials, both labour & facility rates, manufacturing processes and latest trends. Required to feedback results of complex analysis into the procurement team to aid cost reduction opportunities.

Principal

**Responsibilities**:

- Coordinate cost estimation activities to develop / validate 2D/3D data which input into cost targets for future production programs.
- Work with the engineering team at concept design stage to aid design to cost philosophy.
- Analysing Quotation Analysis Forms supplied from suppliers to critique and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
- Responsible for managing and creating analysis templates that can be used for other function groups.
- Responsible for presenting to the management team and key stakeholders opportunities for cost down or to present areas of concern and risk.
- Responsible for working with the buying community to help identify cost down opportunities and aid supplier contract/cost negotiations.
- Responsible for understanding the current labour rates, facility rates, material and process times for the manufacturing processes involved in composite manufacture.
- Responsible for creating and maintaining a database of relevant information appertaining to the role & associated tasks.
- Responsible for market research into new manufacturing processes or alternative materials that could be used to aid innovation with designs & costs.
- Responsible for preparing and reporting on market trends as part of the market research.
- Schedule own activities to ensure procurement & engineering deliverables are met against required specifications within timescales and budgets.
- Plan and maintain progress in improving personal professional competence and ensure that your technical knowledge and expertise is kept up to date.
- Provide high quality and imaginative & innovative component technical solutions to project requirements, under the guidance of a more senior engineer when necessary.
- Where appropriate support any activities in a make vs buy scenario.
- Responsible for managing and arranging meetings with all key stakeholders to identify plan of action in support of cost negotiations or working with suppliers on continuous improvements.
- Responsible for looking at longer term productivity improvements that can benefit both supplier and the business with efficiencies in the manufacturing process.
- Use knowledge of component supplier base to suggest design solutions Maintain pro-active liaison between Styling, Design, Engineering, Procurement, EDB and Workshop to ensure effective project communication.

Disclaimer:
This vacancy is being advertised by Optamor Limited. Optamor is a specialist Recruitment Process Outsourcing provider. We provide a flexible full recruitment solution which takes care of all recruitment requirements from planning to on-boarding. Our specialist recruitment divisions cover the entire technical arena, including some of the most economically and strategically important industries in the UK and the world today. We will never send your CV without your permission.