Manufacturing Estimator

Role Overview

The Manufacturing Estimator at MSM Industries is responsible for preparing accurate, timely, and competitive cost estimates and quotations for defense, maritime, space, and aerospace manufacturing programs. This role evaluates customer requirements, drawings, material specifications, and engineering data to determine labor, tooling, raw material, compression molding, precision machining, laser processing, and specialized finishing requirements. Working collaboratively with Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and external vendors, the Estimator ensures quotes align with customer expectations, plant capacity, manufacturing capabilities, and strategic business goals. This position requires solid technical knowledge of elastomeric, polymer, composite, and mechanical fabrication processes in a fast-paced defense and aerospace manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Proposal & Quote Development: Organize and prepare comprehensive proposal packages and formal price/delivery quotations for defense primes, naval contractors, and aerospace OEMs using internal ERP systems, MS Excel, and proposal templates
• RFQ & Technical Review: Review and analyze customer RFQs, statements of work (SOW), drawings, MIL-SPECs , quality clauses, and engineering BOMs
• Manufacturing Process Planning: Identify routing steps and operational sequences across core processes-including polymer/rubber molding, urethane/silicone casting, composite lamination/bonding, CNC machining/routing, laser cutting, and subsystem kitting.
• Cost Modeling: Calculate detailed labor run times, setup hours, tooling/mold fabrication costs, raw material yields/scrap factors, and outside special processing rates (e.g., destructive/non-destructive testing, environmental testing, coatings)
• Vendor & Supply Chain Coordination: Solicit, evaluate, and integrate competitive pricing from approved suppliers for specialized polymers, resins, metallic inserts, tooling, and qualified outside processing.
• Risk & Producibility Assessment: Partner with Engineering and Operations to evaluate manufacturability, identify tooling/processing risks, and ensure adherence to ITAR, defense compliance, and quality standards
• Pipeline & RFQ Tracking: Maintain active RFQ logging, tracking key performance metrics (win rates, turnaround time, margin analysis), and manage revision updates throughout the program lifecycle.
• Continuous Improvement: Support estimating standardizations, cycle-time reductions, post-award job cost reviews, and 5S/HSE standards.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of estimating and quoting experience in a precision manufacturing, defense, or aerospace environment. Solid experience utilizing cost models and/or formulas that incorporate pre-determined Overhead, G&A and profit rates. Proven ability to interpret engineering blueprints, MIL-SPECs, technical datasheets, GD&T, and Bills of Material (BOM).Strong knowledge of estimating molding (elastomers, urethanes, silicones, epoxies), composite layup/bonding, or precision fabrication/machining processes
• Experience estimating in a high-mix, low-to-medium volume, build-to-print or custom-engineered job shop environment
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g.Epicor, or similar manufacturing systems).
• Understanding of material costs and processing characteristics for polymers, composites, silicones, and engineered synthetics
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in defense manufacturing, maritime/naval systems (e.g., NAVSEA specs), or signature reduction / Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM)
• Experience working in an AS9100 / ISO 9001 certified and ITAR-regulated facility
• Background in tooling design, mold design, or process engineering.
• Experience conducting post-production variance analysis (estimated vs. actual costs).

Additional Requirements

• Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English
• Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use
• Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email
• Ability to use a computer to complete assignments

Job Details

Type: Full Time Exempt

Hours: Core Business Hours Monday through Friday. Schedule and overtime may vary based on business needs.

Base Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000

Base Location: Riverside, CA - 100% onsite

Travel: Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.