Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Estimator

Hendrick Technical SolutionsLocation: 4400 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262

Summary: Hendrick Technical Solutions is looking for a Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Estimator to support the development, analysis, and continuous improvement of cost and pricing data across our growing portfolio of government and commercial programs.

This role is responsible for building a complete and accurate picture of what our products, parts, assemblies, and programs cost. That means gathering cost information from across Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and other departments; researching historical costing and pricing data; obtaining supplier pricing; and identifying opportunities to reduce cost.

The Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Estimator will serve as the central point for collecting, organizing, validating, and analyzing the information needed to make informed pricing decisions. For new and recurring opportunities, this person will research previous orders and costing history, including prior material and labor costs, supplier pricing, manufacturing costs, quantities, and previous sell prices. They will combine that historical information with current manufacturing and sourcing data to provide the Government Programs Lead with a clear, organized cost analysis to support final pricing decisions.

The role will also look beyond today’s cost. As programs move from prototype builds into recurring production, this person will work across the organization to understand actual costs, identify cost drivers, find sourcing and manufacturing efficiencies, and document opportunities to improve cost and margin.

HTS works across CNC machining, fabrication, welding, formed metal, composites, electrical and wiring, mechanical assembly, coatings, outside processing, purchased components, and complete vehicle and system integration. The right person needs to be comfortable pulling cost information from many different areas and turning it into a concise, understandable picture.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Gather and consolidate cost data across HTS for parts, assemblies, systems, and programs, including material, labor, manufacturing, purchased components, outside processing, tooling, engineering/NRE, and other applicable costs.

• Research historical costing and pricing data for the same or similar part numbers and programs, including previous estimates, actual production costs, purchase history, supplier pricing, quantities, and previous customer sell prices.

• Develop clear cost-analysis packages that summarize current costs, historical data, assumptions, cost drivers, sourcing options, and potential cost reductions for review by the Government Programs Lead and other leadership.

• Support pricing decisions by providing accurate and complete cost information for prototypes, one-time builds, recurring production, different production quantities, and follow-on orders.

• Work directly with Manufacturing, Engineering, Production, Purchasing, and other departments to obtain and validate the cost inputs required for each analysis.

• Partner with Purchasing and Supply Chain to obtain current supplier pricing and identify opportunities to reduce material, component, outside-processing, and subcontractor costs.

• Review existing sourcing strategies and identify opportunities for competitive sourcing, alternate suppliers, volume pricing, material changes, or other purchasing efficiencies.

• Compare supplier pricing against historical purchase data and other available sources to identify cost increases, savings opportunities, and areas requiring additional sourcing activity.

• Support make-versus-buy analysis by comparing internal manufacturing costs with qualified outside supplier options.

• Identify the major cost drivers within a part, assembly, or system and work with the appropriate departments to determine where meaningful cost reductions may be possible.

• Compare estimated costs with actual production results and document variances to improve future costing accuracy.

• Track how costs change as products move from prototype and early production into recurring production.

• Maintain organized costing records by part number and program, including historical costs, supplier quotes, assumptions, revisions, quantities, previous sell prices, and actual results.

• Develop repeatable tools and processes, such as spreadsheets, databases, dashboards, and software-based workflows, that make historical cost and pricing information easy to retrieve and use for future opportunities.

• Use software and AI tools to automate data gathering, analysis, and reporting where it makes sense, and help develop new processes that make cost and pricing work faster and more consistent.

• Help improve HTS's overall cost-analysis and pricing-support process as the volume and complexity of our government and commercial programs continue to grow.

Qualifications:

• We’re looking for someone who is analytical, organized, manufacturing-minded, and comfortable working across multiple departments to find the information needed to understand true cost.
• The right person should be able to receive a part number, BOM, drawing, assembly, RFQ, or program requirement and know where to start looking.
• They should be comfortable researching previous orders, digging through historical data, talking with Manufacturing and Purchasing, comparing supplier quotes, validating cost assumptions, and identifying information that does not make sense.
• This person should also naturally ask: What did this cost us last time? What did we sell it for? What has changed? Why has the cost changed? Can we source it better? Can we manufacture it more efficiently? And what information does leadership need to make the right pricing decision?
• Strong Excel and data-analysis skills are important. Just as important is the ability to take a large amount of cost information from different sources and present it in a simple, organized format that leadership can quickly understand and use.
• We also want someone who is comfortable with software beyond Excel. HTS uses a growing set of internal software tools to manage production, quoting, and program data, and we are actively looking for better ways to use technology, including AI, to improve how work gets done.
• The right person should be curious about using AI tools to organize data, automate repetitive analysis, and build new processes, while applying good judgment to verify results and working within the data security requirements of government and defense programs.

Experience with several of the following would be helpful:

• Manufacturing cost analysis - Cost and pricing analysis - Historical cost and pricing research - BOM and part-number costing - Actual-versus-estimated cost analysis - Supplier sourcing and RFQs

• Supplier quote comparison - Cost reduction and value analysis - Make-versus-buy analysis - CNC machining, fabrication, welding, or assembly - Raw materials and purchased components

• Outside processing and coatings - Engineering drawings and BOMs - ERP/MRP systems and purchasing history (Microsoft Dynamics 365 a plus) - Microsoft Excel and cost-analysis tools

• Power BI, Power Query, or other data and reporting tools - SQL, Python, Power Automate, or other scripting and automation tools - Using AI tools to analyze data, automate tasks, or develop new processes

• Low-volume/high-mix manufacturing - Government or defense program costing

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor degree in Accounting, Supply Chain or related field required. A minimum of 3 years prior experience in manufacturing cost and pricing analysis.

Computer Skills:

• ERP/MRP systems and purchasing history (Microsoft Dynamics 365 a plus)
• Microsoft Excel and cost-analysis tools
• Power BI, Power Query, or other data and reporting tools
• SQL, Python, Power Automate, or other scripting and automation tools
• Using AI tools to analyze data, automate tasks, or develop new processes

Previous experience in aerospace, automotive, motorsports, defense, or another manufacturing environment is a plus.

This role subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) requirements and as such, U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or U.S. Person Status Required.

Hendrick is an Equal Opportunity employer. Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information regarding the EEOC, please visit https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf.