Manufacturing and Cost Estimator
Quick Summary
MSM Industries, LLC has been a trusted partner to the U.S. Navy and its prime contractors for over 20 years. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing business,
The Manufacturing and Cost 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 is a high-ownership role, where you will directly communicate with customers and build proposal packages on the bedrock of strong technical manufacturing strategies.
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 Growth, 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 large structural assembly fabrication processes in a fast-paced defense and aerospace manufacturing environment
- Organize and prepare quotes and proposals packages for customers in formats such as MS PowerPoint, MS Word, and Epicor ERP system and coordinating input from business development, engineering, and operations stakeholders.
- 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/assembly.
- Review customer RFQs, drawings, specifications, blueprints, and related documentation to determine scope of work and requirements.
- Develop manufacturing plans by identifying required processes, equipment, tooling, programming requirements, setup operations, materials, labor hours, and outside processing needs.
- Prepare accurate cost estimates and quotations based on established labor rates, overhead rates, material costs, and supplier pricing.
- Evaluate manufacturing requirements for CNC machining, fabrication, composites, and other aerospace manufacturing processes.
- Identify and obtain pricing from approved outside processing suppliers based on customer and drawing requirements.
- Interpret technical specifications, quality clauses, material requirements, and customer requirements to identify potential risks and ensure compliance.
- Collaborate with manufacturing teams to understand production capabilities and develop effective manufacturing approaches.
- Prepare formal price and delivery quotations for internal and external customers.
- Communicate with customers, suppliers, and internal teams regarding quotations, requirements, and project updates.
- Follow up on open RFQs and proposals, updating quotations as needed.
- Maintain accurate RFQ and proposal tracking records to support reporting and key performance indicators.
- Support the development and maintenance of work instructions for new and existing programs.
- Perform risk assessments and identify potential cost, schedule, and manufacturing challenges.
- Develop and maintain positive relationships with customers and suppliers.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and estimating process improvements.
- Follow 5S standards and adhere to all health, safety, and environmental guidelines.
- Support cross-functional operations as needed.
- 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
Requirements
~1 min readTo conform to US Government export regulations, the applicant must be a (i) US Citizen, (ii) lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (aka green card holder), (iii) protected individual as defined by U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
MSM Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer, employment with MSM Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Location & Eligibility
About this job
- Pay per year
- $75,000–$90,000 a year
- Who can apply
- United States
- Posted
- 35 days ago
Listing Details
- Posted
- September 29, 2026
- First seen
- October 5, 2026
- Last seen
- November 3, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 28
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 42%
- Scored at
- November 3, 2026
Signal breakdown
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