Vehicle Cost Engineer Job Auburn Hills area,Michigan USA,Engineering

The Cost Engineer role develops detailed cost estimates for components and tooling using an activity ‑ based costing approach.
This role works directly with bills of material, drawings, and physical samples to understand how parts are made and to estimate the associated component, manufacturing, and investment costs.
In this position, you will use established Client methods and processes to analyze costs, provide guidance to internal teams, and support cost convergence activities.
You will collaborate with global engineering, purchasing, finance, and supplier teams to ensure competitive and transparent cost structures from early concept through serial production.
Multiple roles are being fulfilled within this job posting- for all component scopes within the vehicle structure (Body, Interior, Chassis, Engine Adaptation, Electrical Components and Systems, Powertrain).
Position fulfillment to utilize applicant background and experience as paired to internal role needs.
Organization Success in this role requires curiosity, agility, and a collaborative mindset within a fast ‑ paced, global environment.

Responsibilities:

Develop component cost estimates for new programs, including:
Early ‑ phase cost engineering estimates, Detailed "should ‑ cost” calculations using a bottom ‑ up manufacturing approach
Provide idea generation and cost support during vehicle development to help achieve cost targets (Design ‑ to ‑ Cost)
Support purchasing during supplier negotiations by completing gap analyses of supplier cost breakdowns (Piece Price, ED&D, Tooling)
Contribute to benchmarking and value optimization activities, including serial life should ‑ cost assessments
Collaborate closely with internal global team, Engineering, Buyers, and Suppliers
Provide global cost comparison analysis in partnership with the broader Cost Engineering community

Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or a related technical field
Minimum of 5 years of experience in the automotive industry or related technical field
Strong English verbal and written skills to support role job key deliverables
Ability to manage a high volume of parts and varying levels of complexity
Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
Ability to work effectively across multiple levels of the organization, functions, and global regions

Backgrounds that work well:

Design Release Engineers (DREs) for relevant components (body, interior, propulsion, chassis, electrical).
Manufacturing engineers or process engineers (stamping, injection molding, die casting, welding, assembly, electronics manufacturing, wire harness, etc.).
Tooling development backgrounds, especially those who have worked in tool shops or installed lines (stamping & welding lines, injection molding, etc.).
Purchasing or sales professionals only if they have very strong product and process knowledge for the targeted commodity.

Preferred:

Familiarity with cost model structures and activity ‑ based costing for component development
Experience in within one or multiple areas:
Design Responsible Engineering, Manufacturing, Component Tool development, or Component Purchasing

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