Estimator, Engineering

Estimator

Cheshire

£50,000 £ 60,000 (dependent on experience)

An established UK engineering manufacturer is looking for an experienced Estimator to join it s Purchasing team. They are a well-established manufacturer with an excellent reputation for manufacturing high quality precision engineered products. They operate internationally, supplying engineered solutions to customers across more than 50 countries and supporting projects within demanding sectors including oil & gas, energy, subsea and emerging technologies.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with an engineering, estimating or technical purchasing background who interpret engineering drawings and accurately price machined components.

The Estimator will have experience working with or supplying into machine shops and must understand the processes involved in machining metals, pricing materials and negotiating with suppliers. The ideal candidate would have a hands-on background, from working as a machinist orwithin a shopfloor/machine shop environment before progressing into estimating, purchasing or commercial engineering position.

The Role of the Estimator:

The Estimator will be reporting to the Head of Purchasing. The Estimator will be responsible for producing accurate and competitive costings across machined components and key commodities, including forgings and fasteners.

The position is an important role in managing the cost of externally manufactured components. The business does not manufacture these components in-house, so the Estimator will work closely with external machine shops that manufacture and assemble components on its behalf.

Machine shop experience is essential for this position. The Estimator will need a good understanding of machined components, metals and machining processes and be able to interpret engineering drawings and understand how components are manufactured.

The Estimator will use their machine shop knowledge to assess manufacturing processes, understand and challenge supplier costings, accurately price machined components, and negotiate with external engineering suppliers to achieve the best possible costs and lead times.

This could suit someone who has previously worked in a hands-on machine shop environment, such as a machinist, and has since progressed into estimating, costing or technical purchasing. This role is ideal for an Estimator with experience in precision engineering, oil & gas, aerospace or a similar engineering environment.

Responsibilities of the Estimator:

• Producing accurate costings against customer enquiries
• Pricing machined components from engineering drawings
• Pricing key commodities including forgings, fasteners, bar and other metals
• Understanding material, labour and machining costs
• Reviewing supplier pricing and identifying opportunities to reduce costs
• Negotiating with machine shops and suppliers to achieve the best commercial terms
• Challenging pricing and understanding where costs can be reduced
• Managing supplier relationships and monitoring capacity and lead times
• Ensuring components meet the required technical specifications and quality standards
• Liaising with engineering, purchasing and other operational departments
• Working within a fast moving engineering environment
• Using ERP systems to manage purchasing and costing information
• Occasionally travelling to suppliers

Requirements of the Estimator:

• Engineering degree or qualification
• At least 2 year s experience within engineering, estimating or technical purchasing
• Experience producing costings for machined components
• Experience with in precision engineering, oil & gas, aerospace, machining or a similar engineering environment
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings
• Understanding of machining processes and machine shop environments
• Knowledge of metals, materials and their associated costs
• Experience dealing directly with machine shops and engineering suppliers
• Negotiation skills with the ability to challenge supplier pricing and reduce costs
• Understanding of how machining time, materials and processes impact component pricing
• Good computer skills and experience using ERP systems
• A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle…