Manufacturing Estimator

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Engineering Full Time Technical Mid-Continent Engineering, LLC, Minneapolis, MN, US

2 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $76,000.00 To $90,000.00 Annually

Mid-Continent has been a supplier to first-tier OEMs within the medical, aerospace and defense industries for decades. Mid-Continent Engineering stuffs the armed forces supply chain with products of our capabilities such as precision machining, aerospace welding, chromate conversion, paint/powder coat finishing, mechanical assemblies, and other design-assist services.

• Competitive Wages
• Medical, Dental & Vision for employees & family including domestic partners.
• 401k
• Tuition Reimbursement
• PTO accrual starts immediately.
• Yearly shoe allowance
• Referral Program.

The responsibility of the manufacturing estimator will be estimating new & repeat parts and entering quotes into an ERP system. This role requires familiarity with engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials to develop accurate, competitive, and profitable cost estimates for machined parts, welded assemblies, sheet metal components, and fabricated metal products.

• Review customer RFQs, blueprints, CAD files, technical specifications, and bills of materials.
• Determine manufacturing methods and the most efficient production approach for each job.
• Calculate material, labor, machine time, setup time, tooling, consumables, and outside processing costs.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor pricing for materials, heat treating, plating, painting, powder coating, and other services.
• Prepare accurate and timely quotations in accordance with company pricing standards and profit margin requirements.
• Identify cost risks, missing information, unusual tolerances, and potential manufacturing challenges before submitting quotes.

• Interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, material specifications, weld symbols, and surface finish requirements.
• Evaluate part complexity, material availability, machining requirements, fabrication methods, and assembly needs.
• Determine appropriate manufacturing sequences, including cutting, machining, forming, welding, finishing, inspection, and assembly.
• Collaborate with engineering and production personnel to verify feasibility, cycle times, and required resources.
• Identify special requirements involving quality standards, certifications, traceability, or inspection documentation.

• Understand current cost information for raw materials, labor rates, machine rates, and subcontracted services.
• Analyze historical job costs and compare actual performance against estimated costs.
• Review material utilization, scrap allowances, setup requirements, and production quantities.
• Identify opportunities to improve estimating accuracy, reduce waste, and increase profitability.
• Escalate unusual risks, uncertain costs, and high-value quotations to management as appropriate.

• Work with sales and project managers to clarify RFQ requirements and communicate quotation timelines.
• Coordinate with purchasing, engineering, quality, and production to validate cost assumptions.
• Request clarification when drawings, specifications, quantities, or delivery requirements are incomplete.
• Assist with quote revisions, engineering changes, and updated customer requirements.
• Provide a clear handoff of awarded jobs to project management or production, including assumptions, exclusions, and special requirements. (NPI process)

• Use estimating software, ERP/MRP systems, spreadsheets, and other digital tools to prepare and maintain quotations.
• Maintain accurate quote histories, costing worksheets, supplier quotes, and supporting documentation.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives involving pricing methods, standard labor rates, production data, and estimating procedures.
• Identify opportunities to standardize repeat-job pricing and automate routine estimating tasks.

• 5+ years industrial experience; or a combination of education and…