Manufacturing and Cost Estimator

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, we specialize in advanced material solutions for signature reduction, vibration and acoustic management, and environmental control. MSM also serves as a high-performance system integration and assembly provider for key customers. With in-house manufacturing and a track record for on-time, high-quality deliveries, MSM is known for innovation, reliability, and rapid response to complex program needs.

MSM is part of Canopy Aerospace & Defense, a platform built to accelerate the future of advanced materials for space, defense, and maritime systems. Canopy A&D delivers specialized materials and components that carry customers from concept through sustainment. Canopy A&D’s advanced signal attenuation technologies and production-scale manufacturing accelerate the fielding of platforms that are faster, cooler, and quieter. Our adaptive approach ensures solutions evolve at the pace of shifting challenges, keeping our customers ahead of the curve.

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…