Manufacturing Estimator & Program Support Specialist

Manufacturing Estimator & Program Support Specialist

Location: San Antonio, TX (On-site, Monday-Friday)

Type: Full-Time

Industry: Defense / Precision Manufacturing

About the Role

The Manufacturing Estimator & Program Support Specialist is a hybrid role combining cost estimating, quote preparation, customer liaison, and project tracking for manufactured parts. This individual produces accurate, well-documented quotes for manufacturing projects, maintains proactive communication with customers and contract managers regarding quote status, and ensures consistency between quote assumptions and customer requirements. The specialist supports program tracking and status reporting to leadership.

This role sits at the intersection of Sales, Engineering, Purchasing, Finance, and the Customer, and is ideal for a detail-oriented professional who is comfortable reading technical drawings, building cost structures in an ERP system, and communicating confidently with external stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Cost Estimating & Quoting (approximately 50-60%)

• Review customer RFQs, engineering drawings, Bills of Material (BOMs), specifications, and revision levels to determine scope, materials, processes, and technical requirements.

• Develop accurate cost estimates covering material, labor, outside processing, tooling, and overhead for manufactured and engineered parts.

• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations; assess material availability, lead-times, obsolescence risk, and supplier capability.

• Build detailed BOMs and pricing structures within the ERP system; enter and maintain pricing records.

• Prepare formal customer quotations including clearly documented assumptions, exclusions, clarifications, and delivery

• Identify cost drivers, pricing variances, and BOM gaps; escalate discrepancies or risks to Engineering, Purchasing, or Finance as appropriate.

Customer & Contract Manager Liaison (approximately 25-30%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and contract managers on quote clarification, technical questions, and commercial terms.

• Conduct regular check-ins to provide quote status updates and receive customer feedback, schedule changes, or requirement revisions.

• Ensure alignment between quote assumptions and the customer's actual needs; coordinate revisions when requirements change.

• Support the Sales team in proposal preparation, pricing negotiations, and bid/no-bid discussions.

Program Support & Tracking (approximately 15-20%)

• Maintain a quote and program status log; track open quotes, awards, losses, and pending actions.

• Monitor post-award program milestones and flag schedule, cost, or scope risks to leadership.

• Prepare status reports, metrics, and trend summaries (e.g., quote win rate, cycle time, pricing accuracy) for management review.

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives within the estimating and proposal workflow.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 2-5 years in one or more of the following: manufacturing cost estimating, pricing/quoting, production planning, supply chain/purchasing, or program/proposal support in a manufacturing environment.

• Technical Reading: Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and revision documentation.

• ERP Proficiency: Hands-on experience with ERP costing modules, BOM structures, and pricing entry (e.g., Epicor, JobBOSS, SAP, or similar).

• Analytical Skills: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel (formulas, lookups, pivot tables) and the ability to organize and interpret complex cost and performance data.

• Communication: Professional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable interacting directly with external customers and contract managers.

• Attention to Detail: Proven track record of accuracy in documentation, pricing, and data entry.

• Work Style: Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and coordinate cross-functionally with Engineering, Purchasing, Finance, and Sales.

• Eligibility: S. Person status as defined under ITAR/EAR regulations. Preferred Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related field (equivalent experience will be considered).

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or government-contract

• Familiarity with DoD procurement, FAR/DFARS requirements, or contract performance reporting.

• Experience building dashboards, KPIs, or status reports for

• Exposure to project or program management tools and

• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes (machining, fabrication, assembly, finishing) and common materials.