What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Estimator position at Bascom Hunter Technologies, Inc.?
About the Role
Bascom Hunter Technologies is seeking a Lead Estimator to bridge the gap between engineering, program management, and business development. This role owns the technical and cost estimating backbone of our proposal efforts — translating customer requirements (RFQs, RFPs, and sole-source requests) into accurate, competitive, and defensible cost and pricing packages for DoW customers and prime contractors.
The ideal candidate combines hands-on engineering judgment, project management discipline, and cost/schedule estimating expertise to support new business capture from initial technical scoping through proposal submission and contract award. This is a highly cross-functional position that plays a critical role in shaping how Bascom Hunter wins new work.
Key Responsibilities
Estimating & Proposal Development
- Develop basis-of-estimate (BOE) packages for labor, materials, NRE, and recurring costs across engineering, manufacturing, and program management functions
- Build detailed cost models and pricing structures (NRE, recurring unit pricing, hierarchical BOMs) in response to customer RFQs/RFPs
- Partner with engineering, supply chain, and finance to validate assumptions, rates, and technical scope prior to submission
- Prepare pricing and technical response letters, proposal volumes, and supporting documentation for prime contractors (e.g., Bell Textron, Lockheed Martin, Boeing) and direct DoW customers
Engineering & Technical Liaison
- Translate customer specifications and statements of work into scope, technical approach, and cost drivers
- Assess design, manufacturing, and integration complexity to inform risk-adjusted estimates
- Identify weight reduction, producibility, or design trade opportunities that improve competitiveness
- Provide technical input on aerospace qualification requirements (e.g., environmental, EMI/EMC, DO-160, MIL-STD testing) as they affect cost and schedule
Business Development Support
- Act as a technical resource during customer engagements — representing Bascom Hunter's capabilities in a technical estimating capacity
- Support capture strategy by identifying technical differentiators and cost advantages
- Assist in identifying and evaluating supply chain partners and subcontractors for competitive positioning
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent experience)
- 5 years of experience in engineering, project/program management, or cost estimating
- Demonstrated experience building cost proposals, BOEs, or pricing packages
- Strong command of Microsoft Excel and proposal/estimating tools; comfort building structured pricing models (NRE/recurring, BOM-based)
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to represent technical content to both engineers and non-technical customer stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent proposal efforts under tight deadlines
- U.S. Person status (per ITAR/EAR requirements for this role)
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with aerospace qualification and certification processes (environmental testing, DO-160, MIL-STD-810, EMI/EMC, airworthiness/certification support)
- Familiarity with major aerospace prime supply chains (e.g., Bell Textron, Sikorsky, Boeing, Lockheed Martin) and their sourcing/RFQ processes
- PMP certification or equivalent project management training
- Prior experience in a "Sales Engineer," "Proposal Engineer," or "Estimator" role at a defense contractor
What Success Looks Like in This Role
- Proposals are technically sound, competitively priced, and delivered on customer timelines
- Estimating accuracy improves program profitability and reduces cost overruns
- Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter and prime contractor supply chain/technical teams
- Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter business development, engineering, and program management teams
Bascom Hunter Technologies is an equal opportunity employer.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $56,655 - $90,165