What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Aerospace Estimation Engineer position at McAlister Design?
ABOUT STEELCREST PRECISION
Steelcrest Precision is a Tier 2 aerospace precision machining company supplying components for aircraft, defense, and critical infrastructure applications. We operate under AS9100, ITAR, and CMMC1 requirements, and we win business one quote at a time. A missed estimate does not just cost a job; it can cost margin on every part we make for years. That is why the accuracy of our estimating function matters as much as the accuracy of our machines.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
A direct line into how this company sets pricing strategy and wins work, real influence over the tools and standards you use every day, and a leadership team that backs your number when a customer pushes back on it. We are investing in better estimating systems because our margins depend on it, and we need someone who wants to build that discipline, not just execute a spreadsheet.
THE ROLE
We're looking for a Senior Estimation Engineer who can turn a customer print into an accurate, defensible, and competitive quote, fast. You will own the cost model behind every RFQ that comes through Steelcrest, from raw material and cycle time to tooling, setup, and outside processing. This role sits at the intersection of engineering, operations, and sales, and directly shapes which jobs we win and whether we make money on them. You will report to operations and commercial leadership, with regular visibility to the CEO on pricing strategy and win/loss trends.
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
- RFQ Cost Modeling: build detailed cost estimates from customer prints and specs, covering material, cycle time, tooling, setup, inspection, and outside processing.
- Process and Cycle Time Analysis: apply process knowledge across milling, turning, and multi-axis machining to estimate realistic cycle times, not best-case guesses.
- Should-Cost Modeling: build should-cost models for existing competitor parts, and use them to negotiate margin, defend pricing, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.
- Quote Turnaround: work directly with sales and program management to turn around competitive quotes on tight customer timelines without sacrificing accuracy.
- Estimate Accuracy and Feedback Loop: track quoted cost versus actual shop cost on won jobs, and feed that data back into the estimating model so it gets sharper over time.
- Capacity and Make/Buy Input: factor current shop loading and equipment availability into lead time and pricing decisions on new quotes.
- Design for Manufacturability Input: partner with engineering on manufacturability feedback during the quoting stage, catching cost drivers before they become production problems.
- Estimating Systems and Standards: maintain and improve the rate tables, labor standards, and cost models used across the estimating function.
WHAT YOU BRING
- 5 years of cost estimating or manufacturing engineering experience in aerospace, defense, or another precision machining environment.
- Strong blueprint reading and GD&T interpretation; ability to read a print and see the cost drivers immediately.
- Hands-on knowledge of CNC milling and turning processes, tooling selection, and realistic cycle time calculation.
- Experience with ERP or costing software (Job Boss, Paperless Parts or equivalent) and comfort building or refining cost models in Excel.
- A track record of quotes that hold up: estimates that match what happens on the shop floor, not just what wins the bid.
- Comfortable pushing back on sales or customers when a target price does not match the real cost of the work.
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering preferred; equivalent shopfloor and estimating experience will be considered.
- Experience with ITAR-controlled programs and AS9100 quoting requirements a plus.
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
Precision under pressure. Quotes come in fast and often on short deadlines, and we need estimates that are both quick and right. You take ownership of the number you put in front of a customer, and you are willing to say no to a price that does not work, even when there is pressure to say yes.