What are the responsibilities and job description for the Machine Shop Estimating Specialist position at Talent & Strategy?
Machine Shop Estimator
Hanover, PA | ELSNER Engineering Works
Recruiting partner: Talent & Strategy
You know how to make the part. Now help determine what it takes to quote it right.
Talent & Strategy is partnering with ELSNER Engineering Works to hire a Machine Shop Estimator with practical machining knowledge and experience quoting contract machining jobs.
This role connects shop expertise with smart business decisions—turning customer drawings and specifications into accurate cost estimates and competitive quotes. We’re looking for someone who understands setups, tooling, materials, and cycle times, and can confidently evaluate how a job should be manufactured and what it will cost.
What You’ll Do
- Review customer drawings, models, specifications, and quantities to prepare estimates for contract machining work.
- Determine machining methods, operation sequences, equipment requirements, and outside services.
- Estimate material, setup, programming, run time, tooling, labor, and inspection costs.
- Interpret tolerances, surface finishes, and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).
- Obtain supplier pricing and lead times for materials and outside processing.
- Collaborate with machining, engineering, quality, supply chain, and production control to validate estimates and identify potential challenges.
- Prepare documented estimates and recommended pricing for Sales to use in customer proposals.
- Maintain quoting records and support a clear handoff of awarded jobs to production.
- Compare actual job costs with estimates to improve future quoting accuracy.
What You Bring
- A strong machine shop background and experience quoting contract machining jobs.
- Practical understanding of CNC milling, turning, tooling, workholding, and setup requirements.
- The ability to look at a print and determine how to manufacture the part, what resources are needed, and what drives the cost.
- Strong blueprint-reading, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Proficiency with Excel and familiarity with ERP or manufacturing estimating systems.
- Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple quoting deadlines.
Experience with Epicor, CNC programming, CAM software, or custom machining is a plus. Machinists and CNC programmers who have developed estimating experience are encouraged to apply.
Why This Opportunity?
ELSNER builds custom machinery and provides contract machining services, offering varied work that puts your manufacturing knowledge to use. Your estimates will directly influence the jobs the company wins and help set production teams up for success.
Ready to put your shop knowledge to work in estimating? Apply through Talent & Strategy to learn more.
Pay: From $27.40 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Salary : $27