Project Estimator

Key Responsibilities

• 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
• Translate customer specifications and statements of work into scope, technical approach, and cost drivers
• Audit 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
• 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
• Afford assistance 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