Strategic Sourcing Cost Estimator

About the role

Ontic is a leading global aerospace OEM with a Creedmoor, NC site housing specialist companies including Firstmark, Twin Commander, and Metro Merlin. The Strategic Sourcing Cost Estimator will join the Revenue Management team, reporting to the Head of Revenue Management, working onsite in Creedmoor, NC. The role provides strategic sourcing and cost estimating support focused on supplier strategy, material cost optimization, sourcing risk, and long‑term competitiveness, partnering across Supply Chain, Strategic Sourcing, Engineering, Finance, Operations, and Revenue Management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain material and product cost estimates using supplier quotations, historical purchasing data, BOMs, engineering information, market intelligence, and sourcing assumptions.
• Develop sourcing strategies for new and existing requirements, balancing supplier capability, cost, quality, capacity, lead time, risk, and long‑term business needs.
• Lead RFQ activity for materials, components, equipment, and services in support of new business, pricing, cost reduction, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Identify and develop alternative suppliers to improve competition, reduce cost, mitigate risk, and strengthen sourcing coverage.
• Evaluate supplier quotations and commercial proposals for competitiveness, completeness, sustainability, and cost reasonableness.
• Develop should‑cost estimates, target costs, historical benchmarks, and supplier comparisons to support negotiations and sourcing decisions.
• Work with suppliers to understand underlying cost structures, manufacturing processes, tooling, minimum order quantities, capacity, and other commercial cost drivers.
• Support supplier negotiations with cost targets, market data, historical pricing, volume scenarios, and fact‑based recommendations.
• Analyze BOMs, drawings, specifications, and manufacturing requirements to validate cost assumptions and identify key sourcing and cost drivers.
• Assess purchasing trends, supplier performance, market conditions, and alternative sourcing options to identify cost reduction and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Partner with Global Sourcing and Supply Chain leadership on supplier strategies, negotiation plans, dual sourcing, consolidation, and long‑term cost reduction.
• Provide cost and sourcing insight to support new business, customer quotations, contract negotiations, and long‑term pricing strategies.
• Support long‑term agreement negotiations through cost models, escalation assumptions, volume scenarios, and supplier pricing frameworks.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally to ensure sourcing strategies and cost estimates align with business objectives and operational requirements.
• Develop reporting that improves visibility into supplier competitiveness, sourcing risk, purchase price trends, and cost reduction opportunities.
• Present sourcing recommendations, cost risks, and savings opportunities to cross‑functional and senior leadership.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, Operations, or a related field of study.
• 2‑3+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, estimating, supplier management, or a related function, preferably within aerospace, defense, or manufacturing.
• Experience developing sourcing strategies, managing RFQ activity, evaluating supplier proposals, and supporting supplier selection decisions.
• Experience working directly with suppliers on pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, tooling, capacity, commercial terms, and cost reduction opportunities.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems, historical purchasing data, supplier quotations, and market intelligence to support sourcing and estimating decisions.
• Understanding of bills of material (BOMs), manufacturing processes, material cost structures, supplier economics, and key supply chain cost drivers.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation to support sourcing and cost estimation.

Skills

• Strong commercial judgment with the ability to assess supplier pricing, identify cost drivers, evaluate sourcing alternatives, and determine cost reasonableness.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including supplier comparisons, cost modeling, scenario analysis, and decision‑support tools.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills with the ability to influence sourcing and commercial decisions.
• Familiarity with aerospace/defense sourcing requirements, government contracting, or regulated supply chains is preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical insurance
• Competitive PTO, holiday pay, and sick leave
• Company 401K plan with up to 4% matched contribution
• Annual bonus program (varies by level and discretionary based on company and individual performance)
• Flexible working arrangements