Manufacturing Estimator

Mid Continent Engineering is seeking a Manufacturing Estimator to join our team! This is a 1st Shift- 6 am to 4:30 pm- Monday through Thursday opportunity. Mid-Continent has been a supplier to first-tier OEMs within the medical, aerospace and defense industries for decades. Mid-Continent Engineering stuffs the armed forces supply chain with products of our capabilities such as precision machining, aerospace welding, chromate conversion, paint/powder coat finishing, mechanical assemblies, and other design-assist services.

A few things we have to offer: Competitive Wages Medical, Dental & Vision for employees & family including domestic partners. 401k Tuition Reimbursement PTO accrual starts immediately. Yearly shoe allowance Referral Program. Summary: The responsibility of the manufacturing estimator will be estimating new & repeat parts and entering quotes into an ERP system.

This role requires familiarity with engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials to develop accurate, competitive, and profitable cost estimates for machined parts, welded assemblies, sheet metal components, and fabricated metal products.

Essential Duties

& Responsibilities include the following: Estimating and Quotation Review customer RFQs, blueprints, CAD files, technical specifications, and bills of materials. Determine manufacturing methods and the most efficient production approach for each job. Calculate material, labor, machine time, setup time, tooling, consumables, and outside processing costs.

Obtain and evaluate supplier and subcontractor pricing for materials, heat treating, plating, painting, powder coating, and other services. Prepare accurate and timely quotations in accordance with company pricing standards and profit margin requirements. Identify cost risks, missing information, unusual tolerances, and potential manufacturing challenges before submitting quotes.

Drawing Review and Manufacturing Planning Interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, material specifications, weld symbols, and surface finish requirements. Evaluate part complexity, material availability, machining requirements, fabrication methods, and assembly needs. Determine appropriate manufacturing sequences, including cutting, machining, forming, welding, finishing, inspection, and assembly.

Collaborate with engineering and production personnel to verify feasibility, cycle times, and required resources. Identify special requirements involving quality standards, certifications, traceability, or inspection documentation. Cost Analysis and Profitability Understand current cost information for raw materials, labor rates, machine rates, and subcontracted services.

Analyze historical job costs and compare actual performance against estimated costs. Review material utilization, scrap allowances, setup requirements, and production quantities. Identify opportunities to improve estimating accuracy, reduce waste, and increase profitability. Escalate unusual risks, uncertain costs, and high-value quotations to management as appropriate.

Internal and Customer Communication Work with sales and project managers to clarify RFQ requirements and communicate quotation timelines. Coordinate with purchasing, engineering, quality, and production to validate cost assumptions. Request clarification when drawings, specifications, quantities, or delivery requirements are incomplete.

Assist with quote revisions, engineering changes, and updated customer requirements. Provide a clear handoff of awarded jobs to project management or production, including assumptions, exclusions, and special requirements. (NPI process) Systems, Documentation, and Continuous Improvement Use estimating software, ERP/MRP systems, spreadsheets, and other digital tools to prepare and maintain quotations.

Maintain accurate quote histories, costing worksheets, supplier quotes, and supporting documentation. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives involving pricing methods, standard labor rates, production data, and estimating procedures. Identify opportunities to standardize repeat-job pricing and automate routine estimating tasks.

Education

& Experience: 5+ years industrial experience; or a combination of education and experience. Working knowledge of manufacturing operations including machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, finishing and supplier interface. Must have experience and understand simple to complex blueprint drawings with G.D. & T. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and strong attention to detail.

Understanding of aerospace, defense, medical industry, and other manufacturing industries preferred but not required. Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across departments. Ability to manage multiple RFQs and deadlines. Experience working in Epicor ERP (Kinetic) System, preferred. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use of hands, fingers, feet, and hands to reach with arms. The ability to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employees must be able to cope with Minnesota climate variances, endure heat & cold conditions in the shop. Endure heavy workloads, high noise levels from hammering, and grinding (hearing protection provided). Protect against metal particles, fumes, sparks, particles, and gases (safety glasses, safety-toed boots, ear plugs, and gloves provided per the company policy guidelines).

Individuals working in an office setting will not endure some of the physical & work environments conditions of the production floor unless office is adjacent to the production floor or per the individual’s job duties and/ or responsibilities. All office personnel must abide by the PPE guidelines (safety glasses, safety-toed boots that are provided per the company policy guidelines) when entering the production floor or if a requirement of a department that individual is entering or working in.

6 am to 4:30 pm- Monday through Thursday