Cost Estimator

Cost Estimator - Newton Aycliffe

People Solutions are currently recruiting for a Cost Estimator to join our well-established client based in Newton Aycliffe. This is a full-time permanent opportunity within a growing manufacturing business operating advanced metal stamping and welded assembly facilities across the UK and Europe.

This is a commercially critical role, offering an excellent salary and the opportunity to play a key part in shaping competitive customer quotations within a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment.

Shifts

• Monday to Thursday - 8:00am to 4:30pm
• Friday - 8:00am to 3:30pm

Salary

• £45,000 - £50,000 per annum (flexible depending on experience)

Benefits

As a Cost Estimator, you will receive:

• Long-term permanent opportunity within a growing and well-invested group
• Strong leadership team and institutional backing
• Opportunity to influence commercial strategy and customer wins
• Exposure to high-tonnage pressing and complex metal production environments
• Structured two-stage interview process with senior leadership

Day-to-Day Duties

As a Cost Estimator, your duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Owning RFQ costing end-to-end, from initial review through to final commercial submission
• Interpreting CAD drawings and technical specifications to define scope and manufacturing routes
• Developing tooling concepts, cycle times, and process assumptions in collaboration with Engineering and NPI
• Building robust, traceable cost models linking engineering assumptions to commercial outcomes
• Assessing labour, material, tooling, overheads, and capacity cost drivers
• Managing and monitoring project budgets and providing cost control insights
• Challenging cross-functional inputs to ensure feasibility and alignment with plant capability
• Translating technical detail into clear, commercially sound quotations
• Providing cost visibility and risk analysis to support competitive pricing decisions
• Collaborating closely with Engineering, Finance, Procurement, and Commercial teams

Essential Skills

To be successful as a Cost Estimator, you will need:

• Proven cost estimating or cost engineering experience within automotive or high-volume manufacturing
• Strong engineering understanding of pressings, welded assemblies, tooling concepts, and cycle times
• Confident reading and interpreting 2D and 3D CAD drawings and technical specifications
• Ability to build clear, robust, and traceable manufacturing cost models
• Strong commercial awareness with understanding of profitability (not just margin application)
• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Finance, and Commercial teams
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail
• Ability to operate confidently in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Desirable Experience

• Experience with in large-scale metal stamping or complex metal production environments
• Background in automotive manufacturing
• Experience supporting new facility launches or plant capability expansion

Training Provided

• Industry-related training
• Ongoing professiona