Cost Estimating Engineer

Flow-Turn is a global leader in the manufacturing of powered belt curves and spiral inclines/declines, based in Union, New Jersey. Since 1980, we have delivered simple, efficient, and reliable products to a diverse range of national and international customers. In 2011, the company was acquired by Hermann Miedel and rebranded to Flow-Turn. The Miedel family proudly runs operations at Flow-Turn. In 2024, Flow-Turn was recognized as a Minority-Owned Business. Position Summary: We are seeking an experienced Estimating and Costing Engineer to develop accurate estimates for conveyor curves and other material handling products and to help maintain, modernize, and expand Flow-Turn's Excel-based estimating and pricing platform. The ideal candidate combines strong metal manufacturing and cost-estimating knowledge with advanced Excel application development skills, including VBA programming, Power Query, complex formulas, structured data, and workbook integration. Key Responsibilities: Prepare detailed cost estimates for conveyor curve and material handling products, including material, labor, and tooling costs. Analyze quotes, engineering drawings, specifications, and bills of materials (BOMs) to develop accurate pricing for new and existing products. Maintain, enhance, and modernize the existing Excel/VBA estimating and pricing application without disrupting established costing logic. Develop modular, reusable VBA functions and procedures, including event-driven automation, error handling, debugging, and performance optimization. Build dynamic estimating logic so product selections, dimensions, options, and features drive dependent calculations and costing requirements. Use complex Excel formulas, structured tables, PivotTables, and Power Query to manage supplier data, material costs, labor rates, and other inputs. Manage and troubleshoot internal and external workbook links, references, and data dependencies. Develop standardized, table-driven costing modules that simplify adding new products and features and reduce duplicated or hard-coded logic. Collaborate with Engineering, Production, and Purchasing to maintain current cost inputs, document calculation methods, and support timely proposals and bids. Project Handoff and Collaboration Create and validate detailed internal cost sheets for project review and approval. Support project handoffs to Operations, Engineering, and Project Management. Participate in project kickoff meetings. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. 5+ years of experience in cost estimating, engineering, or a related role within a manufacturing environment. Hands-on experience in metal manufacturing, including fabrication, welding, machining, forming, or sheet metal processes. Advanced Microsoft Excel expertise, including complex formulas, structured tables, named ranges, PivotTables, data validation, workbook architecture, and internal/external workbook references. Advanced VBA application development experience required, including development and maintenance of large or business-critical Excel applications; reusable functions and procedures; Excel object model programming; arrays and dictionaries; event-driven code; error handling; debugging; and performance optimization. Experience using Power Query to import, transform, combine, and refresh data from multiple sources. Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and BOMs. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with close attention to detail and accuracy. Preferred Qualifications Experience estimating conveyor systems, curves, or other material handling equipment. Experience designing configuration-based or rules-based estimating tools and improving legacy spreadsheet applications. Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and integrating estimating or costing tools with business systems. Familiarity with SQL, Power BI, databases, APIs, or other data-integration technologies. Experience with source control or structured software-development practices is a plus. #J-18808-Ljbffr