Manufacturing Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Manufacturing Estimator

Location: Tempe, AZ

Schedule: First Shift, Monday–Friday

Position Overview

Saltera HR is partnering with a growing semiconductor manufacturing company in Tempe, Arizona, to hire two experienced Manufacturing Estimators. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex manufacturing challenges, developing detailed process plans, and evaluating every factor that affects cost, quality, profitability, and lead time. The Manufacturing Estimator will prepare quotations for contract-manufactured products involving CNC machining, plastic fabrication, welding, and assembly.

Key Responsibilities

• Review incoming requests for quotation and prepare accurate, timely estimates.
• Develop cost-effective manufacturing plans that account for setup time, run time, labor, materials, outside services, and expected yield.
• Establish machining, welding, fabrication, and assembly processes based on available equipment and production capabilities.
• Interpret customer drawings, specifications, tolerances, and technical requirements.
• Determine raw material requirements and identify appropriate vendors for materials and OEM components.
• Request and evaluate supplier quotations for materials, services, and outside processing.
• Negotiate competitive pricing with suppliers when appropriate.
• Establish realistic production lead times based on customer requirements and internal capacity.
• Create and review manufacturing travelers, methods of manufacturing, and process documentation.
• Participate in weekly New Product Introduction meetings with engineering, production, purchasing, and quality teams.
• Analyze projected profitability during the quotation process.
• Compare estimated costs against actual job performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure quotations comply with applicable customer, quality, and industry requirements.

Required Qualifications

• At least three years of experience estimating or quoting machined products.
• Previous estimating experience within a CNC machine shop, plastic fabrication facility, or similar manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of GD&T and ASME Y14.5 standards.
• Proven ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, tolerances, and bills of materials.
• Hands-on experience developing manufacturing process plans, travelers, or methods of manufacturing.
• Knowledge of machining, plastic fabrication, welding, and assembly processes.
• Understanding of how plastics behave during machining, fabrication, and welding.
• Experience estimating components made from plastics, common metals, and specialty metals.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to balance cost, quality, manufacturability, and lead time.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with SolidWorks or a comparable CAD platform.
• Experience using MRP or ERP systems.
• JobBOSS experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong computer, mathematical, analytical, and cost-estimating skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Mastercam or other CAM programming experience.
• Three or more years of experience in a plastic welding or fabrication environment.
• Experience sourcing materials and negotiating supplier pricing.
• Estimating experience within the semiconductor, aerospace, medical, or another highly regulated industry.
• Experience reviewing actual job costs and manufacturing profitability.

What the Position Offers

• Consistent first-shift schedule.
• Medical and dental insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid holidays.
• Quarterly performance bonus.
• Collaborative, cross-functional work environment.
• Opportunity to directly influence manufacturing processes, profitability, and organizational growth.

About Saltera HR

Saltera HR is proud to partner with organizations who share our belief that people matter—and that opportunity, fairness, and respect belong in every workplace. We recruit, represent, and refer candidates based solely on qualifications, experience, and alignment with our clients' needs. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by law. We are not the employer of record for this position. Our role is to represent both the client and the candidate with professionalism, integrity, and respect throughout the recruitment process.