Cost/Proposal Estimator - Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Position Description

Cost/Proposal Estimator-Engineer

Company Overview:

DESTACO, a Stabilus Company, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance automation, workholding, and remote handling solutions. The company serves customers in variety of end-markets, including the automotive, life sciences, consumer goods, packaging, aerospace, and nuclear sectors. 

Built on a legacy of over 100 years, DESTACO offers a comprehensive portfolio of products to engineer precise movement, placement and control solutions that drive productivity and uptime for manufacturers around the world. The DESTACO family of products consists of industry-leading brands such as DESTACO Manual and Power Clamps, Camco and Ferguson Indexers, Robohand Grippers and CRL Manipulators and Transfer Ports. 

DESTACO is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and operates globally through ~700 employees across 11 locations.

With nearly 90 years of demonstrated expertise, The Stabilus Group is one of the world's leading providers of motion control solutions for customers across a broad spectrum of industries. 

Stabilus, approaching 1.5B EUR in revenue, is headquartered in Koblenz, Germany and employs more than 7,000 team members across 34 locations in 18 countries. 

Stabilus SE is listed in the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and included in the MDAX index. 

Position Summary

The Cost/Proposal Estimator-Engineer for DESTACO is responsible for determining customer pricing for modified products and special manufactured related items. He/she will handle inquiries and provide accurate and timely response. He/she will learn and maintain product knowledge and collaborate across the organization to provide accurate and timely information to ensure customer satisfaction.

The Cost/Proposal Estimator-Engineer reports to the Director, Sales/Commercial. The position is located in Wheeling, IL. The position requires the ability to work and communicate globally and virtually with Sales, Product and Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, Field Service and Technical Support. 

Key Job Responsibilities  included but not limited to: 

• Develops and calculates quotations based on established pricing practices
• Issues quotations based on standard lead times of quotation delivery based on complexity of the request and established KPI’s
• Communicates special quotes, price sheet interpretation, delivery and other necessary sales and marketing information
• Determines costs for modified products and special manufactured related items
• Verifies and validates price breakouts on quotations to ensure proper gross-profit
• Assesses most price effective proposal based on customer requirements and may propose other products based on customer budget constraints. 
• Performs engineering product sizing studies to determine best product for customer requirements.
• Suggests cost-cutting methods to improve upon standard procedures, price sheets and all other sales and marketing programs
• Interfaces effectively with internal and external contacts to provide excellent customer satisfaction
• Supports sales and product engineers, providing accurate account information, analysis and feedback as the business needs develop and change.
• Collaborates across the global organization as required, working with other customer service representatives, technical support, sales, field service, product and applications engineering to meet customer needs and deliver superior customer service. 
• Develops and maintains extensive knowledge of products, use, and application of materials. 

Job Requirements: 

Experience: 

• Requires 2-4 years of experience in customer service. Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred. 
• Experience with MS Office Applications required. Office 2007/10 experience (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access and Project a plus).
• Experience with customer satisfaction surveys a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• High energy, strong interpersonal skills, prefer to work in team environment
• Analytical thinker, ability to make decisions and problem solve in a timely manner 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects and meet deadlines
• Flexible, learns quickly, willing to change with the needs of the customer and markets
• Ability to work collaboratively an maintain positive relationships with colleagues, internal and external customers, and manage stressful situations with a positive attitude
• Excellent communicator including facilitation, verbal, and written skills
• Ability to provide service status, and maintain a high level of communication

Education and Certification Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in business required or in a related field