Sales Engineer (Cost Estimator)

If you're passionate about technological leadership, operational excellence, and quality service, consider growing your career at Grede! Our company is dedicated to innovation in an industry that's always focused on the future. We reward our committed team members with advancement opportunities and a variety of incentives to recognize their efforts. From comprehensive benefits packages to paid time off, we strive to invest in our employees and make each individual feel like family. Join the Grede team and accelerate your development with a best-in-class organization!

The sales engineer's role is to complete the quoting process on new machining opportunities presented by the corporate sales and account management team. This position will review customer requirements and expectations received in print and specification form; determine the most cost-efficient production process for the requested part volume; calculate cycle times for individual manufacturing operations, compile all appropriate costs to determine the proper selling price while meeting all profitability metrics; prepare customer quotation and maintain corporate sales database. Must take necessary action to minimize delay time and maximize production.

What You'll Do:

• Review new business opportunities to determine potential fit for organization.
• Review customer prints, models, and associated requirements (EAU's, engineering specifications, quality requirements, etc.) to determine manufacturing process alternatives.
• Complete time studies for desired manufacturing processes using various methods.
• Compile costs for quoted process including labor, machines, equipment, work-holding, perishable tooling, gauging, freight, packaging, etc. for desired manufacturing process.
• Work with outside suppliers to gather costs for raw materials and sub-contract processes.
• Work with outside suppliers to determine costs of capital equipment, work-holding, tooling, gauging, etc. as needed.
• Research new technology including manufacturing techniques, machines and equipment, work-holding, perishable tooling, gauging concepts, etc. that can be incorporated into quoting activities.
• Communicate directly with customers, both internally and externally, to close information gaps.
• Prepare or supervise quote preparations to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure quotes are properly loaded into corporate sales database.
• Prepare sales and engineering presentations used to support quoting activities - for both internal and external customers.
• Prepare documentation supporting business cases used during corporate management approval processes.
• Perform contract reviews on new and existing purchase orders and contacts.
• Guide visitors on plant tours.
• Performs miscellaneous work assignments as directed.
• Must maintain a good attendance record.

Why Join Us:

• $1,000 Hiring Bonus

• 8-hour shift w/ paid break
• Competitive wages paid weekly
• Shift premiums for second and third shifts
• Medical with HSA, dental, vision, life insurance, and short-term disability
• Matching 401(k)
• Paid vacations and holidays

What We Need from You:

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from four-year college or university; and eight to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret blue-prints, engineering and quality specifications, general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and associates.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as tolerance stack-ups, probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, etc.) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
• Previous experience in machining.
• High competency level in blue-print reading and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
• Previous experience in cost estimating.
• Experience with 2D and 3D CAD software - Autocad, Solidworks, Creo/Pro-Engineer

As a Fair Chance employer, Grede is committed to considering individuals who are rebuilding after past challenges. We believe full-time employment can be a powerful step toward long-term success.


To learn more about Grede, please visit our website at

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.