Cost Estimator (temp)

Cost Engineering Opportunity In Berkeley, CAWant to contribute your cost engineering skills to a great company in Berkeley, CA? DescriptionShould-cost strategy and modeling- Build and continuously improve should-cost models for raw materials, fabricated components, and capital equipment, using activity-based costing, parametric modeling, and process-based cost breakdowns. Benchmarking and market intelligence- Establish cost benchmarking practices against industry best practice in automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial manufacturing, adapted to a novel chemistry with a developing supply base. Track commodity, labor, and overhead trends that move Form's cost structure and bring that intelligence into sourcing and design decisions early.Design-to-cost influence- Partner with product and manufacturing engineering early in the design cycle so cost is a design input, not a post-hoc audit. Cross-functional cost visibility- Feed cost forecasts and risk into the Sales and Operations Planning forum and the annual build plan, giving Finance and the executive team a clear, defensible view of unit economics as volume scales.Building the function- Establish the tools, data structure, and methodology for cost engineering at Form, and build and lead a team of cost engineers and analysts as the group scales with production volume.Additional Skills & Qualifications8+ years in cost engineering, finance, manufacturing engineering, or strategic sourcing, including should-cost modeling and supplier cost negotiation, ideally in automotive, aerospace, electronics, or industrial manufacturingDirect experience building or scaling a cost engineering capability, not only operating within an established oneFluency in activity-based costing, parametric cost modeling, and cost breakdown analysis from BOMs, drawings, or samplesA track record of using cost models to change supplier negotiations and design outcomes, not just to report varianceComfort operating with limited market data and building estimation methodology where none exists, which mirrors Form's position with a novel chemistry and a developing supply basePeople leadership experience or clear readiness to build and lead a teamBachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or materials engineering, or equivalent experience; an advanced degree or continued technical credibility is a plusComfort operating in a fast-moving, first-of-a-kind manufacturing environment where the answer is not always in a databaseJob Type & LocationThis is a contract position based out of Berkeley, CA.Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)