PROJECT ESTIMATOR

Bascom Hunter Technologies is seeking a Project Estimator to bridge the gap between engineering, program management, and business development. This role owns the technical and cost estimating backbone of our proposal efforts — translating customer requirements (RFQs, RFPs, and sole-source requests) into accurate, competitive, and defensible cost and pricing packages for DoW customers and prime contractors. The ideal candidate combines hands-on engineering judgment, project management discipline, and cost/schedule estimating expertise to support new business capture from initial technical scoping through proposal submission and contract award. This is a highly cross-functional position that plays a critical role in shaping how Bascom Hunter wins new work. # **Key Responsibilities** **Estimating & Proposal Development** - Develop basis-of-estimate (BOE) packages for labor, materials, NRE, and recurring costs across engineering, manufacturing, and program management functions - Build detailed cost models and pricing structures (NRE, recurring unit pricing, hierarchical BOMs) in response to customer RFQs/RFPs - Partner with engineering, supply chain, and finance to validate assumptions, rates, and technical scope prior to submission - Prepare pricing and technical response letters, proposal volumes, and supporting documentation for prime contractors (e.g., Bell Textron, Lockheed Martin, Boeing) and direct DoW customers **Engineering & Technical Liaison** - Translate customer specifications and statements of work into scope, technical approach, and cost drivers - Assess design, manufacturing, and integration complexity to inform risk-adjusted estimates - Identify weight reduction, producibility, or design trade opportunities that improve competitiveness - Provide technical input on aerospace qualification requirements (e.g., environmental, EMI/EMC, DO-160, MIL-STD testing) as they affect cost and schedule **Business Development Support** - Act as a technical resource during customer engagements — representing Bascom Hunter's capabilities in a technical estimating capacity - Support capture strategy by identifying technical differentiators and cost advantages - Assist in identifying and evaluating supply chain partners and subcontractors for competitive positioning # **Required Qualifications** - Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, or Systems Engineering (or equivalent experience) - 5+ years of experience in engineering, project/program management, or cost estimating - Demonstrated experience building cost proposals, BOEs, or pricing packages - Strong command of Microsoft Excel and proposal/estimating tools; comfort building structured pricing models (NRE/recurring, BOM-based) - Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to represent technical content to both engineers and non-technical customer stakeholders - Ability to manage multiple concurrent proposal efforts under tight deadlines - U.S. Person status (per ITAR/EAR requirements for this role) # **Preferred Qualifications** - Experience with aerospace qualification and certification processes (environmental testing, DO-160, MIL-STD-810, EMI/EMC, airworthiness/certification support) - Familiarity with major aerospace prime supply chains (e.g., Bell Textron, Sikorsky, Boeing, Lockheed Martin) and their sourcing/RFQ processes - PMP certification or equivalent project management training - Prior experience in a "Sales Engineer," "Proposal Engineer," or "Estimator" role at a defense contractor # **What Success Looks Like in This Role** - Proposals are technically sound, competitively priced, and delivered on customer timelines - Estimating accuracy improves program profitability and reduces cost overruns - Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter and prime contractor supply chain/technical teams - Strong working relationships develop between Bascom Hunter business development, engineering, and program management team**Equal Employm…