Vehicle Cost Engineer Full Time NEW

Job Description:

• The Cost Engineer role develops detailed cost estimates for components and tooling using an activity ‐ based costing approach.
• This role works directly with bills of material, drawings, and physical samples to understand how parts are made and to estimate the associated component, manufacturing, and investment costs.
• In this position, you will use established Client methods and processes to analyze costs, provide guidance to internal teams, and support cost convergence activities.
• You will collaborate with global engineering, purchasing, finance, and supplier teams to ensure competitive and transparent cost structures from early concept through serial production.
• Multiple roles are being fulfilled within this job posting- for all component scopes within the vehicle structure (Body, Interior, Chassis, Engine Adaptation, Electrical Components and Systems, Powertrain).
• Position fulfillment to utilize applicant background and experience as paired to internal role needs.
• Organization Success in this role requires curiosity, agility, and a collaborative mindset within a fast ‐ paced, global environment.

Responsibilities:

• Develop component cost estimates for new programs, including: Early ‐ phase cost engineering estimates, Detailed “should ‐ cost” calculations using a bottom ‐ up manufacturing approach
• Provide idea generation and cost support during vehicle development to help achieve cost targets (Design ‐ to ‐ Cost)
• Support purchasing during supplier negotiations by completing gap analyses of supplier cost breakdowns (Piece Price, ED&D, Tooling)
• Contribute to benchmarking and value optimization activities, including serial life should ‐ cost assessments
• Collaborate closely with internal global team, Engineering, Buyers, and Suppliers
• Provide global cost comparison analysis in partnership with the broader Cost Engineering community

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or a related technical field
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the automotive industry or related technical field
• Strong English verbal and written skills to support role job key deliverables
• Ability to manage a high volume of parts and varying levels of complexity
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
• Ability to work effectively across multiple levels of the organization, functions, and global regions

Backgrounds that work well:

• Design Release Engineers (DREs) for relevant components (body, interior, propulsion, chassis, electrical).
• Manufacturing engineers or process engineers (stamping, injection molding, die casting, welding, assembly, electronics manufacturing, wire harness, etc.).
• Tooling development backgrounds, especially those who have worked in tool shops or installed lines (stamping & welding lines, injection molding, etc.).
• Purchasing or sales professionals only if they have very strong product and process knowledge for the targeted commodity.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with cost model structures and activity ‐ based costing for component development
• Experience in within one or multiple areas: Design Responsible Engineering, Manufacturing, Component Tool development, or Component Purchasing