Manufacturing Estimator
Full-time
Riverside, CA, USA
USD 75k-90k / year
MSM Industries, LLC has been a trusted partner to the U.S. Navy and its prime contractors for over 20 years. As an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing business, we specialize in advanced material solutions for signature reduction, vibration and acoustic management, and environmental control. MSM also serves as a high-performance system integration and assembly provider for key customers. With in-house manufacturing and a track record for on-time, high-quality deliveries, MSM is known for innovation, reliability, and rapid response to complex program needs.
MSM is part of Canopy Aerospace & Defense, a platform built to accelerate the future of advanced materials for space, defense, and maritime systems. Canopy A&D delivers specialized materials and components that carry customers from concept through sustainment. Canopy A&D’s advanced signal attenuation technologies and production-scale manufacturing accelerate the fielding of platforms that are faster, cooler, and quieter. Our adaptive approach ensures solutions evolve at the pace of shifting challenges, keeping our customers ahead of the curve.
Role Overview
The Manufacturing Estimator at MSM Industries is responsible for preparing accurate, timely, and competitive cost estimates and quotations for defense, maritime, space, and aerospace manufacturing programs. This role evaluates customer requirements, drawings, material specifications, and engineering data to determine labor, tooling, raw material, compression molding, precision machining, laser processing, and specialized finishing requirements. Working collaboratively with Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and external vendors, the Estimator ensures quotes align with customer expectations, plant capacity, manufacturing capabilities, and strategic business goals. This position requires solid technical knowledge of elastomeric, polymer, composite, and mechanical fabrication processes in a fast-paced defense and aerospace manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Proposal & Quote Development: Organize and prepare comprehensive proposal packages and formal price/delivery quotations for defense primes, naval contractors, and aerospace OEMs using internal ERP systems, MS Excel, and proposal templates
- RFQ & Technical Review: Review and analyze customer RFQs, statements of work (SOW), drawings, MIL-SPECs , quality clauses, and engineering BOMs
- Manufacturing Process Planning: Identify routing steps and operational sequences across core processes—including polymer/rubber molding, urethane/silicone casting, composite lamination/bonding, CNC machining/routing, laser cutting, and subsystem kitting.
- Cost Modeling: Calculate detailed labor run times, setup hours, tooling/mold fabrication costs, raw material yields/scrap factors, and outside special processing rates (e.g., destructive/non-destructive testing, environmental testing, coatings)
- Vendor & Supply Chain Coordination: Solicit, evaluate, and integrate competitive pricing from approved suppliers for specialized polymers, resins, metallic inserts, tooling, and qualified outside processing.
- Risk & Producibility Assessment: Partner with Engineering and Operations to evaluate manufacturability, identify tooling/processing risks, and ensure adherence to ITAR, defense compliance, and quality standards
- Pipeline & RFQ Tracking: Maintain active RFQ logging, tracking key performance metrics (win rates, turnaround time, margin analysis), and manage revision updates throughout the program lifecycle.
- Continuous Improvement: Support estimating standardizations, cycle-time reductions, post-award job cost reviews, and 5S/HSE standards.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of estimating and quoting experience in a precision manufacturing, defense, or aerospace environment. Solid experience utilizing cost models and/or formulas that incorporate pre-determined Overhead, G&A and profit rates. Proven ability to interpret engineering blueprints, MIL-SPECs, technical datasheets, GD&T, and Bills of Material (BOM).Strong knowledge of estimating molding (elastomers, urethanes, silicones, epoxies), composite layup/bonding, or precision fabrication/machining processes
- Experience estimating in a high-mix, low-to-medium volume, build-to-print or custom-engineered job shop environment
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems (e.g.Epicor, or similar manufacturing systems).
- Understanding of material costs and processing characteristics for polymers, composites, silicones, and engineered synthetics
- Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interface effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal cross-functional teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in defense manufacturing, maritime/naval systems (e.g., NAVSEA specs), or signature reduction / Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM)
- Experience working in an AS9100 / ISO 9001 certified and ITAR-regulated facility
- Background in tooling design, mold design, or process engineering.
- Experience conducting post-production variance analysis (estimated vs. actual costs).
Additional Requirements
- Must have professional working proficiency reading, writing, and speaking English
- Ability to work in office, lab, and manufacturing environments with occasional exposure to noise, chemicals, dust, industrial equipment, and temperature variations
- Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
- Frequent use of hands and fingers for data entry, keyboarding, and mouse use
- Ability to view computer screens for prolonged periods
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and via email
- Ability to use a computer to complete assignments
Job Details
Type: Full Time Exempt
Hours: Core Business Hours Monday through Friday. Schedule and overtime may vary based on business needs.
Base Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000
Base Location: Riverside, CA - 100% onsite
Travel: Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Total compensation will also include a comprehensive set of benefits including but not limited to: Company paid employee medical, dental and vision insurance. 401K company match (eligibility required), paid sick leave, paid vacation, paid holidays and discretionary bonuses.
Export Control Requirements
To conform to US Government export regulations, the applicant must be a (i) US Citizen, (ii) lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (aka green card holder), (iii) protected individual as defined by U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
MSM Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer, employment with MSM Industries is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.