Estimating Manager

Estimating Manager

The Estimating Manager leads WASI's commercial strategy, estimating organization, and front-end business execution. This role owns the estimator team and is directly accountable for turning quotes around on time, tracking win/loss performance, and developing a deep, data-driven understanding of WASI's business — its customers, commodities, capacity, and competitive position.

The Estimating Manager partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to drive accurate run times, competitive pricing, and healthy backlog development. The role maintains ownership of win-rate performance, customer engagement, market growth, and margin management, holding a minimum contribution margin expectation of 25% unless otherwise approved by the VP/GM.

Team Leadership — Estimating Organization

• Directly supervise, mentor, and develop the estimating team; set clear priorities, expectations, and accountability.
• Own quoting discipline including margin expectations, pricing structure, and turn-time standards.
• Ensure the team produces accurate, timely, and competitive quotes with validated assumptions from manufacturing and engineering.
• Carry out leadership responsibilities in accordance with company policy and applicable law with HR guidance — interviewing, hiring, training, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining, and resolving complaints.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and clear communication across all levels of staff.

Quote Turnaround & Process Discipline

• Establish and monitor quote cycle-time, accuracy, and consistency KPIs; report performance to leadership on a regular cadence.
• Drive on-time quote delivery as a primary performance metric for the team.
• Ensure every opportunity, quote, and decision is supported by accurate cost modeling and data.
• Continuously improve the estimating workflow to reduce turn time without sacrificing accuracy.

Win/Loss Tracking & Business Understanding

• Monitor win/loss performance by customer, commodity, and part family; identify trends and root-cause corrective actions.
• Provide leadership with regular reporting on quoting volume, conversion (win) rates, backlog health, and customer activity.
• Analyze customer demand trends, market dynamics, and competitive positioning to inform pricing and pursuit strategy.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of WASI's cost base, capabilities, and capacity to quote profitably and realistically.

Business Development & Customer Strategy

• Lead the business development function, driving growth across key customers and markets.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new business in alignment with short- and long-term strategy.
• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships; serve as senior commercial representative for the organization.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic planning, pricing strategy, and future capability needs.
• Maintain a balanced backlog that supports shop capacity, financial goals, and customer priorities.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the department budget, ensuring cost control and profitability.
• Maintain ownership of margin performance within established minimums.
• Prepare and present operational and commercial performance reports for executive leadership.

Continuous Improvement & Safety

• Lead change-management initiatives to adapt to evolving industry standards and improve efficiency.
• Has authority to stop any production order for quality concerns.
• Ensure safety guidelines and company policies are followed and that appropriate PPE is worn in designated areas.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Team-oriented with strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Detail-oriented with meticulous work habits and strong project management skills.
• Strong ability to set priorities, solve problems, and be resourceful under pressure.
• Hands-on machining experience required — 3, 4, 5-axis or similar.
• Direct experience understanding machine processes, run times, and manufacturability.
• Extensive understanding of cost modeling and quoting methodologies.
• Comfortable interfacing with all levels of staff and management in a fast-paced, high-mix environment.
• Quality-oriented; must understand the requirements of AS9102.

Preferred Education & Experience

• College degree in Business, Engineering, or related field and five years' related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination.
• Previous production-environment leadership role required.
• Prior direct team leadership experience required.
• Direct customer-facing estimation experience required.
• MRP or ERP system experience required.
• Aviation background preferred, ideally in quick-turn, high-mix / low-volume environments.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.