At a Glance
- Tasks: Prepare accurate estimates and quotations while supporting manufacturing processes.
- Company: Join a leading precision engineering business in Bournemouth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, half-day Fridays, free hot drinks, and training support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and customer interaction.
- Why this job: Be part of innovative projects and make a real impact in engineering.
- Qualifications: Experience in estimating and strong understanding of engineering processes required.
Please note: only applicants with the full-time, permanent right to work in the UK will be considered.
Overview:
- Prepare quotations, costings and estimates from drawings, BOMs and specifications
- Work directly with customers to clarify prices, requirements and technical details
- Support NPI, route cards, manufacturing routes and production release
- Split role across estimating, process improvement and manufacturing support
- Join a precision engineering business with varied machining, fabrication and assembly work
This role is with an established precision engineering business in Bournemouth, supporting customer work through the pre-production stages before it reaches manufacture. The Estimating Engineer will review drawings, specifications and BOMs, prepare accurate quotations, speak with customers and suppliers, and help turn won work into clear route cards, manufacturing methods and production release information.
This is not a purely desk-based estimating job. The Estimating Engineer will stay closely involved with NPI, manufacturing routes, supplier input, traceability, production support and process improvement. The role is roughly split between quoting/estimating and wider manufacturing support, so it suits someone who understands how work is actually made, not just how to price it.
As Estimating Engineer, you’ll be involved from customer enquiry through to quotation, contract review, NPI discussion and production handover. You’ll need to be confident reviewing drawings, asking the right questions, understanding machining, fabrication or assembly routes, and discussing commercial and technical details with customers.
The business needs an Estimating Engineer who can hit the ground running with quotations and pricing, while also supporting the wider pre-production team with route cards, MRP data, supplier input and manufacturing improvement. Customer contact is mainly by phone and Teams, with occasional face-to-face involvement.
Day-to-day responsibilities:
- Prepare accurate estimates and quotations from drawings, specifications, BOMs and customer requirements
- Review RFQs and identify material, supplier, process, cost and delivery requirements
- Discuss pricing, technical requirements and delivery expectations directly with customers
- Liaise with approved suppliers to confirm pricing, lead times, availability and subcontract requirements
- Plan manufacturing routes, route cards and production release information
- Support NPI meetings and help agree the best way to move new work into manufacture
- Identify manufacturing risks, cost implications and technical concerns before production release
- Maintain accurate quotation, routing and manufacturing information within the MRP system
- Work with production to make sure planned methods are realistic and achievable
- Support contract reviews, project reviews and internal pre-production meetings
- Contribute to process improvement across estimating, routing, NPI and manufacturing flow
- Support quotation KPIs, workload visibility and customer response times
- Mentor or support others within the pre-production function where needed
What they’re looking for:
- Experience in estimating, quotations, pre-production, production engineering or manufacturing engineering
- Strong understanding of CNC machining, welding/fabrication, assembly or precision engineering processes
- Able to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications and BOMs
- Confident preparing costings, discussing pricing and handling customer-facing estimating work
- Comfortable speaking with customers by phone, Teams and occasionally face to face
- Able to work with suppliers around pricing, lead times, materials and subcontract processes
- Good understanding of route cards, MRP data, production release and manufacturing handover
- Commercially aware, accurate and able to manage a busy quotation workload
- Good communication skills across customers, suppliers, production, quality and internal teams
- Organised, analytical and able to balance quoting deadlines with manufacturing support
Desirable:
- Background in subcontract precision engineering
- Experience supporting NPI or contract review activity
- Knowledge of approved suppliers, traceability and supplier selection
- Previous hands-on background in machining, fabrication, welding or assembly
- Experience mentoring others or supporting a wider estimating/pre-production team
- Continuous improvement exposure within manufacturing or production support
What’s on offer:
- A varied role with involvement from RFQ and quotation through to NPI, route cards and production release.
- The chance to work on a mix of machining, fabrication and assembly-led projects rather than purely commercial estimating.
- A 39-hour working week with a half-day Friday, plus EAP, Cycle to Work Scheme, free on-site parking, free hot drinks and training support.
- A strong opportunity for an Estimating Engineer who enjoys customer contact, pricing, manufacturability and helping work move properly into production.
How to apply:
If you’re interested in this role, get in touch to talk through the quoting workload, customer contact and production involvement. Call or message Hayden at Holt Engineering.
Estimating Engineer employer: Holt Engineering
Join a dynamic manufacturing and engineering organisation in Horsham, where we prioritise employee growth and development within a collaborative work culture. As a Supply Chain Team Leader, you will benefit from competitive salary packages, comprehensive training programmes, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a thriving industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Estimating Engineer
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
Get yourself along to local engineering meetups or tech conferences. These are great places to connect with like-minded folks and industry leaders who might just have a lead on that full-time Estimating Engineer role you’re after at Holt Engineering.
✨Show Off Your Projects!
Don’t be shy about showcasing your engineering projects. Whether it’s a funky app, a mechanical design, or a complex algorithm, having a solid portfolio on platforms like GitHub can really make you stand out. Plus, it gives potential employers at Holt Engineering a taste of what you can bring to the table!
✨Engage with Online Communities
Dive into engineering forums and online communities, like Reddit or specific engineering Discord channels. Sharing your insights, asking questions, and being active can help you build connections that might lead to job opportunities at Holt Engineering.
✨Apply Through Company Websites
When you spot a role like Estimating Engineer at Holt Engineering, apply directly through their website. Often, this can show your genuine interest in the company and you might just get noticed quicker than via typical job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Estimating Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Estimating Engineer, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Holt Engineering a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Holt Engineering specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Holt Engineering
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Holt Engineering, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Holt Engineering want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
