Cost Engineer – SME

The Cost Engineer SME serves as the groups leading authority on cost estimation cost control and project financial performance across all defense manufacturing subsidiaries and JVs. The role ensures that project and production costs are accurately planned monitored and optimized in alignment with corporate strategies defense contract requirements and lifecycle cost objectives.

This position establishes group-wide cost engineering frameworks estimation standards and control methodologies to improve cost transparency budget discipline and profitability across defense programs and factories.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Group-Level Oversight:

• Develop and enforce standardized cost engineering policies procedures and tools across all subsidiaries and JVs.
  
• Support corporate and subsidiary leadership in budget planning cost analysis and cost optimization strategies.
  
• Ensure all factories adhere to consistent cost tracking and reporting methodologies aligned with defense program management standards.
  
• Act as the corporate advisor on cost control financial forecasting and cost-performance measurement.
  

Cost Estimation & Planning:

• Lead the development of should-cost and life-cycle cost models for new defense products and programs.
  
• Prepare independent cost estimates (ICEs) and bid cost analyses to support strategic decision-making and contract negotiations.
  
• Validate and standardize cost breakdown structures (CBS) and work breakdown structures (WBS) across programs.
  
• Analyze and benchmark labor material and overhead rates across factories to identify efficiency opportunities.
  

Cost Control & Performance Monitoring:

• Oversee cost tracking and variance analysis at project and factory levels.
  
• Support subsidiaries in implementing earned value management (EVM) and other cost-performance control systems.
  
• Develop and manage cost dashboards for executive reporting on budget status forecasts and deviations.
  
• Provide expert review and validation of cost-to-complete and cost-at-completion projections.
  

Collaboration & Integration:

• Work closely with engineering production procurement and finance teams to ensure cost accuracy across design manufacturing and delivery phases.
  
• Coordinate with program managers and bid teams to ensure realistic cost baselines for defense proposals.
  
• Support the digital transformation of cost management by defining system requirements and integration standards within ERP EVM or PLM environments.
  

Continuous Improvement & Knowledge Transfer:

• Lead cost reduction and value engineering initiatives across subsidiaries and JVs.
  
• Develop and deliver training programs for cost engineers and project controllers across the group.
  
• Establish a knowledge-sharing platform for best practices in cost modeling estimation and reporting.
  
• Identify cost risks and opportunities to improve overall financial performance and competitiveness.
  

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering Mechanical Engineering Finance Economics or Cost Engineering.
  
• Masters degree or MBA preferred.
  
• Professional certification such as AACEI (CCP CEP) ICEAA (PCEA/CPCEA) or PMP with cost focus is highly desirable.
  

Experience:

• Minimum 1015 years of experience in cost engineering estimation or project controls ideally within defense and/or aerospace industries.
  
• Demonstrated experience in multi-site cost management and defense contract cost reporting.
  
• Proven expertise with EVM systems ERP tools (SAP Oracle IFS) and cost analysis software.
  
• Strong background in bid costing life-cycle costing (LCC) and cost-benefit analysis for defense programs.
  

Skills and Competencies:

• Deep understanding of cost estimation control and forecasting methodologies.
  
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with advanced proficiency in Excel Power BI and cost modeling tools.
  
• Knowledge of defense contracting cost-plus/fixed-price models and government audit requirements (FAR/DFARS or equivalents).
  
• Excellent financial acumen combined with strong technical understanding of engineering and production processes.
  
• Ability to communicate complex cost data clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
  
• Strategic mindset with attention to detail and accuracy.
  
• Strong leadership training and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Accuracy of cost forecasts estimates and variance analyses.
  
• Improvement in project cost predictability and budget adherence.
  
• Reduction in unit cost and cost overruns across programs.
  
• Timely and accurate delivery of group-level cost reports and dashboards.
  
• Implementation of standardized cost engineering practices and tools across subsidiaries.