Production Planning & Cost Engineer

Job Description

Company Description

At Express, we specialize in manufacturing precision-engineered identification solutions designed to stand the test of time in the world’s most demanding environments. We provide critical asset identification for the infrastructure, energy, warehouse, data center, and aerospace sectors, where quality and compliance are not just requirements—they are promises to our customers. Our manufacturing processes are a hybrid of technologies found in the printing industry, the metal fabrication industry, as well as the machining and digital processing industries.

The Role

We are seeking a detail-driven Production Planning & Cost Engineer to serve as the critical link between our Sales, Engineering, and Production teams. In this role, you will be responsible for translating complex customer requirements and engineered drawings into accurate quotes and viable production plans. You won’t just be crunching numbers; you will be analyzing technical specifications, understanding our manufacturing workflows and production constraints, and ensuring that every job we take on is set up for success out of the gate.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Planning: Develop job-specific production plans to manufacture custom products according to customer-provided engineered drawings, quality requirements, and material specifications
• Precision Quoting: Analyze client RFQs, technical drawings, and specifications to generate accurate cost estimates, accounting for materials, specialized finishes, and labor processes.
• Technical Consultation: Collaborate with Sales to guide customers toward the most cost-effective and durable identification solutions for their specific applications.
• Workflow Integration: Partner with the Engineering and Production teams to ensure all quoted jobs are technically feasible and that lead times are realistic based on current machine capacity and material lead times.
• Business System Management: Utilize our in-house Information System and proprietary pricing tools to maintain accurate job records, track profitability, and manage the transition from quote to production order.
• Process Improvement: Proactively identify opportunities to refine our estimating logic and production workflows to increase throughput and maintain our high standards of quality.

Qualifications

• Experience: 1-3 years’ experience in an engineering, estimating, planning, or production coordination role, ideally within a precision manufacturing, industrial printing, or defense contracting environment. Related roles and fields are eligible for consideration.
• Technical Aptitude: Ability to interpret technical drawings and understand manufacturing processes (e.g., etching, stamping, laser marking, or custom material fabrication).
• Analytical Skills: Strong mathematical aptitude and extreme attention to detail; you are comfortable working with complex data and specialized pricing models.
• System Proficiency: Experience working with Information System software and a high level of comfort with Excel and data management tools.
• Communication: A "bridge-builder" mentality—you can clearly communicate technical production constraints to the Sales team and client needs to the Production team.