Estimating Manager (Pricing / Cost)

Role: Estimating & Pricing Specialist

Location: Bristol

Duration: 6 months - initially

Role Type: Hybrid – 3 days onsite

Salary: Depending on experience

The Role

Our globally renowned aerospace client is seeking an experienced Estimating & Pricing Specialist to join a dynamic commercial team supporting a diverse portfolio of major defence and aerospace programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing robust estimating and pricing solutions that support new business opportunities, competitive bids and long-term commercial success.

Working closely with commercial, engineering, finance and programme stakeholders, you will lead the development of detailed cost estimates, pricing models and commercial strategies, ensuring proposals are competitive, commercially viable and represent best value. You will also contribute to pricing innovation, risk analysis, financial modelling and continuous improvement initiatives across the wider business.

Based within the Estimating & Pricing function, you will support both complex strategic campaigns and wider business activities, helping to standardise processes, improve data quality and deliver consistent estimating and pricing capability across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop accurate cost estimates and pricing models for complex defence and aerospace programmes throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Produce pricing strategies, commercial models and financial analysis to support competitive bids and business growth.
• Prepare and substantiate estimates in response to customer requirements and Requests for Proposal (RFPs).
• Perform detailed cost, pricing, financial, risk and competitive analysis, providing recommendations to support business decisions.
• Ensure technical requirements are accurately translated into cost models whilst challenging assumptions to achieve best value.
• Maintain and enhance estimating databases, pricing models and cost data, identifying opportunities to improve data quality and accuracy.
• Support the development of pricing rates, cost factors, internal budgets and affordability assessments.
• Lead risk and uncertainty modelling for proposals and support Price to Win and Competitive Cost Assessment activities.
• Engage with customers during cost assurance reviews, audits and pricing discussions.
• Produce and maintain all estimating and pricing documentation, ensuring compliance with company and customer requirements.
• Support the transition of successful bids into programme delivery and finance operations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, knowledge sharing and cross-functional collaboration.

Skills & Experience

The successful candidate will possess excellent analytical and commercial skills, with the ability to interpret complex technical information and develop accurate, well-justified cost estimates.

Applicants should demonstrate

• A degree in a mathematical, financial, business or related discipline.
• A minimum of five years' experience in estimating, pricing, cost engineering or financial analysis, ideally within the defence, aerospace or engineering sectors.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including cost modelling, scenario analysis, Power Query and data manipulation.
• Experience developing complex cost models and pricing strategies.
• Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of competitive bidding and proposal development.
• Experience using estimating and risk analysis tools such as ProPricer and @Risk, or similar software.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary or matrix organisations.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities whilst maintaining exceptional attention to detail and delivering high-quality outputs.