Manufacturing Estimator / Process Planner – Tool & Die

Manufacturing Estimator / Process Planner – Tool & Die

Tool & Die | Precision Machining | Estimating | Manufacturing Planning

Location: Germantown, WI
Job Type: Full-time | In Person
Schedule: 1st Shift

Company Ownership: Family Owned Business (no private equity jerks here)

About the Opportunity

Gromax Precision is seeking an experienced manufacturing professional to join our team in a Manufacturing Estimator / Process Planner role.

This is not strictly a desk estimating position.

We are looking for someone who understands how things are actually made and can use that experience to help determine the best manufacturing process, estimate the work, prepare quotations, and help move awarded jobs from the customer RFQ into our shop.

The right person may come from a background in Tool & Die Making, CNC Machining, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling Engineering, Production Planning, or Manufacturing Estimating.

If you can look at a print, understand what it will take to manufacture the part or tooling, and enjoy solving manufacturing problems, we would like to talk with you. If you also have other skills to bring to the table, even better, as our employees typically where many hats which keeps the day moving quickly. And if you want to learn other skills, we can help make that happen.

About Gromax Precision

Gromax Precision is a Class A Tool and Progressive Die Manufacturing company. For nearly 50 years, we have designed and built precision tooling and components for customers around the world.

Our customers include some of the largest and most innovative companies in the military, aerospace, medical, electrical, and industrial markets.

We specialize in high-precision, low-volume work. Our toolroom manufactures progressive dies, fixtures, gauges, prototypes, replacement tooling, and one-off precision components using CNC and manual machining, grinding, Wire EDM, and other precision manufacturing processes.

The variety of our work keeps things interesting. We are rarely asked to build the exact same thing twice.

We are a family-owned and operated business with many employees who have been with Gromax for decades. We value experience, ideas, craftsmanship, honesty, and people who take ownership of their work.

And yes — our facility is air conditioned to maintain production quality and comfort.

What You Will Do

The primary focus of this position will be estimating and manufacturing process planning to start.

Responsibilities will include:

• Review customer drawings, CAD models, specifications, and RFQ packages.
• Determine the manufacturing processes required to produce tooling and precision machined components.
• Prepare estimates for new tooling, die components, fixtures, gauges, machining, Wire EDM, grinding, and other toolroom work.
• Estimate material, labor, machining, tooling, outside processing, and other manufacturing costs.
• Request and coordinate vendor quotations for materials, heat treating, coatings, plating, and other outside services.
• Develop manufacturing routings and determine the appropriate sequence of operations.
• Estimate setup and machining hours for individual manufacturing operations.
• Work directly with our toolmakers, machinists, designers, production personnel, and management when developing estimates and manufacturing plans.
• Prepare and maintain customer quotations.
• Review historical jobs and actual manufacturing costs to improve future estimating accuracy.
• Assist with job release and manufacturing planning after work is awarded.
• Help coordinate material, outside services, tooling requirements, and production priorities.
• Assist with purchasing, quality, and general problem solving.
• Assist with production and Tool Room scheduling as experience with our operation develops.
• Communicate with customers and vendors regarding technical questions, specifications, pricing, and delivery requirements.
• Identify drawing, tolerance, material, or manufacturing issues before jobs reach the shop floor.
• Support continuous improvement of our estimating and manufacturing planning processes.
• Be a positive influence on coworkers and contribute to a great work environment.

What We Are Looking For

We are more interested in practical manufacturing knowledge and problem-solving ability than a particular job title.

A strong candidate may currently be working as a:

• Tool & Die Maker
• Toolmaker
• CNC Machinist or Programmer
• Manufacturing Estimator
• Tooling Estimator
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Tooling Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Production Planner
• Tooling Designer
• Toolroom Supervisor or Lead

Desired Qualifications

• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints.
• Strong understanding of tolerances and precision manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of GD&T.
• Understanding of machining processes including milling, turning, grinding, drilling, and Wire EDM.
• Experience with tooling, dies, fixtures, gauges, or precision machined components.
• Ability to visualize how a component will be manufactured from a print or CAD model.
• Ability to estimate manufacturing operations, setup time, and labor requirements.
• Strong mechanical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable working with computers, spreadsheets, ERP systems, and manufacturing documentation.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple RFQs and active jobs.
• Ability to communicate professionally with customers, vendors, toolmakers, machinists, and management.
• Attention to detail and the ability to work in a quality-focused precision manufacturing environment.

Helpful, But Not Required

• Progressive die or metal stamping experience.
• Previous manufacturing estimating experience.
• Production planning or scheduling experience.
• CAD experience, including SolidWorks.
• CNC programming experience.
• Tool & die apprenticeship or Journeyman Tool & Die background.
• Experience with an ERP/MRP manufacturing system.
• Purchasing and sourcing experience.
• Quality experience.
• Experience comparing estimated versus actual job costs.

Previous estimating experience is not required for the right person with a strong machining, toolmaking, or manufacturing background.

We can teach our estimating system. It is much harder to teach the manufacturing judgment that comes from understanding how precision parts and tooling are actually made.

Long-Term Opportunity

This position is being added as part of Gromax's long-term succession and growth plan.

Several of our key technical and manufacturing employees have been with Gromax for decades. We want to transfer that knowledge to the next generation of our team well before those employees retire.

The person who joins us will have the opportunity to learn from experienced Tool & Die Makers, tooling designers, estimators, production planners, and manufacturing leaders.

As your knowledge of Gromax grows, this position can expand beyond estimating into areas such as:

• Manufacturing and process planning
• Production planning
• Toolroom job coordination
• Tooling project management
• Customer technical support
• Manufacturing engineering
• Business development and technical sales
• Operations leadership

We are looking for someone interested in becoming an important long-term member of the Gromax team — not simply filling an estimating position.

The Gromax Way

Are you an individual who values honesty and integrity?

Do you prefer a work environment where people treat each other with respect?

Do you enjoy manufacturing environments where the work changes from day to day and you are expected to think, solve problems, and contribute ideas?

At Gromax, the cornerstone of our business is our people. We have built long-term relationships with customers by providing quality products, technical expertise, honesty, integrity, and craftsmanship.

We want people who take pride in what they do and want to work alongside others who do the same.

Gromax Precision is ISO 9001:2015 Certified and ITAR Registered.

Benefits

We offer a full benefits package, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k)
• 401(k) Company Match
• Paid Vacation / Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible Schedule
• Air-Conditioned Facility
• Long-Term Career Growth

Compensation commensurate with experience.

Pay: $30.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 55.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• What interests you about this particular position? How does it fit into your long term career goals?

Ability to Commute:

• Germantown, WI 53022 (Required)

Work Location: In person