Cost Engineer

WANT TO CONTRIUTE YOUR COST ENGINEERING SKILLS TO A GREAT COMPANY IN BERKELEY, CA?! APPLY HERE NOW! Description Should-cost strategy and modeling- Build and continuously improve should-cost models for raw materials, fabricated components, and capital equipment, using activity-based costing, parametric modeling, and process-based cost breakdowns. Set the standard for how Form estimates cost before a supplier quote exists. Benchmarking and market intelligence- Establish cost benchmarking practices against industry best practice in automotive, aerospace, electronics, and industrial manufacturing, adapted to a novel chemistry with a developing supply base. Track commodity, labor, and overhead trends that move Form's cost structure and bring that intelligence into sourcing and design decisions early. Supplier negotiation leadership- Use cost models to evaluate supplier quotations, identify negotiation leverage, and lead or directly support high-stakes negotiations alongside Global Supply Managers. Hold suppliers to a standard of cost transparency, not just price. Design-to-cost influence- Partner with product and manufacturing engineering early in the design cycle so cost is a design input, not a post-hoc audit. Translate cost model output into specific, actionable design and process feedback that changes outcomes. Cross-functional cost visibility- Feed cost forecasts and risk into the Sales and Operations Planning forum and the annual build plan, giving Finance and the executive team a clear, defensible view of unit economics as volume scales. Building the function- Establish the tools, data structure, and methodology for cost engineering at Form, and build and lead a team of cost engineers and analysts as the group scales with production volume. Additional Skills & Qualifications 8+ years in cost engineering, finance, manufacturing engineering, or strategic sourcing, including should-cost modeling and supplier cost negotiation, ideally in automotive, aerospace, electronics, or industrial manufacturing Direct experience building or scaling a cost engineering capability, not only operating within an established one Fluency in activity-based costing, parametric cost modeling, and cost breakdown analysis from BOMs, drawings, or samples A track record of using cost models to change supplier negotiations and design outcomes, not just to report variance Comfort operating with limited market data and building estimation methodology where none exists, which mirrors Form's position with a novel chemistry and a developing supply base People leadership experience or clear readiness to build and lead a team Bachelor's degree in mechanical, industrial, or materials engineering, or equivalent experience; an advanced degree or continued technical credibility is a plus Comfort operating in a fast-moving, first-of-a-kind manufacturing environment where the answer is not always in a database
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Berkeley, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $57.69/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Berkeley, CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 21, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Berkeley,CA.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.