Aerospace Quoting & Pricing Specialist at Rocket EMS · Santa…

JOB DESCRIPTION: AEROSPACE QUOTING & PRICING SPECIALIST Job Title: Aerospace Quoting & Pricing Specialist Department: Business Development / Supply Chain Reports To: VP of Business Development Location: Santa Clara, CA Employment Type: Full-Time POSITION SUMMARY We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Aerospace Quoting & Pricing Specialist to manage the end-to-end quoting process for key aerospace and defense accounts. This role is responsible for preparing accurate, competitive, and timely quotes for board-level assemblies, complex system-level assemblies, and custom aerospace components. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in cost estimating, supplier pricing, vendor coordination, and technical data review. This position will also be responsible for maintaining and improving the company’s internal cost database, supporting scalable quoting processes, and ensuring compliance with ITAR, EAR, AS9100, DFARS, and applicable customer requirements. This role is intended to improve quoting speed, accuracy, consistency, and margin control while freeing up leadership bandwidth and supporting continued growth in aerospace and defense programs. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES QUOTE MANAGEMENT • Lead the preparation, review, and submission of quotes for board-level assemblies, system-level assemblies, and related aerospace products. • Manage quote timelines and drive completion of standard opportunities within targeted turnaround times. • Coordinate internally with Business Development, Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, and Operations to ensure quotes are complete, accurate, and aligned with customer requirements. • Identify quote risks, assumptions, exclusions, and areas requiring clarification before submission. COST DATA OWNERSHIP • Maintain and continuously improve the company’s internal cost database. • Collect, validate, and update pricing for electronic components, board-level materials, custom parts, fabricated items, machined components, special processes, and subcontracted services. • Use historical data, supplier input, engineering specifications, and actual production results to improve estimating accuracy. • Maintain traceable cost records to support quoting consistency, margin analysis, and audit readiness. VENDOR AND SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT • Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers, subcontractors, and outside service providers. • Request and analyze supplier quotes for pricing, lead time, terms, capacity, and risk. • Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, and commercial terms when appropriate. • Flow down applicable customer, quality, ITAR/EAR, DFARS, AS9100, and contractual requirements to suppliers. COST ESTIMATING AND ANALYSIS • Review BOMs, drawings, specifications, technical data packages, and customer requirements to develop complete cost estimates. • Estimate material, labor, outside processing, tooling, overhead, and other applicable costs. • Perform cost comparisons, variance analysis, and quote-to-actual reviews. • Support pricing strategy by identifying cost drivers, risks, opportunities, and potential margin improvements. COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT • Ensure quoting activities are performed in compliance with ITAR, EAR, and applicable export control requirements. • Protect controlled technical data and ensure it is shared only with authorized parties. • Support vendor screening and confirm supplier eligibility when ITAR-controlled work or technical data is involved. • Maintain proper documentation of pricing rationale, assumptions, customer requirements, and flow-down obligations. PROCESS IMPROVEMENT • Identify opportunities to improve quoting workflows, estimating tools, cost models, supplier response times, and overall quote accuracy. • Help standardize quoting templates, review processes, and cost database practices. • Support continuous improvement efforts aimed at reducing turnaround time, improving win rates, and protecting margins. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS • Must be a U.S. Person as defined under ITAR requirements, including U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). • 3–7+ years of experience in quoting, pricing analysis, cost estimating, supply chain, purchasing, or a related role. • Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, or complex assembly environments preferred. • Strong understanding of custom aerospace components and manufacturing processes, including CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, composites, special processes, cable assemblies, electronics assembly, and related subcontracted services. • Experience reviewing BOMs, drawings, specifications, and technical data packages. • Proven ability to work with vendors and subcontractors to obtain accurate pricing, lead times, and flow-down compliance. • Familiarity with AS9100, FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, and government contracting requirements strongly preferred. • Experience using ERP systems, cost databases, quoting platforms, and advanced Excel. • Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. • Ability to manage multiple quotes, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, or equivalent practical experience preferred. PREFERRED SKILLS • Experience quoting PCBA, box-build, cable assembly, or system-level aerospace products. • Prior experience supporting aerospace and defense customers. • Familiarity with costed BOMs, labor routing, overhead models, and margin analysis. • Ability to identify quote risks and communicate them clearly to leadership. • Strong vendor negotiation and supplier follow-up skills. • Comfortable working with engineering, purchasing, quality, and sales teams to resolve technical and commercial questions. WORK ENVIRONMENT This position operates in a professional office and manufacturing environment. The role may require interaction with engineering, production, purchasing, quality, and business development teams, as well as external suppliers and customers. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are open to hiring at different levels depending on the candidate's qualifications. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and the responsibilities of the position. Pay Range $100,000 - $130,000 USD Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.