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Lead Cost Analyst Cost Engineering Manager

Planet
San Francisco, California
Full Time
Posted December 4, 2025
$128k - $161k
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Job Description

The role involves leading cost analysis and financial modeling for aerospace hardware products, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing teams to optimize product profitability and support strategic decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and review accurate cost estimates for projects by analyzing plans and specifications
  • Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to model product and production costs
  • Translate technical plans into financial build and ramp scenarios, identifying risks and opportunities
  • Ensure effective cost control measures throughout project lifecycles
  • Perform marginal cost analysis and forecast profit margins for products
  • Drive cost reduction initiatives and identify levers to improve unit economics
  • Support strategic tradeoff decisions with financial impact analysis
  • Own and manage forecast and budget cycles for manufacturing and engineering expenses
  • Create financial dashboards and tools to monitor cost drivers and program performance

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
  • 10 years of experience in a cost engineering, financial analysis, or program finance role, preferably supporting an Aerospace hardware, manufacturing, or consumer electronics environment.
  • Solid foundational understanding of manufacturing processes, product lifecycle management (PLM), and cost accounting principles such as standard costing and variance analysis.
  • Exceptional analytical and financial modeling skills, with expertise in building complex, multi-variable cost models.
  • Advanced proficiency in data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, and Microsoft Excel.
  • Ability to review project plans and specifications to develop accurate and reliable cost estimates for key projects.
  • Ability to partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to model product and production costs across development stages including Bill of Materials (BOM), tooling, labor, and overhead.
  • Ability to translate engineering and production plans into financially rigorous build and ramp scenarios, identifying financial risks and reallocation opportunities.
  • Experience collaborating with program managers, engineers, and stakeholders to ensure effective execution of cost control measures throughout project lifecycles.
  • Experience driving marginal cost analysis and margin forecasts for new and existing products.
  • Experience developing cost-down roadmaps in collaboration with Design, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to identify levers for improving unit economics.
  • Ability to support cross-functional tradeoff decisions such as make vs. buy, tooling investments, and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) options with clear financial impact analysis.
  • Ability to perform ad hoc analysis to support leadership initiatives and strategic decisions.
  • Ownership of forecast and budget cycles for manufacturing and engineering spend areas, ensuring transparency and accountability.
  • Ability to build financial dashboards and tooling to improve visibility into BOM drivers, absorption trends, and program-level cost performance.
  • Understanding of export-controlled information access requirements, with the ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Home Office Reimbursement
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
Equity
Commuter Benefits (if local to an office)
Discretionary short-term and long-term incentives, bonus, and equity
Salary Range: $128,400 - $160,500 USD (based on location and experience)

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