Position Summary
The Quoting Specialist is responsible for building accurate, complete, and competitive cost estimates for all customer RFQs and rebids in a high-mix, build-to-print manufacturing environment. This role translates customer requirements, engineering documentation, and operational inputs into structured quote packages that reflect actual production capability, material costs and labor estimates.
This role serves as the analytical backbone of the quoting process, ensuring that every quote submitted is grounded in validated cost data, realistic production assumptions, and cross-functional alignment across Engineering, Operations, and Business Operations. The Quoting Specialist ensures that what Paragon quotes is what Paragon can execute — at the cost, timeline, and quality level committed.
Essential Responsibilities
- Review RFQs, engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and customer requirements to determine full scope, complexity, and feasibility prior to building estimates
- Build detailed cost estimates incorporating material costs, labor estimates, outside services, and any non-recurring engineering or tooling costs
- Coordinate with Engineering for technical validation of manufacturing methods, process requirements, and any design-for-manufacturability considerations that impact cost or schedule
- Coordinate with Operations for labor standards, process routing inputs, and production cycle time estimates
- Coordinate with Business Operations for current material costs, supplier lead times, and sourcing inputs to ensure quote accuracy
- Identify approved suppliers for new BOM items and coordinate sourcing inputs in support of the Purchaser to ensure quote readiness and material feasibility
- Ensure all quotes are complete, accurate, and aligned with actual production capability before submission to Sales for pricing and customer delivery
- Structure and prepare professional quote packages with clear cost breakdowns, assumptions, exclusions, for submission by the Director of Sales
- Support rebids and quote revisions by incorporating updated cost inputs, scope changes, engineering revisions, and lessons learned from prior builds
- Identify and escalate quoting risks including lead time uncertainty, material cost variability, process complexity, or specification ambiguity
- Maintain consistency between quoted assumptions (labor, material, process) and actual production execution; flag discrepancies that indicate estimating gaps
- Ensure all quote data, cost models, assumptions, and supporting documentation are properly documented and stored in company systems for traceability and future reference
- Track quote pipeline status and turnaround times to ensure timely responses to customer RFQs
- Support continuous improvement of the quoting process by identifying recurring estimating errors, cost model gaps, or process inefficiencies
Required
- Associate’s degree in Business, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering Technology, or related field—or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 3–5+ years of experience in quoting, estimating, or cost analysis in a manufacturing environment, or relevant experience within Paragon Manufacturing.
- Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, and technical specifications
- Experience building cost estimates that include material, labor, and outside services
- Working knowledge of manufacturing processes, labor standards, and production cost drivers
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (cost modeling, formulas, data analysis)
- Strong attention to detail, organizational discipline, and ability to manage multiple quotes simultaneously
- Effective communication skills for cross-functional coordination with Engineering, Operations, and Business Operations
Preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field
- Experience in cable assemblies, wire harnesses, PCB’s, or electro-mechanical manufacturing
- Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and production management software
- Exposure to regulated industries (aerospace, defense, medical) and associated quoting requirements
- Experience with continuous improvement of estimating processes and cost model development
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
Full-time, on-site position in Everett, WA. This role operates primarily in an office environment with regular interaction on the production floor to validate process assumptions, review manufacturing methods, and coordinate with operations personnel. Requires prolonged use of estimating tools, spreadsheets, ERP systems, email, and telephone. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs and perform basic physical movements including bending, reaching, and standing for moderate periods. Compliance with all facility safety, PPE, and ESD requirements is mandatory when in production areas.
Regulatory / Compliance Requirement
This role operates within a regulated manufacturing environment and must ensure all quoting activities, cost documentation, and customer-facing estimates comply with ITAR, RoHS, UL, IPC, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and AS9100 requirements. The Quoting Specialist must maintain awareness of export control implications as they relate to customer RFQs, technical data, and scope of work.
Standard Disclaimers
At-Will Employment: Employment is at-will. Either the employee or Paragon Manufacturing may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law. Washington is an at-will state, though employers may not retaliate against employees for exercising protected rights.
Equal Employment Opportunity: Paragon Manufacturing is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any status protected by federal, Washington State, or local law. Washington’s Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination and retaliation in employment.
Reasonable Accommodation: Paragon Manufacturing provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Other Duties: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.
Export Control Compliance: This role may require access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including ITAR. Employment is contingent upon the ability to comply with those requirements.
This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline, and termination.
Pay: $25.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and technical specifications to build cost estimates?
- Do you have experience quoting or estimating cost structures for cable assemblies, wire harnesses, PCBs, or electro-mechanical assemblies?
- This position is a 100% full-time, on-site role located in Everett, WA. Are you able to reliably commute or relocate to Everett, WA for work on-site daily?
- How would you rate your proficiency in Microsoft Excel for building multi-variable cost estimates (formulas, lookup functions, data models, pivot tables)?
- Briefly describe how you break down a complex RFQ into its core cost components (e.g., raw materials, direct labor standards, outside processing, non-recurring engineering/tooling)
- How do you ensure quote accuracy and protect profit margins when key inputs are uncertain?
- Describe a time when you had to work with Engineering or Operations to validate process assumptions or labor standards before submitting a quote. How did you handle differences in opinion regarding cycle times or manufacturability?
- Which Bachelor’s degree do you have? Business, Engineering Technology, Manufacturing, Supply Chain or a related field?
Work Location: In person
