Sr. Cost Engineer
Join Valar Atomics as a Sr. Cost Engineer to develop cost models and support sourcing strategies in a fast-growing energy startup.
Posted by employer 1 day ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 hours ago
Last verified on the company career page 2 hours ago
What you'll build
- Develop and maintain should-cost models
- Analyze supplier quotes and cost breakdowns
- Support Make-vs-Buy decisions
- Track cost trends and update models
- Present cost analysis and recommendations
Must have
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, or related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in cost engineering or manufacturing cost analysis
- Strong understanding of BOM structures and cost drivers
- Hands-on experience with cost modeling tools and ERP/sourcing systems
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Nice to have
- Nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated industry experience
- Experience building a should-cost or cost engineering function from the ground up
- Familiarity with Design-to-Cost or Value Engineering methodologies
- Start-up / fast-growth company experience
Practical constraints
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Requirements
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- No sponsorship (stated in posting)
Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Sr. Cost Engineer at Valar Atomics focuses on developing and maintaining should-cost models to inform sourcing and negotiation strategies. This role requires expertise in cost engineering, particularly in analyzing supplier quotes and identifying cost-saving opportunities across the supply chain. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in manufacturing cost analysis, preferably within regulated industries like nuclear or aerospace. The position offers a chance to contribute to a fast-growing company dedicated to advancing clean energy technology.
Joblaze insights
- Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 23, 2026. Last confirmed on Valar Atomics's careers page October 23, 2026.
- Salary band is in line with the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$129,600).
- Starts above 42% of 1271 comparable senior other roles in United States we track (median $144,000 across 185 companies).
Quick facts
- What's the salary range?
- Valar Atomics lists $140,000–$190,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Sr. Cost Engineer role.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Valar Atomics targets senior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Sr. Cost Engineer role at Valar Atomics.
From the original posting
The Team
As part of the Manufacturing organization, Supply Chain secures the materials, equipment, and supplier partnerships required to support manufacturing and business operations. The team builds resilient supply chains while ensuring quality, cost, and delivery performance.
The Role
- Develop and maintain should-cost models for components, assemblies, and services to support sourcing and negotiation strategy.
- Partner with Sourcing, Engineering, and Finance to identify cost drivers and high-impact savings opportunities across the supply base.
- Analyze supplier quotes and cost breakdowns to validate pricing and identify negotiation leverage.
- Support Make-vs-Buy decisions and cost trade-off analysis as Valar scales production.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and maintain should-cost models (materials, labor, overhead, tooling) for direct and indirect categories.
- Analyze supplier quotes, RFx responses, and cost breakdowns to identify gaps versus should-cost and benchmark data.
- Partner with Sourcing and Engineering to support negotiation strategy with data-driven cost insights.
- Support Make-vs-Buy analysis, evaluating total cost of ownership across sourcing options.
- Track cost trends (materials, labor, logistics) and update models to reflect market conditions.
- Identify cost reduction opportunities through design, process, or sourcing changes, and quantify potential savings.
- Present cost analysis and recommendations to Sourcing and Engineering leadership.
- Maintain cost databases and tools, improving accuracy and scalability as the product portfolio grows.
- Act as a mentor within the supply chain organization on cost drivers, market indices, design/cost implications, supplier economics, and manufacturing trade-offs.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related technical field.
- 5+ years of experience in cost engineering, should-cost modeling, or manufacturing cost analysis.
- Strong understanding of BOM structures, specifications, engineering drawings, manufacturing processes and cost drivers.
- Hands-on experience with cost modeling tools and ERP/sourcing systems.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated industry experience.
- Experience building a should-cost or cost engineering function from the ground up.
- Familiarity with Design-to-Cost or Value Engineering methodologies.
- Start-up / fast-growth company experience a plus.
Standard company text repeated across Valar Atomics's postings is omitted here.