Cost Estimator

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Cost Estimator will support cost estimation and financial analysis activities for DoD acquisition programs under close mentorship from senior cost estimation staff. This role is ideal for a junior-to-mid-level professional looking to grow their expertise in defense cost estimating while contributing to budgeting, spend planning, and reporting efforts in collaboration with the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Team.

Assist in developing cost estimates in support of Defense Health Systems acquisition activities.
Apply statistical techniques (e.g., regression analysis, basic Monte Carlo simulation) under senior guidance to support cost risk analysis.
Analyze historical program data to help refine cost models and estimate future program costs.
Support the development of spend plans using program office data, coordinating with FP&A leadership.
Assist in organizing and participating in budget planning meetings.
Contribute to written deliverables including reports, dashboards, and briefing materials.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses to support program objectives.
Support contract proposal evaluations and acquisition documentation as directed.

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor's degree required in a relevant field such as Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Mathematics, Accounting, or a related quantitative discipline.
2–5 years of relevant cost estimation, financial analysis, or budget analysis experience.
Minimum of 1 year of federal (government) work experience required; DoD experience strongly preferred.
Exposure to ACEIT (Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools), including ACE, POST, and Librarian.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Office Suite.
General understanding of DoD contracts, budgeting, and acquisition processes.
Familiarity with the PPBE (Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution) process, or ability to quickly learn.
Working knowledge of DoD Instruction 5000.73 (Cost Analysis Guidance and Procedures).
Basic familiarity with MIL-STD-881F and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) concepts.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with ability to support client meetings and presentations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliverables in a fast-paced environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Certification (or active pursuit of) CCEA or PCEA.
Experience as a Budget or Accounting Analyst using GFEBS (General Fund Enterprise Business System).
Exposure to Earned Value Management (EVM) concepts.
DoD Financial Management Certification Level I or II (DFMC-1/DFMC-2).
DAU coursework or certification in Business Financial Management (BFM) or Business Cost Estimating (BCE).
Familiarity with Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) concepts.
Experience with agile or project management methodologies