Procurement Cost Engineer - Manufacturing

About Vanderlande

Vanderlande is a global leader in logistics process automation, specializing in automated material handling systems for airports, warehouses, and parcel operations. Our innovative solutions help move millions of products and pieces of luggage around the world every day. With a strong focus on technology, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we are committed to delivering reliable solutions for our customers while providing meaningful career opportunities for our employees.

About the Role

Vanderlande is seeking a Procurement Cost Engineer - Manufacturing to drive product and manufacturing cost optimization through cost modeling and analysis. This role concerns manufacturing and product cost engineering, not construction project cost control. As a member of the global Procurement Center of Excellence (CoE), you will develop should-cost models and provide insights for strategic procurement decisions and cost reduction. Manufacturing Cost Engineers and Should-Cost Engineers are also invited to apply.

Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions by maximizing value and minimizing risks via the procurement of goods and services in the smartest, cost-effective and sustainable way. We ensure a resilient and competitive supplier ecosystem and aim to advance towards best-in-class practices, and ensure the organization is efficient, effective, and future-proof. Furthermore, our procurement organization plays an important role in Vanderlande's transformation from an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) to a Configure-to-Order (CTO) business model. This new model aims at enhancing value for its customers through increased standardization, scalability, and more competitive solutions.

As a Procurement Cost Engineer - Manufacturing, you will analyze design and cost data, build and maintain cost models for Sales budgets and procurement decisions, compare should-cost estimates with supplier quotations, and identify cost-saving opportunities. Your work will cover products and processes such as fabricated steel, machining, motors, controls, conveyors, and electromechanical assemblies. You will support procurement negotiations and improve cost-modeling processes and tools.

About the team

The Procurement Center of Excellence (CoE) team at Vanderlande is a dynamic group of professionals dedicated to providing strategic support and enhancing demand and supply management capabilities. Comprising diverse roles such as RfX Specialists, Contract Administration Specialists, Procurement Reporting Analysts, Procurement Cost Engineers, Procurement Market Insight Analysts, and Supplier Onboarding Specialists, the team collaborates closely with the demand and supply management teams to deliver high-quality support and insights. Operating across global and regional centers, our team thrives on collaboration, continuous learning, and a commitment to excellence, making a significant impact on the organization’s success.

Key Responsibilities

• Gather and analyze cost-related data from various sources, including raw material prices, labor rates, and manufacturing processes to support the development of cost models and should-cost models at the component, assembly, or system level
• Perform cost maintenance and design related updates, on Computer Aided Pricing software tool (CAP) equipment records and track and report cost differences between product lifecycle milestones records
• (Current state) Item selection for CAP records
• Build and maintain detailed (should) cost models including cost drivers of current and future products and services that provide insights into the theoretical minimum costs for products and services, with input from technology information
• Maintain and set-up equipment cost calculations in Computer Aided Cost Estimation software tool (Facton EPC)
• Compare should-cost estimates with supplier quotes and market prices, and prepare reports highlighting discrepancies and potential cost-saving opportunities
• Provide detailed cost analysis to support procurement negotiations with suppliers, helping to achieve favorable terms and cost reductions. Be an active member of the procurement negotiation team with suppliers
• Contribute to the refinement of cost modeling processes and tools, suggesting improvements based on feedback and evolving business needs
• Add value to Value Engineering and DFX projects by providing should cost estimations or cost drivers for mechanical and/or electrical equipment during the development phases

Requirements

• Five or more years of relevant experience in engineering and in analyzing and interpreting manufacturing cost data, preferably procurement-specific data. Candidates with three or more years of experience may also be considered when they demonstrate an exceptional engineering background and strong cost-engineering capability.
• Experience with SQL, Python, or R is preferred, particularly for extracting and interpreting complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and insights for cost modeling and forecasting.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Power BI is required to analyze data and communicate financial and cost insights effectively. Experience with other data-visualization tools, such as Tableau, is preferred. You can define the reporting scope and engage other departments to secure the required input and support.
• Advanced skills in conducting should-cost modeling to assess product and service cost drivers and total cost of ownership (TCO)
• Ability to independently handle ad-hoc cost engineering and analysis requests alongside the creation of recurring reports
• Proven experience in translating technological design data into financial cost data and being able to determine cost drivers, using known cost engineering techniques
• Knowledge / experience in cost engineering (CE) and value engineering (VE)
• Experience with Facton EPC, CAP, JDE, and Enovia is preferred. Experience with comparable computer-aided cost-estimation, pricing, ERP, or product-lifecycle-management tools is also valuable.
• Familiarity with procurement processes and supply chain management
• Excellent collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
• Proficiency in English for clear communication within an international team setting

Equal Employment Opportunity

Vanderlande is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by law.