Example Company
Software engineer
- Location
- San Francisco
- Type
- Full time
- Compensation
- $150k-$200k
- Posted
- 2 days ago
Join a team building useful software. Work closely with engineering and design to turn new ideas into products.
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Cost Engineer, Transformers
- Location
- Houston
- Type
- Full time
- Posted
- 7H AGO
About the role
What you’ll do
Giga is seeking a Cost Engineer, Transformers to own cost analysis for our transformer portfolio, from core and coil materials to complete pad-mounted and substation units. You will build should-cost and true landed cost models, lead tariff engineering, drive design-to-cost and loss-optimized design with Engineering, and measure and reduce cost of quality across our transformer supply base. You will give Sourcing the cost data it needs to negotiate with transformer manufacturers and component suppliers, and help Sales and Finance understand true product cost and margin by rating and configuration. As we scale toward a 500MW deployment pipeline, this role makes sure every transformer we buy or build is cost-competitive and that we know exactly where every dollar goes.
Where you’ll work
Velocity matters when you are building physical infrastructure, and the best decisions happen in the room. This role is based in our Houston office, with full-time onsite expectations outside of bi-weekly WFH Fridays, and travel of about 15%.
Responsibilities
Build and maintain should-cost and parametric cost models for liquid-filled pad-mounted, substation, and dry-type transformers, covering materials, labor, and testing, and estimating cost by kVA rating, voltage class, impedance, winding material, fluid type, efficiency level, and options.
Break down transformer OEM quotes into material, labor, overhead, testing, and margin to find cost gaps and negotiation targets.
Model the effect of GOES/CRGO, copper, aluminum, steel, and fluid price movements on transformer cost, and set index-based pricing mechanisms with suppliers.
Maintain cost roll-ups and BOM costing, and partner with Finance on standard costs and variance analysis.
Build and own true landed cost models for transformers and major components, covering ex-works price, freight (including oversize and heavy-haul), insurance, duties and tariffs, brokerage, port fees, payment terms, inventory carrying cost, and quality and warranty exposure.
Compare total landed cost across suppliers and regions (US, Mexico, Asia, and others), keep models current as tariffs, freight rates, and commodity markets shift, and make landed cost the standard basis for awards and make-vs-buy decisions.
Lead tariff engineering for transformers and components, cutting duty exposure through HTS classification, country-of-origin strategy, and design or assembly changes.
Assess substantial transformation, USMCA qualification, and regional value content, and build mitigation scenarios for Section 232, Section 301, and other tariff exposure (alternate origin, core/coil vs. complete unit import, final assembly location).
Evaluate duty-reduction programs such as Foreign Trade Zones, duty drawback, and tariff exclusions with Trade Compliance, Finance, and customs brokers, and make sure strategies are compliant and documented.
Build and own the transformer cost of quality framework with the Quality team, covering prevention, appraisal, internal failure, and external failure costs.
Quantify the cost of supplier quality issues, support supplier chargeback and recovery programs, and lead cross-functional initiatives to reduce the biggest cost of quality drivers.
Partner with Engineering on design-to-cost targets, evaluating first cost vs. losses using loss capitalization and total owning cost while meeting DOE efficiency requirements.
Lead VA/VE initiatives across core material and design, winding material, fluid type, tank and radiator design, accessory standardization, and platform commonality, and evaluate make-vs-buy for core/coil assemblies, tanks, and final assembly.
Quantify the cost impact of engineering changes, component substitutions, and alternate suppliers before they are approved.
Give Sourcing should-cost targets, cost breakdowns, and total cost of ownership comparisons for RFQs, and validate savings from supplier cost-reduction programs.
Work with Sales and Applications Engineering on cost estimates for quotes and custom specs, analyze margin by rating, configuration, and customer, and track actual vs. estimated costs on delivered projects.
Own the transformer cost reduction roadmap and report on cost performance, landed cost, tariff exposure, cost of quality, savings pipeline, and margin trends to leadership.
Build cost tools, templates, and databases that scale with our transformer portfolio.
Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
5+ years in cost engineering, should-cost analysis, product costing, or value engineering for transformers or similar electrical power equipment.
Direct experience costing distribution or power transformers (pad-mounted, substation, or dry-type).
Strong grasp of transformer design and cost drivers, including core steel grades, winding materials, insulation systems, dielectric fluids, losses, and efficiency.
Familiarity with transformer manufacturing processes, including core cutting and stacking, winding, drying, tanking, tank fabrication, painting, and testing.
Hands-on experience building true landed cost models for globally sourced equipment.
Working knowledge of HTS classification, country-of-origin rules, USMCA, and Section 232/301 tariffs, with experience applying them to cut duty cost.
Experience measuring and reducing cost of quality in a manufacturing or supplier quality environment.
Track record of building should-cost and parametric cost models and delivering measurable cost reductions through design-to-cost and VA/VE.
Ability to read transformer specs, nameplates, test reports, outline drawings, and BOMs.
Advanced Excel modeling skills, and comfort with ERP systems for BOM, routing, and cost data.
Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to present cost findings clearly to Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, Finance, and leadership.
Ability to travel about 15%.
Bonus points
Experience with dedicated costing software.
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