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Vehicle Cost Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Cross Carline and Project Engineering Team is a critical part of the vehicle development with ... The Economics Manager is responsible for managing cost development (cost loops and assessments) for ...

The Cross Carline and Project Engineering Team is a critical part of the vehicle development with ... The Economics Manager is responsible for managing cost development (cost loops and assessments) for ...

The Cross Carline and Project Engineering Team is a critical part of the vehicle development with ... The Economics Manager is responsible for managing cost development (cost loops and assessments) for ...

Senior Cost Engineer

Spartanburg, SC · On-site

$73K - $117K/yr

... vehicles that are durable, efficient, and sustainable. With a focus on reliability, driver ... The Senior Cost Engineer is responsible for developing, validating, and managing product and ...

Senior Cost Engineer

Oshkosh, WI · On-site

$73K - $117K/yr

... vehicles that are durable, efficient, and sustainable. With a focus on reliability, driver ... The Senior Cost Engineer is responsible for developing, validating, and managing product and ...

Job Summary The Cost Engineer will support all facets of the preconstruction effort at the ... vehicle, operating equipment, operating machinery or power tools, repairing/maintaining the ...

New

Job Summary The Cost Engineer will support all facets of the preconstruction effort at the ... vehicle, operating equipment, operating machinery or power tools, repairing/maintaining the ...

Showing results 41-60

Vehicle Cost Engineer information

See salary details

$5

$41

How much do vehicle cost engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for vehicle cost engineer in the United States is $41.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.35 and $41.59 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a vehicle cost engineer do?

A Vehicle Cost Engineer is responsible for analyzing and estimating the costs involved in designing, manufacturing, and assembling vehicles. They work closely with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and finance teams to ensure that vehicles are produced within budget while meeting quality and performance standards. Their duties include evaluating material costs, labor expenses, and supplier quotes, as well as identifying cost-saving opportunities throughout the development process. Vehicle Cost Engineers play a crucial role in maximizing profitability and maintaining competitiveness in the automotive industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a vehicle cost engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Vehicle Cost Engineer, you need a solid background in mechanical or automotive engineering, strong analytical skills, and experience with cost estimation methods. Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) software, cost modeling tools, and advanced Excel functions is typically required, along with knowledge of manufacturing processes. Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities help you collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and suppliers. These skills are crucial for accurately forecasting costs, optimizing budgets, and ensuring the financial viability of vehicle development projects.

How does a vehicle cost engineer typically collaborate with design and manufacturing teams during a vehicle development project?

Vehicle Cost Engineers play a critical role in cross-functional teams, working closely with both design and manufacturing departments throughout the vehicle development process. They provide cost estimates and analyses for different design options, helping to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality. Regular meetings and open communication with engineers, suppliers, and procurement specialists are essential, as Vehicle Cost Engineers must ensure that proposed changes align with budgetary constraints and project timelines. This collaborative environment allows them to influence key decisions and contribute to the overall financial success of new vehicle launches.

What is the difference between Vehicle Cost Engineer vs Vehicle Design Engineer?

AspectVehicle Cost EngineerVehicle Design Engineer
Primary FocusCost analysis, budgeting, and cost reduction strategies for vehiclesDesign, development, and engineering of vehicle components and systems
Required SkillsCost estimation, financial analysis, supply chain knowledgeCAD design, engineering principles, innovation in vehicle design
Work EnvironmentManufacturing plants, cost departments, supplier interactionsDesign studios, engineering labs, R&D departments
Common CertificationsNone specific, often requires engineering degreeEngineering degrees, CAD certifications

The Vehicle Cost Engineer primarily focuses on managing and reducing vehicle production costs through analysis and budgeting, while the Vehicle Design Engineer concentrates on creating and developing vehicle designs. Both roles require engineering backgrounds but differ in their core responsibilities and work environments.

More about Vehicle Cost Engineer jobs

What states have the most Vehicle Cost Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Vehicle Cost Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Vehicle Cost Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Vehicle Cost Engineer jobs are:

Infographic showing various Vehicle Cost Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, 40% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,134 per year, or $41.4 per hour.

Cost Engineer - Cost Analysis & Special Studies

General Motors

Warren, MI • Hybrid

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


General Motors rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

General Motors

Based on 306 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Automakers average

Based on 6,297 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Description

Cost Engineer

The Cost Engineer (or CE) is responsible to create, analyze and validate component material costs and targets. The cost engineer working in the PPCO / Product Program Cost Optimization team will be responsible for generating ground-up / detailed material cost estimates that encompass both piece price estimations and production tooling estimations. Collaboration with key internal cross functional peers is essential; the selected candidate will have a working relationship with the product engineering team, the purchasing and supply chain team, the vehicle program team, our global partners (including Mexico, South America and South Korea), and to an extent the external component supply base.

This role involves a high strong level of independent judgment, initiative, creativity, and the management of multiple estimates within a defined commodity / program scope and established PPCO processes that focus specifically on identifying accurate cost estimates as well as proposed cost reductions. The cost engineer will have exposure to the next generation of automotive vehicles and propulsion systems while working with leading edge automotive experts and technologies.

The Cost Engineer focuses on accurate execution, continuous improvement of their own work products, and building strong relationships with cross-functional partners as they grow toward broader responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities include:

  • The candidate should be able to analyze, organize, and understand large amount of data.
  • Comprehension of manufacturing process knowledge. An understanding of regional difference in manufacturing processes / assumptions is helpful.
  • Be an active partner with the internal GPSC purchasing team - aid in providing a fair yet competitive component cost for GM.
  • Occasional domestic travel to supplier facilities for enhanced costing collaboration and support of the specific engineering / purchasing team.
  • Support the assigned GM SMT/PMT from a tooling and piece price perspective.
  • Develop and maintain GMCO$T (and related) cost models and documentation for assigned content, following PPCO standards and best practices.
  • Identify and implement process improvements within own work (templates, trackers, data quality) and participate in cross-team improvement efforts led by senior cost engineers and leaders.

Required Skills:

  • Experience in the financial evaluation of technical concepts and comprehensive understanding of production processes.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and assignments with a high degree of autonomy and complexity. strong sense of ownership, exercising increasing autonomy within a defined scope, and seeking guidance on novel or cross-functional issues.
  • Ability to lead change, resolve conflicts, and influence without direct authority. contribute to change efforts, help resolve issues, and build influence without direct authority within the immediate team and cross-functional partners.
  • Ability to assimilate a large amount of cost data and clearly condense / communicate information to the larger GM team in an efficient way.
  • Analytical ability to solve problems that are unique and sometimes complex. Ability to use data driven analysis to identify solutions, establish next steps to assigned projects, and manage open items is crucial.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills required to build relationships with global team members and cross functional peers.
  • Demonstrated ability to use all Microsoft Office software and show an expertise in MS Excel. Ability to use / learn GMCO$T (internal GM cost estimating software).
  • Demonstrated curiosity and continuous learning mindset; actively seeks coaching from senior cost engineers and shares learnings and best practices with peers (e.g., GMCO$T, PIM, CERT, eSOR).

Required Experience / Educational Qualification:

  • At least 3 years of relevant experience in manufacturing, product design / engineering, or purchasing.
  • A Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or related / relevant field of study or substantial cost estimating experience.
  • A Graduate degree in Business Administration (MBA), Technical Management, or Engineering is a plus.

Preferred Skills - Experience with any of the following:

  • Experience at automotive OEM's or other product manufacturing
  • A desire to learn details of automotive components, manufacturing, and financial cost drivers
  • Ability to gather insights from data

Location: Hybrid. This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the - Global HQ Warren Mi three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business]


Relocation: This role is NOT eligible for relocation benefits

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (e.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

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General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.

All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.

We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.

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About General Motors

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General Motors is a company with global scale and capabilities, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with employees around the world. The company employs over 165,000 people, serves six continents, operates across 22 time zones, and has a diverse workforce speaking 75 languages1. GM’s vision is to drive the world forward by pioneering innovations that move and connect people to what matters. The company is working towards an all-electric future with its new Ultium Platform and is pushing transportation options beyond our wildest imaginations with autonomous vehicles. GM is also committed to becoming the most inclusive company in the world.

Industry

Transportation equipment manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Detroit, MI, US

Year founded

1908