Should cost engineer Associate

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for PCBAs and electro-mechanical builds.
• Identify and onboard capable suppliers aligned with business requirements.
• Conduct market intelligence, benchmarking, and cost analysis.
• Lead RFQs/RFPs, commercial negotiations, and contract finalization.
• Analyze BOMs, Gerbers, process steps, yields, labor, overheads, and cost drivers.
• Support RFQ processes: normalize supplier quotes, compare vs. should-cost, and prepare negotiation insights.
• Conduct cost breakdown reviews with EMS partners and panel builders.
• Possess knowledge of various manufacturing processes for electronics manufacturing.
• Provide DFM/DFA/DFT recommendations to Engineering for cost optimization.
• Drive and support VA/VE initiatives with quantified savings.
• Maintain cost databases for electronics and panel-build commodities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to enable cost decisions during NPI and sustaining phases.
• Analyze elements of product cost structure including material cost, process costs, direct labor, bill of materials, overhead, SG&A, and profit.
• Understand commodity global market trends and historical datasets for the electronics category.
• Maintain costing systems and global databases by periodically updating process parameters such as raw material prices, machine hour rates, labor rates, cost trends, freight, and taxes.
• Use industry techniques and practices to establish fact-based pricing positions, best value determinations, and economic sourcing strategies.
• Support global category and commodity managers in deriving negotiation strategies and actual price negotiations.
• Support VAVE, teardown, and benchmarking projects using directional and other costing methodologies.
• Apply understanding of design and various manufacturing processes, tools and their process parameters, cost drivers, process capabilities, and fact-based negotiation techniques.
• Pro-E/Creo knowledge is a plus.

Important Stakeholders/Key Interactions:

• Global Commodity Managers
• New Product Development / R&D Leaders
• Global Suppliers

Part 2. Describe the Person:

Minimum Professional and Educational Background:

• 4-year bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics (or equivalent), plus 3 to 6 years' experience in strategic sourcing or should costing, manufacturing process plan and execution methodologies in the electronics category.

OR

• 4-year bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics (or equivalent), plus a 2-year master's degree in Electrical/Electronics, Mechatronics (or equivalent), plus 1 to 4 years' experience in strategic sourcing or should costing, manufacturing process plan and execution methodologies in the electronics category.

Key Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• PCB fabrication and assembly (SMT/DIP, reflow, wave solder, X-ray, ICT/FCT, conformal coating).
• Wire harness and panel build (crimping, labeling, cable prep, loom boards, routing, panel wiring, functional test).
• Strong Excel and cost modeling skills; familiarity with BOM analytics and should-cost breakdowns.
• Experience working with electronics suppliers and manufacturers.
• Expertise in should costing methodologies such as zero-base costing, supplier-base costing, and systems (aPriori or equivalent).
• Ability to identify materials used, manufacturing processes, etc.
• Costing analysis or design-to-cost experience is a plus.
• Global insights of commercial databases for major manufacturing processes.
• Problem-solving and data analytical skills.
• Cost gap analysis (supplier quote vs. should cost) and capability to handle supplier negotiations.
• Project / program management skills.
• Value Engineering Certification (SAVE) is a plus.
• Interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to effectively manage tasks and priorities.
• Effective communication in English is a must.
• Microsoft Office package (Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint), experienced user.

Competencies That Differentiate Superior Performance:

• Well organized, goal oriented, and self-motivated.
• Excellent leadership skills.

Job Fit Highlights:

Physical Demands:

• Office environment.
• Teardown of product and moving small parts/equipment.

Work Environment:

• Standard weekly job hours: 40 hours.
• Opportunity to work with international people.
• Capable of working with cross-functional teams.
• Adaptability to work with different work cultures and time zones.
• Opportunity to be part of a new team and build up the function.

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication, where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.