Supernal · 2 months ago
Principal Cost Engineer
Irvine, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
$214K/yr - $262K/yr
15+ years expSupernal is an Advanced Air Mobility company developing electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles. The Principal Cost Engineer will develop and maintain cost models for aircraft design and production, bridging the gap between engineering, supply chain, and finance to drive strategic decision-making and cost optimization.
Aviation & Aerospace
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain detailed cost models for components, systems, and assemblies throughout the aircraft lifecycle
Partner with engineering teams to evaluate design-to-cost targets and identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising performance or safety
Support make-vs-buy analyses, supplier quotations, and should-cost modeling for mechanical, electrical, and composite systems
Collaborate with procurement and manufacturing to develop cost baselines, track variances, and ensure alignment with program budgets and milestones
Conduct cost-benefit and return-on-investment (ROI) analyses for design changes, production methods, and tooling strategies
Develop and maintain cost estimation tools and templates that scale with company growth
Prepare cost reports, dashboards, and presentations for leadership and program management reviews
Contribute to long-term cost forecasting and financial planning for production ramp-up scenarios
Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
B.S. in a relevant field is required
Minimum of fifteen (15) years of relevant experience (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered)
Experience with life-cycle costing and parametric estimation techniques for aerospace applications
Demonstrable project planning and leadership skills
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (machining, composites, electrical systems, assembly)
Proficiency with cost modeling software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Excel (advanced)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Proactive communication and follow-up
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to independently prioritize and accomplish work within time constraints
Self-motivated and forward-thinking personality
Company
Supernal
Supernal is a U.S. -based smart mobility service provider redefining how people move, connect and live.
201-500 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Supernal has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (10)
2024 (2)
2023 (18)
2022 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Ben Diachun
Chief Technology Officer
Han Park
Deputy CTO and Head of R&D
Recent News
2025-11-21
Washington Technology
2025-10-29
Company data provided by crunchbase