Senior Manager - Should Cost Engineering

About Xylem

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global leader in water technology, dedicated to delivering sustainable water solutions and empowering individuals who work in the water sector worldwide. The company boasts a presence in over 150 countries and employs approximately 23,000 people focused on tackling critical global water challenges through innovation and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of sophisticated should-cost methodologies like bottom-up costing, zero-based costing, parametric and regression-based cost models, and design-to-cost frameworks.
• Perform detailed cost breakdown analyses including materials, conversion, tooling, labor, machine rates, overheads, logistics, and supplier margins.
• Create transparent clean-sheet costing models to assist sourcing and engineering decision-making.
• Conduct gap analysis between supplier quotes and should-cost estimates.
• Assist Global Commodity Managers during supplier negotiations by providing strategic sourcing and cost management insights.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, localization, and supply chain optimization.
• Lead make-versus-buy analyses and develop sourcing strategy recommendations.
• Conduct supplier benchmarking and evaluate manufacturing capabilities.
• Support supplier development processes such as APQP, PPAP, and qualification activities.
• Manage Value Analysis/Value Engineering projects, competitive benchmarking, and product teardown studies.
• Facilitate New Product Development teams to meet target-cost goals through recommending design, material, and process enhancements.
• Drive initiatives to reduce lifecycle costs for existing product lines.
• Maintain and enhance costing databases and benchmarks leveraging digital platforms including aPriori, Power BI, SAP, and advanced Excel tools.
• Support innovation efforts utilizing automated costing systems and AI-driven analytics.
• Monitor market trends such as commodity prices, inflation, and regional manufacturing cost changes.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to Cost Engineering team members, establishing best practices and frameworks.
• Develop a Center of Excellence for Cost Engineering and promote collaboration among global stakeholders.
• Champion continuous improvement and capability development within the team.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related fields is required.
• Preferred qualifications include an MBA specializing in Operations, a Master's degree in Engineering, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Business or Supply Chain Management.
• Extensive experience (15+ years) in Cost Engineering, Value Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement Engineering, Supplier Development, and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Demonstrated ability in global sourcing, leading cross-functional teams, supplier negotiations, cost productivity initiatives, and product cost optimization.

Technical Proficiencies

• Expertise in should costing techniques including zero-based and bottom-up costing, parametric cost modeling, design-to-cost, cost benchmarking, cost gap analysis, and clean-sheet costing.
• Sound knowledge of manufacturing processes such as casting, machining, fabrication, sheet metal, forgings, plastic injection molding, rubber components, and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Strong engineering skills covering interpretation of engineering drawings, GD&T, manufacturing process mapping, product cost drivers, and DFMA principles.
• Familiarity with quality and supplier development methodologies like APQP, PPAP, supplier audits, process capability assessment, and first article approval.
• Preferred skills include strategic procurement, category management, commodity strategy, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, global sourcing, program management, PMP methodologies, Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement, data analytics, AI-enabled cost analytics, and commercial acumen.

Systems and Tools

• Experienced user of aPriori, SAP, Power BI, advanced Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, and preferably JDE and Creo software.
• Comfortable working with AI-assisted cost analytics platforms.

Success Indicators

• Achievement of cost savings annually.
• Identification of cost avoidance opportunities.
• Accuracy of should-cost models.
• Effectiveness of supplier negotiations.
• Financial impact from sourcing projects.
• Meeting new product development target costs.
• Outcomes of value engineering initiatives.
• Development of team competencies.
• Overall satisfaction of stakeholders.

Certifications

• Preferred certifications include SAVE Certified Value Specialist (CVS), Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, and certifications in Operational Excellence.

Join Our Team

Become part of Xylem’s global workforce dedicated to transformative water technology solutions that reshape water use, conservation, and reuse across utilities, industries, residences, and commercial spaces. We embrace inclusion and belonging as key drivers of innovation and global competitiveness.