Cost Engineer (Sustainment & Lifecycle Cost Modeling) Help Shape the Future of Sustainment Strategy Are you passionate about turning complex operational data into actionable business decisions? We're looking for a Cost Engineer who will play a critical role in defining the long-term affordability, supportability, and sustainment strategy of advanced vehicle systems.In this highly visible role, you'll own the development of life cycle cost models, influence engineering decisions through cost trade studies, and help build the sustainment framework that supports products throughout their operational lifespan. Working alongside engineering, operations, logistics, and customer teams, you'll help ensure our products are designed not only for performance, but also for long-term readiness and cost efficiency.If you enjoy solving complex problems, building analytical models, and driving decisions that impact product success, we want to hear from you.
What You'll Do Own Lifecycle Cost Strategy
- Develop and maintain comprehensive lifecycle cost models for vehicle fleets and supporting systems.
- Generate operating and support (O&S) cost estimates, refining projections as product designs mature.
- Conduct affordability assessments and provide cost insights at key program milestones and decision gates.
- Perform sensitivity analyses to identify cost drivers, risks, and optimization opportunities.
Drive Sustainment Planning & Product Support
- Perform product support analyses across provisioning, manpower, facilities, support equipment, and logistics.
- Develop ground-up sustainment plans that support mission readiness and long-term operational success.
- Create spares, provisioning, and support strategies in partnership with Reliability, Availability & Maintainability (RAM) and Maintenance teams.
- Define product support architectures and Integrated Product Support (IPS) strategies.
Influence Engineering Decisions
- Lead sustainment cost trade studies and provide recommendations that influence product design and maintenance concepts.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate design-for-supportability principles throughout product development.
- Partner with customers, operations, and technical teams to enhance maintenance, repair, and sustainment approaches.
Build Data-Driven Solutions
- Establish cost modeling methodologies and sustainment data repositories.
- Develop data pipelines that transform reliability, maintenance, and operational data into actionable cost forecasts.
- Maintain Service Bills of Materials (SBOMs) and other critical sustainment artifacts.
- Deliver supportability and affordability analyses for customer deliverables, executive reviews, and program assessments.
What You'll Bring Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Logistics, Economics, Finance, or a related discipline.
- 4+ years of experience in sustainment engineering, product support, systems engineering, or related fields.
- Experience developing lifecycle cost (LCC) or operating and support (O&S) cost models.
- Working knowledge of sustainment methodologies such as:
- Maintenance Task Analysis (MTA)
- Level of Repair Analysis (LORA)
- Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM)
- Contractor Logistics Support (CLS)
- Understanding of Integrated Product Support (IPS) elements and sustainment planning principles.
- Familiarity with military standards and regulatory requirements related to product support and logistics.
- Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting DoD programs and Integrated Product Support initiatives.
- Knowledge of provisioning analysis, sparing optimization, and sustainment planning.
- Background in naval, maritime, or defense sustainment environments.
- Experience with Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) or sustainment contracting models.
- Proficiency with cost modeling tools, data analytics platforms, or scripting/automation solutions.
- Experience working with Siemens NX, Teamcenter, ERP systems, or similar engineering platforms.
- Familiarity with Technical Data Packages (TDPs), engineering drawings, and system schematics.
- Experience supporting complex military systems, autonomous platforms, robotics, or unmanned systems.
Why Join Us? You'll be more than a cost engineer. You'll be a strategic partner helping shape how advanced systems are supported, maintained, and sustained throughout their lifecycle. Your work will directly influence product design, operational readiness, and long-term affordability, making a measurable impact on both our customers and mission success.
- Own the data. Influence the design. Drive the strategy.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $75.00 - $85.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 19, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Costa Mesa,CA.
About Aston Carter
Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.