Application Engineer

Brightsmith; United States; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightsmith seeks an Application Engineer to own technical and commercial quoting for LV/MV switchgear, switchboards, and distribution equipment in the Baltimore area. You will translate customer specs into accurate, competitive quotes and collaborate with sales, engineering, and manufacturing to ensure deliverable solutions.

Responsibilities include reviewing RFQs, preparing BOMs and cost estimates, and running technical discovery meetings with customers to finalize requirements and schedules.

Qualifications

• Experience quoting, estimating, designing, or applying LV/MV switchgear or related equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret one-line diagrams, specs, drawings, and schedules.
• Strong knowledge of BOMs, manufacturing costs, and labor estimates.
• Clear communication with customers, sales, engineering, and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Review RFQs and develop technical and commercial quotations for LV/MV switchgear and related equipment.
• Prepare configurations, BOMs, labor estimates, supplier quotes, and project costs.
• Lead technical discovery with customers and identify risks before proposals.
• Coordinate with suppliers and cross-functional teams to ensure deliverable quotes.
• Prepare proposal docs, clarifications, exclusions, and compliance statements.

Skills

Quoting & estimating

Reading diagrams

Costing & BOM management

Cross-functional collaboration

MS Office & ERP/CRM

Travel for site visits

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Electrical design software

Job description

Application Engineer | LV/MV Switchgear | Baltimore, MD

About the Opportunity

A PE-backed electrical manufacturer supplying Tier 1 OEMs across power distribution, switchgear, and critical infrastructure is scaling fast to meet data center and industrial demand. They're building out their commercial and technical organization from the ground up — this is a chance to join early, own real scope, and work directly with leadership.

The Role

We're hiring an Application Engineer to own technical and commercial quoting for low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear, switchboards, and related distribution equipment. You'll be the technical backbone behind every proposal — translating customer specs into accurate, competitive, deliverable quotes.

What You'll Do

• Review customer RFQs, specifications, drawings, one-line diagrams, equipment schedules, and scope-of-work documents
• Develop technical and commercial quotations for LV/MV switchgear, switchboards, distribution panels, and related equipment
• Prepare equipment configurations, bills of material, labor estimates, supplier quotations, and project cost estimates
• Run technical discovery meetings with customers to nail down requirements, operating conditions, schedules, and application needs
• Identify spec gaps, exceptions, and risks before proposals go out
• Select breakers, protective devices, metering, controls, bus configurations, and enclosures
• Coordinate with suppliers on component pricing, availability, and lead times
• Partner with sales to build competitive, technically compliant solutions
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and project management to confirm quoted solutions are deliverable
• Prepare proposal documentation, technical clarifications, exclusions, and compliance statements
• Support customer presentations, technical reviews, and post-quote discussions
• Assist with quote revisions, value engineering, and scope changes
• Maintain accurate quotation records and costing documentation

What You Bring

• Experience quoting, estimating, designing, or applying LV or MV switchgear, switchboards, panelboards, or similar electrical-distribution equipment (experience in either voltage class accepted; both preferred)
• Ability to read and interpret one-line diagrams, specs, drawings, and equipment schedules
• Working knowledge of circuit breakers, protective devices, bus systems, metering, and controls
• Strong grasp of BOMs, manufacturing costs, labor estimates, margins, and commercial quoting
• Clear communicator across customers, sales, engineering, suppliers, and manufacturing
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple quotes at once
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP/CRM/estimating software
• Ability to travel periodically for customer meetings and site visits

Nice to Have

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related technical field (equivalent industry experience also considered)
• 3+ years in switchgear, switchboards, electrical panels, power distribution, or custom electrical-equipment manufacturing
• Familiarity with NEC, UL, ANSI, IEEE, and NEMA standards
• Experience with UL 891 switchboards, UL 1558 switchgear, or applicable MV switchgear standards
• Experience supporting data centers, industrial facilities, utilities, or other high-power applications
• AutoCAD or electrical design software experience
• Experience in an engineer-to-order or configure-to-order environment

Compensation & Location

$130,000–$180,000 base + bonus, dependent on experience. Baltimore area, hybrid or Remote.