Application Engineer - Switchgear

Partners Ltd; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

STQ Partners are partnering with a specialist Industrial Power Systems business to hire an Electrical Applications Engineer in Houston. The role focuses on strengthening the technical quality of quotes by reviewing RFQs, customer specs and drawings to ensure the correct scope is quoted and risks are identified early.

You will work closely with Sales to determine the correct apparatus offering, including ratings and control requirements, and lead the technical side of quote-to-PO handoffs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience in electrical engineering, applications or estimating with power distribution equipment.
• Ability to read customer one-lines, specifications, RFQs, technical drawings and customer standards.
• Strong understanding of power distribution apparatus, ratings, protective devices and control schemes.
• Experience with switchgear or power distribution OEMs is advantageous.
• Excellent written communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Review RFQs, specs, one-lines and drawings before quote release.
• Identify scope gaps, missing information, conflicts, specification exceptions and technical risks.
• Help determine the correct apparatus offering, including ratings, major components, control requirements, layouts, options and special features.
• Prepare clear technical comments, exceptions, clarifications and exclusions for Sales to include with quotes.
• Review application requirements for breakers, starters, relays, CTs, PTs, metering, protection, interlocking, transfer schemes and arc-resistant requirements.
• Support Sales with technical questions and join customer, vendor and internal clarification calls as needed.
• Determine when a quote is standard, high-risk, technically unclear or requires senior engineering review.
• Lead the technical side of quote-to-PO handoffs, ensuring scope, exceptions and assumptions are clearly transferred to Project Management and Engineering.
• Build and maintain application checklists, standard exception language, spec review templates and product selection guidelines.

Skills

RFQ review

Technical comments

Cross-functional teamwork

Attention to detail

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

STQ Partners are currently partnered with a specialist Industrial Power Systems business. The business has vast experience in electrical packages and execution on power projects.

With multiple sites in Houston, the business has over a century long heritage, serving and supplying the industrial power systems world. They are now seeking to hire an Electrical Applications Engineer to join the business. The business is scaling to keep up with engineered to order & speciality project pipeline demands.

The overall objective of the Electrical Applications Engineer is to strengthen the technical quality of quotes before they become orders. Working closely with Sales, this role reviews RFQs, customer specifications, one-lines and drawings to make sure the correct scope is quoted, risks are identified early, and Project Management and Engineering inherit clean, well-defined projects after PO.

For this role we are specifically looking for experience with power distribution equipment such as medium and low-voltage switchgear and motor control centres (MCCs).

Responsibilities:

• Review customer RFQs, specifications, one-lines, drawings and quote requests prior to quote release.
• Identify scope gaps, missing information, conflicts, specification exceptions and technical risks.
• Help determine the correct apparatus offering, including ratings, major components, control requirements, layouts, options and special features.
• Prepare clear technical comments, exceptions, clarifications and exclusions for Sales to include with quotes.
• Review application requirements for breakers, starters, relays, CTs, PTs, metering, protection, interlocking, transfer schemes and arc-resistant requirements.
• Support Sales with technical questions and join customer, vendor and internal clarification calls as needed.
• Determine when a quote is standard, high-risk, technically unclear or requires senior engineering review.
• Lead the technical side of quote-to-PO handoffs, ensuring scope, exceptions and assumptions are clearly transferred to Project Management and Engineering.
• Build and maintain application checklists, standard exception language, spec review templates and product selection guidelines.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in electrical engineering, applications or estimating support with power distribution equipment, switchgear, MCCs, industrial controls or similar.
• Ability to read and interpret customer one-lines, specifications, RFQs, technical drawings and customer standards.
• Strong understanding of power distribution apparatus, ratings, protective devices and control schemes.
• Experience with medium-voltage metal-clad switchgear, LV switchgear, MVMCCs or LVMCCs is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with IEEE, ANSI, UL, NEMA and NEC requirements.
• Experience with switchgear or power distribution OEMs is advantageous.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear technical comments, exceptions and clarifications.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work cross-functionally with Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality.

There is a genuine opportunity for someone to join a growing team and business. Great pipeline of projects and a high performing, yet flexible, working environment. If you want to work in a project-centric; growing business with a rich history in the Houston area- we look forward to hearing from you.