Estimating and Proposal Engineer

veyra; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Veyra, a fast-growing national leader in water and wastewater treatment, seeks anEstimating & Proposal Engineer to develop accurate cost estimates and compelling proposals. You will collaborate across Sales, Project Management, Engineering, Product Management, Purchasing, and Legal to define scope, evaluate risk, and establish cost bases for successful bids.

This remote role requires travel (~15–25%), interprets drawings/PEIDs, and uses AI tools judiciously.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience in cost estimating, proposal engineering, or technical sales support.
• At least three years of experience estimating equipment together with installation or construction scope.
• Ability to interpret drawings, P&IDs, and specifications and perform detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Familiarity with CSI MasterFormat divisions relevant to process and water/wastewater equipment.
• Experience soliciting, evaluating, and managing supplier and subcontractor bids.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, controls, and instrumentation installation methods and labor productivity.
• Understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with Salesforce and Microsoft Office.
• Clear technical writing skills for scope narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and clarifications.
• Comfort using AI tools like Copilot/ChatGPT/Claude with judgment to verify outputs.

Responsibilities

• Prepare estimates for standard products, custom equipment, nonstandard components, installation, and construction.
• Issue supplier and subcontractor RFQs, compare bids, and document lead times, freight, quote validity, and escalation assumptions.
• Perform quantity takeoffs from drawings, P&IDs, and technical specifications.
• Estimate labor, subcontractor, equipment rental, site work, mobilization, startup, and commissioning costs.
• Apply contingency, escalation, warranty reserve, and risk allowances.
• Identify gaps or inaccuracies in standard cost information and update cost data with Product Management and Purchasing.
• Assemble proposals and RFP responses spanning equipment, installation, and construction across multiple business units.
• Develop scope narratives, inclusions, exclusions, clarifications, and assumptions.
• Provide Regional Sales with a well-supported cost basis for pricing and margin decisions.
• Recommend value-engineering options to improve competitiveness without hurting project economics.
• Maintain accurate opportunity, estimate, and proposal records in Salesforce.
• Collaborate with Project Managers pre-bid to evaluate constructability, schedule, installation strategy.
• Lead estimate handoffs at award with clear assumptions and identified risks.
• Compare estimated and actual costs at closeout and capture lessons learned.
• Support change-order pricing when scope changes after award.
• Review commercial risks and terms; coordinate with legal; identify AIS/BABA/Davis-Bacon requirements.
• Incorporate domestic sourcing and compliance costs into estimates.

Skills

Cost estimating

Technical writing

AI tools familiarity

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Mechanical/Environmental/Construction Engineering or related field

Tools

Excel

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

HCSS HeavyBid

ProEst

Sage Estimating

Salesforce CPQ

Job description

All Jobs > Estimating and Proposal Engineer

Build the Estimates Behind Smarter Water Solutions

Veyra is seeking an experienced Estimating & Proposal Engineer to develop accurate, defensible cost estimates and compelling proposals for water and wastewater treatment projects. From standard equipment packages to fully installed, turnkey systems, you will help define project scope, evaluate risk, and establish the cost basis behind successful proposals.

This is a highly collaborative individual-contributor role, working across Regional Sales, Project Management, Engineering, Product Management, Purchasing, and Legal. You will also partner with Project Managers after award to compare estimated and actual costs, strengthen future estimates, and continuously improve how projects are scoped and delivered.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare estimates for standard products, custom equipment, nonstandard components, installation, and construction.
• Issue supplier and subcontractor RFQs, compare bids, and document lead times, freight, quote validity, and escalation assumptions.
• Perform quantity takeoffs from drawings, P&IDs, and technical specifications.
• Estimate labor, subcontractor, equipment rental, site work, mobilization, startup, and commissioning costs.
• Apply appropriate contingency, escalation, warranty reserve, and risk allowances.
• Identify gaps or inaccuracies in standard cost information and collaborate with Product Management and Purchasing to keep cost data current.
• Assemble proposals and RFP responses that combine equipment, installation, and construction scope across multiple Veyra business units.
• Develop clear scope narratives, inclusions, exclusions, clarifications, and assumptions.
• Provide Regional Sales with a well-supported cost basis for pricing and margin decisions.
• Recommend value-engineering options and alternates that improve competitiveness without compromising project economics.
• Maintain accurate opportunity, estimate, and proposal records in Salesforce.

Partner Throughout the Project Lifecycle

• Collaborate with Project Managers before bid to evaluate constructability, schedule, and installation strategy on more complex opportunities.
• Lead estimate handoffs at project award, including assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and identified risks.
• Compare estimated and actual costs at project closeout, document root causes, and incorporate lessons learned into future estimates.
• Support change-order pricing when project scope changes after award.

Evaluate Commercial and Compliance Risk

• Review RFPs and customer terms for commercial risks, including performance guarantees, liquidated damages, bonding, insurance, warranties, payment terms, and retainage.
• Coordinate flagged contractual terms with legal counsel and reflect approved positions in proposals.
• Identify public-project funding and compliance requirements, including American Iron and Steel (AIS), Build America Buy America (BABA), Davis-Bacon prevailing-wage requirements, and applicable state procurement rules.
• Incorporate domestic sourcing, certified payroll, prevailing wages, and other compliance costs into estimates.
• Review public-bid forms, specifications, submittal requirements, and supplier compliance documentation.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental, or Construction Engineering; Construction Management; or equivalent professional experience.
• Five or more years of experience in cost estimating, proposal engineering, or technical sales support.
• At least three years of experience estimating equipment together with installation or construction scope.
• Ability to interpret drawings, P&IDs, and specifications and perform detailed quantity takeoffs.
• Familiarity with relevant CSI MasterFormat divisions, including process interconnections, process gas and liquid handling, and water and wastewater equipment.
• Experience soliciting, evaluating, and managing supplier and subcontractor bids.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, controls, and instrumentation installation methods and labor productivity.
• Understanding of water and wastewater treatment processes, such as membrane bioreactors, packaged systems, aeration, mixing, and control platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Salesforce and Microsoft Office.
• Clear technical writing skills, particularly when developing scope narratives, assumptions, exclusions, and commercial clarifications.
• Comfort using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or Claude to work more efficiently, combined with the judgment to verify outputs before they become part of an estimate or proposal.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with public-works bidding and funding compliance, including AIS, BABA, Davis-Bacon, and SRF-funded projects.
• Experience with design-build or guaranteed maximum price (GMP) contracting.
• Familiarity with estimating platforms such as HCSS HeavyBid, Trimble, ProEst, Sage Estimating, or Salesforce CPQ.
• Experience developing proposals across multiple product lines or business units.
• Experience working in a fast-growing or acquisitive organization.

Work Arrangement

This is a remote position with approximately 15%–25% travel. Travel may include pre-bid site visits, customer and consulting-engineer meetings, project handoffs, closeout reviews, and periodic team sessions at Veyra’s Austin headquarters.

Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and be able to access active construction and treatment-plant sites while wearing required personal protective equipment.

Why Veyra?

Veyra is a fast-growing national leader in water and wastewater treatment solutions. We provide full-service, design-build infrastructure ranging from packaged membrane bioreactor systems to advanced aeration and control technologies.

We serve public- and private-sector customers across municipal utilities, real estate development, industrial manufacturing, food and beverage, resorts, and tribal governments.

Backed by Sciens Water, Veyra is growing through innovation, exceptional customer service, and strategic acquisitions. Our culture values high performance, collaboration, and meaningful customer impact.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you’re an estimator who enjoys solving complex problems, collaborating across technical and commercial teams, and seeing your work translate from proposal to successful project delivery, we’d like to hear from you.

Join Veyra and help build a smarter, more sustainable water future.