Lead Application Engineer - Bid Manager

Watlow; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive program

401(k) plan with company match

Wellness incentives

Employee Personal Assistance Program

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid holidays and vacation

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Watlow is seeking an experienced Bid Manager to lead engineered process heating system proposals for large industrial customers, EPCs, and end users across sectors like oil & gas, petrochemical, and energy transition.

You will own bids from RFQ receipt to award, coordinating engineering, sales, applications, operations, supply chain and finance to deliver compliant, competitive proposals that win profitable business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field.
• 7+ years in industrial sales, applications, estimating or proposals.
• 3+ years leading bids for engineered-to-order equipment.
• Experience bidding to EPC contractors and major oil & gas operators.
• Knowledge of NEC 500/505, UL/CSA, ATEX and IECEx for hazardous areas; ASME VIII and PED; NFPA 70/79 and IEC.
• Ability to read P&IDs, process datasheets and electrical schematics.
• Strong understanding of commercial terms and contract risk.
• Excellent writing, organization and deadline management.

Responsibilities

• Review RFQs/ITBs and lead go/no-go decisions.
• Build win strategies with sales and pricing approaches.
• Manage bid schedules; run kickoff meetings and review gates.
• Break down specifications into compliance matrices; coordinate sizing and design reviews.
• Prepare deviations, clarifications and complete proposal packages.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, supply chain and engineering for timely bids.
• Hand won projects over to project management with full scope and risks.
• Track win/loss data and maintain proposal templates.

Skills

Bid management

Engineering knowledge

P&ID reading

Commercial terms

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

APMP or PMP certification

Job description

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

About The Role

Watlow is looking for an experienced Bid Manager to lead proposals for our engineered process heating systems. These are sold to large industrial customers, EPC contractors and end users in oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical, power generation and energy transition markets. You will own each bid from receipt of the RFQ through award. You'll coordinate engineering, sales, applications, operations, supply chain and finance to deliver compliant, competitive proposals that win profitable business.

Products You’ll Support

• Circulation and inline process heaters, including explosion-proof and hazardous-area designs, both medium and low voltage


• Engineered heater skids and packaged systems


• Medium and Low Voltage Control Panels


• Associated sensors, controls and instrumentation

Key Responsibilities

Bid strategy and qualification

• Review incoming RFQs and ITBs, and lead go/no-go decisions based on fit, risk, capacity and margin.


• Build win strategies with sales, including customer drivers, competitor positioning and pricing approach.

Proposal development

• Build and manage bid schedules. Run kickoff meetings and review gates.


• Break down customer specifications, datasheets and project specs (e.g. Shell DEPs, Aramco SAES, ExxonMobil GPs) into compliance matrices.


• Coordinate thermal and electrical sizing, design, and code review with applications engineering.


• Prepare clear technical and commercial deviations, clarifications and exceptions.


• Write and assemble complete proposal packages: technical, commercial, schedule, documentation and inspection/test plans.


• Work with counterparts in legal, finance, supply chain, quality and engineering to prepare effective bid proposals in a timely manner

Commercial and risk management

• Develop pricing with estimating and finance, covering material, labor, engineering hours, documentation, testing and freight.


• Review commercial terms: liquidated damages, limitation of liability, warranties, payment milestones, bonds and guarantees, and Incoterms. Escalate high-risk terms to legal and leadership.


• Get internal approvals under the Delegation of Authority process.

Customer engagement

• Serve as the main contact for EPC procurement and engineering teams during the bid.


• Lead clarification meetings, technical bid evaluations (TBEs) and commercial negotiations.


• Support bid presentations and vendor qualification (AVL) activities.

After award and continuous improvement

• Hand won projects over to project management, with the full scope, risks and commitments documented.


• Track win/loss data and debrief customers. Maintain proposal templates and a content library.


• Report on pipeline and bid performance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical or chemical preferred) or a related technical field


• 7+ years in industrial sales, applications, estimating or proposals, with at least 3 years leading bids for engineered-to-order equipment


• Experience bidding to EPC contractors and major oil and gas or process operators


• Working knowledge of relevant codes and standards, such as:
  
  
  • NEC 500/505, UL/CSA, ATEX and IECEx for hazardous areas
  
  
  • ASME Section VIII and PED for pressure vessels
  
  
  • NFPA 70/79 and IEC for electrical and controls
  
  


• Ability to read P&IDs, process datasheets and electrical schematics


• Strong understanding of commercial terms and contract risk


• Excellent writing, organization and deadline management across several bids at once

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with electric process heating, fired heaters, heat exchangers, or skid-mounted systems


• Knowledge of electrification and decarbonization applications, such as replacing gas-fired heaters with electric heat, hydrogen and CCS


• APMP or PMP certification


• Experience with international bids, including local content, export compliance and multi-currency pricing

Key Competencies

• Leads cross-functional teams without direct authority


• Has commercial judgment: knows when to push back, clarify or walk away


• Pays close attention to detail and specification compliance


• Stays calm and organized under tight deadlines


• Is customer-focused and builds relationships with EPC buyers and engineers

Travel

Up to [15–25]% for customer meetings, bid clarifications and site or facility visits.

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

Benefits

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us. The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program


• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance


• Wellness incentives


• Employee Personal Assistance Program


• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance


• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation


• Parental leave


• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member’s individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at [e-mail].