Proposal Engineer

Solutions Driven; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Solutions Driven seeks a skilled Proposal Engineer in the Greater Detroit area with 5+ years in proposal engineering or estimating for industrial automation.

You will convert RFQs and specs into competitive, margin-protected proposals, building BOMs, layouts, cost estimates and lead times while evaluating multiple equipment options.

Qualifications

• Experience in proposal engineering or estimating for industrial automation.
• Strong costing and profitability analysis experience.
• Bachelor's or higher in mechanical/electrical/mechatronics/robotics or related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.

Responsibilities

• Take customer RFQs and technical specs for automation equipment, parts, repairs and integration services, and turn them into winning proposals.
• Build BOMs, layouts, process flows, cost estimates and lead times; price bottom-up to defend margins.
• Weigh refurbished, used and new equipment options and determine the most commercially sound solution.
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Production, suppliers and equipment manufacturers; participate in technical presentations and customer conversations.

Skills

Proposal engineering

Application engineering

Technical sales support

Estimating

Costing & profitability analysis

Education

Engineering degree in Mechanical/Electrical/Robotics/Mechatronics, or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Greater Detroit, Michigan · Hybrid considered · $70,000 to $90,000 base, depending on experience

Our client is a well established North American provider of aftermarket services for industrial automation equipment. With decades of collective industry experience, they help manufacturers reduce downtime and extend the life of critical automation systems, and they're investing further in the team behind it.

This is a newly created, standalone role reporting directly to the EVP of Sales, built to close a gap that’s been costing the business real opportunities. Deals have been missed or nearly missed because the specialist estimating and proposal expertise wasn’t there to back them up. Whoever steps into this role fixes that, and shapes how it’s done from here.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll take customer RFQs and technical specifications for automation equipment, parts, repairs and integration services, and turn them into proposals that win business without giving away margin. That means building out BOMs, layouts, process flows, cost estimates, lead times and risk assessments, then pricing them from the bottom up so every number holds up under scrutiny. You’ll weigh refurbished, used and new equipment options, know which suppliers to call, and bring the most commercially sound route to the table. Sales, Operations, Production, suppliers and equipment manufacturers will all lean on your judgement, and you’ll get involved in technical presentations and customer conversations where your input carries weight.

What you’ll bring

Five to seven or more years in proposal engineering, application engineering, technical sales support or estimating within industrial automation (three or more years will be considered for the right background). Solid knowledge of industrial automation equipment, ideally including experience with major original equipment manufacturers in the space. A track record of bottom up costing and profitability analysis, not just document writing. A degree in mechanical, electrical, robotics, mechatronics or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent hands on experience. Comfort with Salesforce and Microsoft Office, and familiarity with robotic cell layout or reach study software is a strong plus.

Why it’s worth a conversation

This is a rare combination: technical depth and commercial influence in one role, with direct visibility to senior leadership and the freedom to build the processes and standards that don’t exist yet. Your work will have a measurable line to the bottom line, protecting margin and turning near misses into wins. As the business grows, so does the scope of this role.