Senior Proposal Engineer; Processing & Estimating

Lincoln Electric; Utica (MI); On-site; USD 96,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln Electric, a global leader in welding and automation, is seeking a Senior Proposal Engineer via Fori Automation to lead the development of manufacturing concepts and costed proposals. This role focuses on turning early-stage ideas into fully engineered solutions for customers on the shop floor.

The successful candidate will analyze RFQs, collaborate across engineering, sales, and manufacturing, and manage multiple proposals while staying aware of industry innovations and cost efficiencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or 10+ years of equivalent engineering/proposal experience.
• 5+ years of experience in Engineering, Proposals, and Estimating within an industrial, automation, or manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to lead proposal efforts from concept to final submission.
• Working knowledge of Mechanical and Controls Engineering concepts.
• Demonstrated success developing conceptual designs, estimates, and proposals for manufacturing customers.
• Strong communication skills with a collaborative, team oriented approach.
• Strong background in Engineering and Assembly System Design, with preferred experience in AutoCAD, SolidWorks or similar design software.
• Experience with lean manufacturing and highly automated systems, preferred.
• Strong understanding of controls hardware and related technologies, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze Customer RFQs & Specifications: Evaluate incoming RFQs, technical requirements, and customer specifications to determine alignment with Fori’s capabilities and product offerings.
• Develop Costed Proposals & Concepts: Create detailed time studies, conceptual layouts, cost estimates, and engineering proposals for assigned RFQs and engineering changes.
• Justify Technical & Financial Solutions: Document proposed processes and cost structures using vendor quotations or internal cost analyses.
• Customer & Internal Collaboration: Participate in customer line-up meetings and internal design reviews to ensure alignment on expectations, feasibility, and scope.
• Cross-Functional Problem Solving: Partner with engineering, sales, manufacturing, and project management teams to develop innovative, cost effective solutions within assigned budget constraints.
• Project & Task Management: Manage multiple active proposals and tasks simultaneously, meeting all deadlines and deliverable requirements. Industry & Technology Awareness: Stay informed about emerging automation solutions, industry advancements, and vendor innovations to enhance proposal quality and competitiveness.
• Support Sales & Marketing Efforts: Attend sales meetings, marketing presentations, and internal training sessions as needed.

Skills

Proposal leadership

Engineering concepts

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

RFQ analysis

Cost estimation

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean manufacturing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

10+ years equivalent engineering/proposal experience

Tools

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Job description

Lincoln Electric is a high-performance industrial machinery and technology leader who helps customers manufacture and maintain vital equipment and infrastructure. Lincoln Electric’s innovative solutions enable higher quality and productivity across a variety of processes including welding, cutting, brazing, machining, process automation, and field repair. The Company leverages proprietary technologies and expertise in materials science, power electronics, automation, and intelligent software to help customers build better and achieve resilience in their operations. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln Electric is the essential ‘Linc’ that keeps the economy running. The Company operates 71 manufacturing and automation facilities across 20 countries and serves customers in over 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at https://www.lincolnelectric.com.

Location: Shelby

Employment Status: Salary Full-Time

Function: Sales

Pay Range: ($96,331.63 - $140,000.00)

Target Bonus: 10.0%

Req ID: 30091

Summary

Fori Automation, a Lincoln Electric Company, is a global leader in designing and integrating automated assembly, welding, material handling, and testing systems. We deliver world-class automation solutions to leading manufacturers worldwide.

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Proposal Engineer to join our Assembly Pre-Sales Applications team. In this key technical role, you will lead the creation of manufacturing and assembly concepts that ultimately become full-scale, operational systems. This position is ideal for an engineer who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys conceptual development, and wants to see their early-stage ideas evolve into finished products on the manufacturing floor.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Analyze Customer RFQs & Specifications: Evaluate incoming RFQs, technical requirements, and customer specifications to determine alignment with Fori’s capabilities and product offerings.
• Develop Costed Proposals & Concepts: Create detailed time studies, conceptual layouts, cost estimates, and engineering proposals for assigned RFQs and engineering changes.
• Justify Technical & Financial Solutions: Document proposed processes and cost structures using vendor quotations or internal cost analyses.
• Customer & Internal Collaboration: Participate in customer line-up meetings and internal design reviews to ensure alignment on expectations, feasibility, and scope.
• Cross-Functional Problem Solving: Partner with engineering, sales, manufacturing, and project management teams to develop innovative, cost effective solutions within assigned budget constraints.
• Project & Task Management: Manage multiple active proposals and tasks simultaneously, meeting all deadlines and deliverable requirements. Industry & Technology Awareness: Stay informed about emerging automation solutions, industry advancements, and vendor innovations to enhance proposal quality and competitiveness.
• Support Sales & Marketing Efforts: Attend sales meetings, marketing presentations, and internal training sessions as needed.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related discipline preferred) OR 10+ years of equivalent engineering/proposal experience.
• 5+ years of experience in Engineering, Proposals, and Estimating within an industrial, automation, or manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to lead proposal efforts from concept to final submission.
• Working knowledge of Mechanical and Controls Engineering concepts.
• Demonstrated success developing conceptual designs, estimates, and proposals for manufacturing customers.
• Strong communication skills with a collaborative, team oriented approach.
• Strong background in Engineering and Assembly System Design, with preferred experience in AutoCAD, SolidWorks or similar design software.
• Experience with lean manufacturing and highly automated systems, preferred.
• Strong understanding of controls hardware and related technologies, preferred.

Lincoln Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to promoting equal employment opportunity for applicants, without regard to their race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, including, but not limited to, lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.