Job Summary
The Senior Tendering Engineer is responsible for leading the analysis, preparation, review, and submission of compliant technical and commercial tenders for complex defense-related projects. The role provides senior-level tendering support to Business Development by translating customer requirements into accurate, competitive, executable, and compliant proposals, ensuring alignment with defense regulations, localization requirements, and internal cost, schedule, risk, and approval guidelines.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead the review and analysis of RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs for complex defense programs, identifying key technical, commercial, contractual, schedule, and compliance requirements.
- Interpret technical specifications, statements of work, drawings, standards, and military requirements.
- Lead the preparation, integration, and internal review of complete and compliant technical and commercial tender submissions in coordination with internal stakeholders.
- Ensure all tenders fully comply with customer requirements, bid instructions, and submission timelines.
- Develop technical compliance matrices, deviation lists, and clarification registers.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Production, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance to define technical solutions and prepare cost proposals.
- Develop and critically review bills of materials (BOMs), bases of estimate (BOEs), cost estimates, and manufacturing feasibility and schedule assumptions.
- Support make‑or‑buy decisions, localization strategies, and lifecycle cost evaluations.
- Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, export control regulations, company policies, and customer contractual terms.
- Identify and challenge technical, commercial, contractual, schedule, and compliance risks during tendering; lead development of mitigation actions and ensure material risks are escalated for management review.
- Maintain accurate tender documentation, version control, and complete audit trails.
- Act as the senior coordination point between Business Development, Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Quality, Finance, and Legal during tender preparation, driving timely closure of inputs and actions.
- Lead or actively support bid clarification meetings, internal gate reviews, management reviews, and customer negotiations as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Aptitude
- Educational Qualifications and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or equivalent).
- Knowledge: Knowledge of defense contracting processes and tender lifecycles. Understanding of direct vs. indirect costs, Capex vs. OpEx, and lifecycle cost considerations.
- Technical Skills: Defense contracting and tender lifecycles. Cost estimation, commercial analysis, and lifecycle costing concepts. Knowledge of defense contracting processes and tender lifecycles.
- Language Skills: Fluent in English.
- Experience: Minimum 7 years of relevant experience, including substantial experience in tendering, proposals, cost estimating, or project engineering within defense, manufacturing, EPC, or other regulated industries; experience leading complex multidisciplinary bids is preferred.
Key Interactions
- Key Internal Contacts: Engineering. Supply Chain. Manufacturing / Operations. Finance / Legal. Quality Assurance / Compliance.
- Purpose of Interaction: Validate technical feasibility, assumptions, and compliance. Develop sourcing strategy, validate supplier capability, and obtain quotations. Labor Cost / Manufacturability/Outsourcing/Make-Buy Strategy. Review financial and legal terms. Ensure compliance with defense and quality requirements.
- Key External Contacts: Customer and Suppliers.
- Purpose of Interaction: Clarify technical and commercial requirements. Align on scope and deliverables. Engage with suppliers for technical and commercial inputs in coordination with the Supply Chain function.
- Supervisor/Manager: Engineering Lead
- Direct Reports: N/A