Lead Application Engineer - Bid Manager

Watlow Recruitment Team • St. Louis, MO

22d • Onsite

About The Position

Watlow is seeking an experienced Bid Manager to lead proposals for engineered process heating systems. These systems are sold to large industrial customers, EPC contractors, and end-users in markets such as oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical, power generation, and energy transition. The Bid Manager will be responsible for the entire bid process, from RFQ receipt to award, coordinating efforts across engineering, sales, applications, operations, supply chain, and finance to deliver compliant, competitive, and profitable proposals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, or chemical preferred) or a related technical field.
• 7+ years in industrial sales, applications, estimating, or proposals.
• At least 3 years of experience 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, including NEC 500/505, UL/CSA, ATEX, 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 skills, with the ability to manage multiple bids simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with electric process heating, fired heaters, heat exchangers, or skid-mounted systems.
• Knowledge of electrification and decarbonization applications (e.g., replacing gas-fired heaters with electric heat, hydrogen, CCS).
• APMP or PMP certification.
• Experience with international bids, including local content, export compliance, and multi-currency pricing.

Responsibilities

• Lead bid strategy and qualification by reviewing RFQs/ITBs, making go/no-go decisions based on fit, risk, capacity, and margin, and building win strategies with sales.
• Manage proposal development by building and managing bid schedules, leading kickoff meetings and review gates, breaking down customer specifications into compliance matrices, coordinating engineering reviews, preparing technical and commercial deviations, and assembling complete proposal packages.
• Oversee commercial and risk management by developing pricing with estimating and finance, reviewing commercial terms, escalating high-risk terms, and obtaining internal approvals.
• Engage with customers by serving as the main contact for EPC procurement and engineering teams, leading clarification meetings, technical bid evaluations, and commercial negotiations, and supporting bid presentations and vendor qualification activities.
• Manage after-award activities and continuous improvement by handing over won projects with documented scope and risks, tracking win/loss data, debriefing customers, and maintaining proposal templates and a content library.

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• 401(k) plan with company match and annual company contribution tied to 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior