Proposal Engineer In The Water Treatment Industry

Job Profile: Proposal Engineer (Water Treatment)

Core Role

• Develop technical and commercial proposals for water and wastewater treatment projects.
• Interface between sales, engineering, and operations to ensure proposals are accurate, competitive, and compliant.
• Translate water chemistry data and process requirements into treatment designs and cost models.

Key Responsibilities

• Enquiry Qualification: Review RFQs/tenders, assess feasibility, and recommend bid/no-bid.
• Technical Design: Select and size treatment units (RO, UF, MBR, biological systems, thermal evaporators, ZLD systems). Prepare PFDs, P&IDs, layouts, and mass balances.
• Costing & Commercials: Build CAPEX/OPEX models, obtain vendor quotes, and assess risks.

Proposal Documentation: Write comprehensive technical and commercial proposals, manage submission deadlines, and respond to client clarifications.

• Client Interaction: Attend techno-commercial meetings, negotiate terms, and support sales teams.
• Handover: Transfer won projects to project management with full documentation of assumptions and risks.

Education & Background

• Degree: Bachelor’s in Chemical, Mechanical, Civil, or Environmental Engineering; Master’s preferred for senior roles.
• Experience: Typically 5–10 years in water/wastewater treatment, EPC, or related industries.
• Knowledge Areas:
• Water chemistry (COD, BOD, TDS, pH, hardness).
• Conventional and advanced treatment technologies (RO, UF, MBR, ZLD).
• International codes and standards (ASME, DIN, EN, IS, BS).
• Materials/metallurgy for pumps, valves, and piping.
• Electrical, instrumentation, and control systems for treatment plants.

Essential Skills

Skill Category: Details

Technical: Process design, water chemistry, treatment technologies

Analytical: CAPEX/OPEX modeling, ROI calculations

Documentation: PFDs, P&IDs, layouts, tender compliance.

Commercial: Vendor RFQs, risk assessment, negotiation

Collaboration: Cross-functional teamwork with sales, engineering, and clients

Challenges & Considerations

• Balancing technical accuracy vs. commercial competitiveness.
• Managing tight tender deadlines and compliance requirements.
• Keeping up with emerging technologies (digital twins, advanced membranes, electrochemical treatment).

Ensuring sustainability and regulatory compliance in designs.