What are the responsibilities and job description for the Electrical Proposals Engineer position at Kais-AIR®?
About Kais-AIR®:
Kais-AIR® is a leader in the design, engineering, fabrication, installation, and service of modular industrial equipment and mission-critical facilities. As part of the Kaiser Enterprise, we offer customers a single point of contact to execute a wide variety of critical needs across multiple markets including Data Centers, Battery Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, Renewable Energy, and Healthcare.
Role Overview:
The Electrical Proposals Engineer is responsible for developing accurate cost estimates for electrical systems and equipment integrated into custom mechanical equipment and modular infrastructure serving both industrial and mission-critical markets.
Within the industrial market, the Electrical Proposals Engineer supports estimating for electrical and control systems associated with custom air handling units (AHUs) and desiccant dehumidification units (DHUs) used for specialized environmental control applications.
Within the mission-critical market, the Electrical Proposals Engineer supports estimating for electrical skid assemblies, integrated control systems, and modular data center infrastructure products.
Working within the Sales & Estimating group, the Electrical Proposals Engineer collaborates closely with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and sales teams to review project requirements, obtain vendor pricing, develop cost models, and support proposal development.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Electrical Systems Estimating
- Develop cost estimates for electrical systems and assemblies integrated into mechanical equipment and modular infrastructure.
- Review electrical drawings, specifications, and system layouts to determine scope and requirements.
- Prepare conceptual, budgetary, and detailed estimates to support customer proposals and internal planning.
Industrial Market Equipment
Support estimating activities for electrical systems integrated with industrial environmental control equipment including:
- Custom air handling units (AHUs)
- Desiccant dehumidification units (DHUs)
- Industrial environmental control systems
Responsibilities include estimating electrical components such as:
- Motors and motor starters
- Variable frequency drives (VFDs)
- Control panels and PLC systems
- Sensors and instrumentation
- Electrical heaters and control elements
- Power distribution components associated with equipment operation
Coordinate with engineering to understand system requirements including equipment power loads, control strategies, and integration with facility systems.
Mission Critical Market Equipment
Support estimating activities for mission-critical infrastructure including:
- Electrical skid assemblies
- Modular data center infrastructure products
- Integrated electrical systems supporting custom air handling equipment
Responsibilities include reviewing electrical one-line diagrams and equipment layouts to estimate electrical components, panel assemblies, wiring, and system integration requirements.
Vendor and Component Pricing
- Solicit and evaluate vendor pricing for electrical equipment including:
- Motors and drives
- Control panels and PLC hardware
- Electrical distribution components
- Instrumentation and sensors
- Wiring and electrical hardware
- Maintain relationships with electrical suppliers and track historical pricing data.
Manufacturing and Assembly Coordination
- Coordinate with engineering and manufacturing teams to estimate:
- Electrical panel fabrication
- Wiring and installation labor
- Integration of electrical systems into equipment assemblies
- Factory testing and commissioning requirements
- Ensure electrical designs align with manufacturing capabilities and cost targets.
Proposal and Sales Support
- Support the Sales team in preparing technical proposals and estimate summaries.
- Assist with development of proposal documentation and cost breakdowns.
- Participate in internal bid reviews and scope discussions.
Cost Analysis and Continuous Improvement
- Track estimated versus actual project costs to improve estimate accuracy.
- Maintain estimating templates and internal cost databases.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimization and value engineering during proposal development.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Construction Management, or related field, or equivalent industry experience.
- 1–3 years of experience in electrical estimating, electrical design, or industrial electrical systems.
- Ability to read and interpret:
- Electrical one-line diagrams
- Panel layouts
- Control schematics
- Equipment schedules and specifications.
- Strong proficiency with Excel and cost analysis tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience estimating industrial electrical systems or control panels.
- Experience with electrical skid assemblies or modular equipment.
- Familiarity with HVAC equipment controls and motor systems.
- Exposure to data center electrical infrastructure.
- Familiarity with BIM tools such as Revit or Navisworks.
Key Skills:
- Electrical systems estimating
- Control panel and motor control systems
- Electrical skid assemblies
- Vendor pricing coordination
- Electrical drawing interpretation
- Cost modeling and analysis
- Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to occasionally visit manufacturing facilities and project sites.
- Ability to review detailed drawing sets and electrical diagrams.