Position Title:
Proposal Engineer – ICT / ELV / AV Systems
Department:
Pre-Sales / Tendering / Estimation
Reporting To:
Pre-Sales Manager / Tendering Manager / Senior Solution Architect
Job Purpose
We are looking for a strong Proposal Engineer with solid technical knowledge in ICT, ELV, and AV systems. The candidate must be able to read tender documents, understand drawings and specifications, prepare compliant technical and commercial proposals, coordinate with vendors, and support pricing for complex low-current packages.
This is not a document-control role. The candidate must be technically strong, commercially aware, and capable of understanding systems such as CCTV, structured cabling, active network, AV, access control, racks, servers, storage, and related ELV systems.
Key Responsibilities
1. Tender and Proposal Preparation
- Review RFPs, BOQs, drawings, specifications, employer requirements, addenda, and clarifications.
- Prepare technical and commercial proposal documents for ICT, ELV, and AV packages.
- Prepare compliance statements, deviation lists, assumptions, exclusions, and technical clarifications.
- Prepare RFIs when the tender documents are incomplete, contradictory, or unclear.
- Support the preparation of method statements, system descriptions, technical narratives, and project approach documents.
- Coordinate proposal submission requirements, ensuring all documents are complete, professional, and submitted on time.
2. Technical Scope Understanding
The candidate must be able to understand and work with the following systems:
- CCTV systems, including dome, bullet, PTZ, ANPR, VMS, NVR/servers, storage calculation, camera coverage, and basic lens/FOV understanding.
- Structured cabling systems, including Cat6/Cat6A, fiber optic cabling, patch panels, racks, cabinets, containment, testing, labeling, and termination.
- Active network systems, including switches, routers, firewalls, Wi-Fi access points, controllers, uplinks, SFPs, redundancy, and basic network architecture.
- Access control systems, including controllers, readers, magnetic locks, push buttons, door contacts, power supplies, and integration requirements.
- AV systems, including meeting rooms, displays, projectors, projection screens, speakers, microphones, amplifiers/DSPs, video conferencing, control systems, and video walls.
- IPTV, digital signage, intercom, master clock, public address/background music, GRMS, and other ELV systems when required.
- Server, storage, workstation, and basic data-center-related components used in ICT/ELV proposals.
3. BOQ, Quantity Takeoff, and Pricing Support
- Review BOQ quantities and compare them against drawings and specifications.
- Perform quantity takeoff for devices, cables, racks, accessories, installation items, and testing requirements.
- Identify missing items in the BOQ and highlight commercial or technical risks.
- Prepare cost breakdowns for supply, installation, testing, commissioning, engineering, project management, and third-party services.
- Support value engineering and alternative solution proposals without compromising compliance.
- Prepare comparison sheets between tender requirements, vendor offers, and proposed solutions.
4. Vendor and Supplier Management
- Send RFQs to vendors and subcontractors with clear technical and commercial requirements.
- Follow up with vendors to receive quotations, datasheets, compliance statements, and technical confirmations.
- Review vendor quotations technically and commercially.
- Prepare vendor comparison sheets and recommend the most suitable offer.
- Coordinate with vendors for clarifications, alternative options, lead times, warranty, support, and compliance.
- Maintain a database of vendor prices, contacts, product references, and historical quotation data.
5. Technical Documentation
- Prepare technical submittal support documents during tender stage when required.
- Review datasheets, catalogues, compliance sheets, system architecture, and single-line diagrams.
- Prepare technical write-ups explaining the proposed solution clearly and professionally.
- Support preparation of presentations for management, client meetings, and tender review meetings.
- Maintain organized tender folders, proposal trackers, RFQ logs, and clarification registers.
6. Internal Coordination
- Coordinate with solution architects, estimation engineers, design engineers, procurement, commercial team, and project team.
- Attend tender review meetings and explain scope, risks, pricing basis, and vendor status.
- Support management with go/no-go input, risk identification, and bid strategy.
- Ensure technical and commercial proposals are aligned before submission.
Required Experience
- 5 to 8 years of experience in ICT, ELV, AV, low-current systems, pre-sales, tendering, estimation, or proposal engineering.
- Strong experience with system integrators, ELV contractors, ICT contractors, AV integrators, or MEP/low-current subcontractors.
- Previous experience in hotels, airports, stadiums, commercial buildings, data centers, government projects, or large infrastructure projects is preferred.
- Proven experience preparing technical and commercial proposals for multi-system ELV/ICT packages.
Required Technical Knowledge
The candidate must have strong working knowledge of:
- CCTV and video surveillance systems.
- Structured cabling and fiber optic systems.
- Active network and Wi-Fi systems.
- Access control and security systems.
- AV and meeting room systems.
- Racks, cabinets, UPS, power accessories, servers, storage, and network accessories.
- BOQ review, quantity takeoff, pricing, and vendor comparison.
- Reading drawings, SLDs, layouts, riser diagrams, specifications, and tender documents.
- Basic understanding of installation, testing, commissioning, and handover requirements.
Required Skills
- Strong English communication skills, both written and spoken.
- Ability to write clear professional technical proposals.
- Strong vendor management and follow-up skills.
- Strong Excel skills for BOQ, pricing, comparison sheets, and cost breakdowns.
- Good understanding of AutoCAD drawings and PDF markup tools.
- Ability to work under tender deadlines and manage multiple bids at the same time.
- High attention to detail.
- Ability to identify missing scope, contradictions, risks, and commercial exposure.
- Ability to communicate with suppliers, internal teams, and management professionally.
Language Requirement
- English: Mandatory, strong written and spoken level.
- Arabic: Advantage but Not mandatory.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, IT, or a related technical field.
- Equivalent hands-on ELV/ICT/AV proposal experience may be accepted for strong candidates.
Key Performance Indicators
- Accuracy of BOQ review and quantity takeoff.
- Completeness and compliance of submitted proposa