Job Summary
The Proposal Sourcing Engineer - Supplier-Engineered Equipment supports Celeros Flow Technology's Inquiry-to-Order (ITO) process by developing supplier strategies and commercial solutions that improve proposal win rates, competitiveness, margin, and lead-time optimization.
Working closely with Application Engineering, Commercial Operations, and Sales teams, the Proposal Sourcing Leader serves as the primary supplier-facing commercial lead during the proposal phase. The role is responsible for developing sourcing strategies, negotiating supplier commitments, assessing commercial and supply chain risks, and strengthening customer proposals through collaborative supplier engagement.
Supplier-Engineered Equipment is externally engineered and manufactured equipment supplied against Celeros performance and interface requirements. Celeros defines what the equipment must do and how it must integrate with the overall solution, while suppliers are responsible for detailed design, engineering, and manufacture. Typical examples include electric motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), mechanical seal systems, lubrication systems, gearboxes, and other auxiliary equipment. This role will be based at Bangalore location
Key Responsibilities
Proposal Competitiveness
- Develop supplier strategies and commercial solutions that improve proposal win rates, margin, and lead-time optimization.
- Influence proposal outcomes through supplier engagement, commercial negotiation, and market intelligence.
- Support proposal reviews by providing sourcing recommendations, commercial insights, and risk assessments.
- Identify opportunities to improve proposal competitiveness and increase probability of award.
Supplier Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers of Supplier-Engineered Equipment.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, contractual terms, warranty provisions, and commercial commitments that strengthen customer proposals.
- Develop competitive sourcing alternatives that improve customer value propositions.
- Monitor supplier capabilities, capacity constraints, market conditions, and industry developments.
Commercial and Contractual Risk Management
- Evaluate supplier commercial offerings, contractual commitments, and supply chain risks.
- Identify and mitigate commercial, schedule, capacity, and execution risks during proposal development.
- Support the development of executable and commercially sound customer solutions.
- Provide commercial guidance regarding supplier terms and conditions, warranties, qualifications, and risk allocation.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Application Engineering, Commercial Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams throughout the Inquiry-to-Order process.
- Support development of technically compliant and commercially competitive customer solutions.
- Translate complex supplier, commercial, technical, and supply chain issues into concise business-focused recommendations and executive-level summaries.
- Ensure effective transfer of supplier commitments, assumptions, and risks from proposal teams to execution teams.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to develop sourcing strategies that improve proposal win rates, commercial competitiveness, margin, and lead-time competitiveness.
- Strong negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to secure commercially advantageous pricing, lead times, contractual terms, and supplier commitments.
- Working knowledge of commercial contracts, supplier agreements, terms and conditions, warranties, risk allocation, and related contractual language.
- Excellent communication and relationship management skills with the ability to effectively engage suppliers, cross-functional teams, and leadership at all organizational levels, including supplier executive management.
- Ability to simplify complex technical, commercial, and supply chain topics into concise business-focused recommendations and executive-level summaries.
- Strong analytical and business judgment skills with the ability to assess supplier offerings, commercial opportunities, contractual exposure, and supply chain risks and recommend actions that improve proposal outcomes.
- Ability to interpret customer specifications and supplier technical proposals sufficiently to support commercial decision-making.
- Understanding of rotating equipment and Supplier-Engineered Equipment, including electric motors, VFDs, mechanical seal systems, lubrication systems, and gearboxes.
- Ability to manage multiple proposal opportunities simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years in proposal management, applications engineering, strategic sourcing, commercial operations, supply chain, or similar roles within an engineered-to-order manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated involvement in Inquiry-to-Order (ITO), tendering, proposal development, or bid-management activities.
- Background negotiating with suppliers and evaluating commercial terms, contractual commitments, and supplier risk.
- Familiarity with rotating equipment, Supplier-Engineered Equipment, or related industrial products.
- Exposure to customer-facing commercial activities and collaboration within global cross-functional teams.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and SAP or equivalent ERP systems preferred.
Success Measures
- Contribution to proposal win rates.
- Commercial competitiveness of supplier solutions.
- Margin of awarded opportunities.
- Lead-time competitiveness of proposed solutions.
- Proposal responsiveness and support of bid timelines.
- Supplier engagement effectiveness.
- Market intelligence development and utilization.
- Quality and completeness of proposal-to-order handovers.
- Identification and mitigation of commercial and supply chain risks.