Automation Proposal and Estimating Specialist

Automation Proposal and Estimating Specialist

• Full-time
• Travel Requirement:
  Yes - Up to 20%
• Division:
  Automation
• Compensation: USD 110978 - USD 124850 - yearly

Working at Knobelsdorff (KE)

Along with building state-of-the-art projects, we build meaningful careers, lasting opportunities, and teams of dedicated individuals who truly own their work. As a leading turnkey specialty contractor specializing in Automation, Electric, Energy, and Power Services, our team tackles challenging, cutting-edge projects that provide opportunities to build new skills, confidence, and gain valuable hands-on experience in a variety of different industries. We tackle industrial electrical installations, advanced automation systems, and renewable energy solutions.

Since our founding as a family-owned company in 1988, we've grown while staying true to our core values. Starting your career with KE means joining a culture that values your contributions, moves quickly, takes calculated risks, and celebrates team members who step up and own their work.

If you're ready to join a team where your voice matters, your growth is supported, and your impact is celebrated, KE is the place for you.

This role supports the Automation division by turning complex customer opportunities into clear, technically sound, and commercially competitive proposals. You’ll be responsible for leading opportunities from initial RFQ through final proposal, developing accurate scopes and estimates that directly impact project execution, profitability, and the customer experience. Success in this role means reducing scope gaps, improving project handoffs, and delivering high-quality proposals, all while upholding KE’s commitment to Safety, People, Passion, and Performance.

If you're someone who takes pride in doing things the right way and thrives in a fast-moving environment, this position is built for you.

What You’ll Do

You’ll be part of a team that gets things done, works with purpose, and takes pride in the results. Your day-to-day responsibilities may include:

Opportunity and Scope Development

• Take ownership of automation opportunities from initial RFQ through final proposal submission.
• Review customer specifications, P&IDs, control narratives, I/O lists, electrical drawings, network architecture, equipment documentation, and bid packages.
• Develop a strong understanding of the customer’s process, control philosophy, project requirements, and expectations.
• Identify scope gaps, technical risks, assumptions, exclusions, and missing information early in the process.
• Develop RFIs and technical clarification questions to help define the complete project scope.
• Coordinate with customers, vendors, OEMs, engineering firms, and internal stakeholders to gather required information.
• Clearly define KE’s responsibilities and exclusions before pricing a project.

Proposal and Estimating

• Build detailed automation quotations covering controls engineering, PLC programming, HMI and SCADA development, control panels, hardware, instrumentation, industrial networking, testing, commissioning, project management, travel, software, and related project costs.
• Develop accurate engineering, programming, manufacturing, commissioning, and project-management labor estimates.
• Work with suppliers and internal procurement resources to obtain accurate material pricing.
• Prepare clear scope descriptions, assumptions, exclusions, deliverables, schedules, and commercial clarifications.
• Develop technically detailed proposals that are clear and easy for customers to understand.
• Maintain consistency and quality across KE Automation quotations, regardless of project size or market.

Internal Leadership and Collaboration

• Coordinate proposal development with Business Development, Operations, Engineering,…