Proposal Engineer – Pricing & Cost

The Gleason Works, 1000 University Avenue, Rochester, New York, United States of America

Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 4:00 AM

With more than 2,200 employees and 13 manufacturing facilities worldwide, Gleason Corporation is a leader in gear technology. Gleason's product and service offerings include gear and transmission design software, gear manufacturing machines and related accessories, gear metrology equipment and automation systems. Gleason products are used by customers in e-mobility, commercial vehicles, aerospace, agriculture, mining, sustainable energy, construction, power tools, marine and many other industries.

Working for Gleason, you will be connected to work that matters, putting your expertise to its best use while developing skills for the future. The result is a career defined by you, supported by Gleason and built on tangible accomplishments. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are looking for the right people to join us on our mission. If you are interested in being part of our team, there are a few things you should know:
We are energized by challenges and the effort needed to solve them. We like working with people who are positive, adaptable and growth‑minded. We care how work gets accomplished and are deeply invested in the success of our customers and colleagues. If this sounds like you, we invite you to read on and learn more.

• Excellent benefits package including a 6% Company 401(k) match
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Formal and informal Development opportunities.

The Proposal Engineer – Pricing & Cost is responsible for developing technically sound and commercially competitive machine tool proposals by integrating engineering analysis with cost estimating and pricing strategy. This role serves as a key interface between Sales, Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Management, supporting both standard and engineered‑to‑order (ETO) solutions.

The position plays a critical role in ensuring proposals are accurate, profitable, and aligned with market conditions, customer requirements, and corporate objectives. The role supports domestic and international business activities within Gleason’s global machine tool organization.

• Interpret customer requirements and technical specifications for standard and non‑standard machine tool solutions.
• Facilitate cross‑functional proposal reviews involving Sales, Product Engineering, Application Engineering, Assembly, Runoff, Tooling, and Customer Support.
• Lead high‑order specification reviews with emphasis on conceptual engineering feasibility and implementation.
• Provide technical background and cost justification during proposal reviews and TRM sessions.
• Support the transition from proposal to order execution, engineering, production, and customer acceptance.
• Develop and validate cost estimates for machines, options, engineered‑to‑order (ETO) solutions, automation, and customer specials.
• Analyze cost structures, pricing, and contribution margins for machine products and options.
• Establish market‑aligned pricing consistent with margin objectives and competitive positioning.
• Perform annual and ad‑hoc price adjustments for assigned product lines.

• Support sales negotiations through pricing analysis, scenario modeling, and preparation for management reviews.
• Review and critique machine orders for technical, commercial, or financial risk.
• Address commercial topics including non‑standard payment terms, leasing programs, transfer pricing, foreign exchange considerations, and cancellation terms.
• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, and Legal on special pricing arrangements, contracts, and confidentiality agreements.
• Maintain awareness of global market conditions, competition, and international business considerations.

• None.

• Strong engineering foundation with the ability to evaluate machine designs, options, and technical trade‑offs.
• Demonstrated experience in cost estimating, pricing, and commercial analysis for capital equipment.
• Experience working in an international business…