Job Location: Charlotte, NC

Travel: Up to 25–30%, domestic and international (typically short-term trips; very rare instances may require up to 1 month based on project needs)

Compensation: $150,000 to $190,000 base salary

Bonus: Target 6–7% annual bonus

Work Setting: Hybrid – 4 days onsite, 1 day remote (flexibility based on team/project needs)

Benefits: Competitive benefits from Day 1 including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, profit sharing, PTO, paid family leave, half-day Fridays, tuition reimbursement, wellness program, and more

Job Summary:

We are seeking a strategic and technically experienced engineering leader to serve as Chief of Proposals. In this high-impact position, you will lead a cross-functional team of proposal engineers and mechanical designers responsible for creating technical proposals and scope documents for the design and construction of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plants and new technology initiatives. This is an ideal opportunity for an engineering professional with strong management capabilities, who thrives in a dynamic environment and is excited to help shape future global industrial projects.

Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, this role will lead a team of six—four proposal engineers and two mechanical designers—as well as partner with a technical lead who supports engineering development within the group. The team is based at the Charlotte corporate headquarters and plays a vital role in advancing early-stage business development and global project bids.

Key Responsibilities

Proposal Leadership & Engineering Management

• Lead and oversee proposal engineering activities including design development, scope definition, and technical documentation
• Coordinate with internal engineering, estimating, and business development teams to deliver timely and compelling proposals
• Serve as the primary technical authority for global sales teams during proposal and pre-contract stages
• Develop and refine design standards and proposal tools to ensure consistency, accuracy, and speed of delivery
• Integrate feedback from completed projects into proposal best practices

People & Performance Leadership

• Manage, mentor, and develop a growing team of engineers and designers
• Conduct performance evaluations and build training plans to foster both technical and leadership development
• Help evolve the structure and capabilities of the Proposal team in alignment with future growth initiatives

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Meet with clients globally to understand technical needs and communicate design solutions
• Present proposal deliverables and serve as the technical face of the business in early-stage engagements
• Partner with project engineering, estimating, and global solutions teams to align strategy and execution

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate with process engineering, electrical, instrumentation, and mechanical engineering disciplines to ensure design completeness and consistency
• Support investigative engineering studies and feasibility evaluations as required by potential clients
• Ensure environmental compliance and integrate emissions modeling and regulatory considerations into proposals

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Metallurgical Engineering
• Minimum of 10 years of hands-on engineering experience in an industrial setting (preferably steel, DRI, chemical, or heavy process industries)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an engineering management or project leadership role
• Proven ability to lead teams, mentor engineers, and manage cross-functional projects
• Strong technical writing and communication skills
• Ability to travel internationally for client meetings and team collaboration

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in engineering or engineering management
• Background in proposal development, plant design, or front-end engineering
• Experience in industries such as LNG, chemical processing, or heavy industrial plant design
• Exposure to engineering software tools and systems used in proposal development and equipment specification

About You

You’re an engineer at heart but thrive in leadership roles that blend people, process, and purpose. You enjoy pre-construction strategy and proposal development just as much as you value coaching and growing talent. You are a skilled communicator and collaborator who can seamlessly interface with internal teams and external clients across cultures and industries.

If you’re ready to lead high-stakes engineering proposals that impact industrial innovation on a global scale—this is your opportunity.