Proposal Engineer in Dartford

Helvar is excited to announce that we are looking for a commercially minded Proposal Engineer to join our team at our Dartford office. We welcome applications from college leavers, graduates, junior candidates, and experienced professionals who are keen to develop their careers in a technical and commercial environment.

What will you be responsible for?

The Proposal Engineer is responsible for converting a validated technical architecture or proposed design into a comprehensive commercial tender package. Their primary mission is to ensure that the contents of the tender package (e.g. Bill of Materials (BOM), quotation, and system drawings) are 100% accurate, aligned with the project budget, and optimised for the commissioning effort. They act as the final checkpoint before a project becomes an order. Beyond the initial submission, the Proposal Engineer manages the lifecycle of the bid, incorporating feedback and revisions until technical closure is achieved. Once the order is secured, they lead the transition to the post‑sales and service teams – to ensure a world‑class customer experience from day one.

Job requirements:

• Roughly 20% customer‑facing; primarily office‑based but capable of presenting technical clarifications to contractors or consultants.
• Thrives on organisation, managing multiple revision cycles, and meeting strict tender deadlines.
• Education: Technical Diploma or Degree in Electrical Engineering, Building Services, or a related experience.
• Skills: Expert‑level proficiency in AutoCAD, modern estimating tools, and CRM/ERP estimating software.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a focus on commercial accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Technical Awareness: Solid understanding of lighting control components and system topology.

What you’ll be doing as our Proposal Engineer

• Convert the Helvar Solution Architect’s system design into a complete Bill of Materials (BOM) and professional quotation package.
• Produce detailed system drawings and schematics using CAD and modern AI‑driven design tools.
• Align design, budget, and estimated commissioning effort in collaboration with Sales and Service teams.
• Collaborate closely with Sales Managers, customers and other members of the Presales team throughout the sales cycle to ensure customer requirements are fully understood and met.
• Manage the revision process, incorporating feedback from the customer or internal team.
• Track and follow up on all active proposals until technical and commercial closure.
• Utilise modern, AI‑driven estimating techniques to ensure high productivity, BOM and pricing accuracy.

Regional & Global Market Support

• Responsible for supporting Helvar’s Direct Markets: UK, Finland, Sweden, and Poland.
• Provide assistance to Helvar’s channel of global partners where needed such as on high‑complexity or larger projects to ensure system integrity.
• Maintain a clear priority workflow that ensures direct market deadlines are met while providing scalable support to the global partner network.
• Assist in the introduction of new technology, solution features, and/or products by ensuring partners can correctly create tender packs with the latest updates.
• Provide pre‑tender and post‑tender application, product, support and clarifications to sales and customers as needed.
• Prepare a project handover pack for the Service and Post‑Sales teams as required.
• Coordinate the submission of maintenance and Insights service contracts.
• Act as the internal tool expert, championing the use of tools such as CRM, CAD, and modern estimating software.
• Provide feedback to Offering Managers on pricing trends and BOM commonalities to improve future templates.

Why You’ll Love Helvar?

• We value your growth: With a wide range of online learning opportunities and internal mobility, you’ll have the tools and support to advance your career.
• Autonomy and balance: Our culture is built on trust, offering you autonomy in your role while promoting a healthy work‑life balance and benefiting from a supportive and collaborative environment.
• Wellbeing at the heart: Whether it’s our products for customers or how we care for our team, wellbeing is our top priority. We offer a dedicated Wellbeing Day every year, and all employees can take advantage of our weekly Empower Hour for wellbeing, community, or learning activities.
• A company you can trust: With over 100 years of history, we’re a stable, family‑owned Finnish company that’s growing across our international locations.

If you’re excited to drive innovation, shape Helvar’s future, and grow in a company with a rich history and forward‑thinking mindset, we want to hear from you!

Helvar Recruitment Equality and Diversity Disclaimer

At Helvar, we are committed to creating a workplace that promotes a culture of equality, respect, and opportunity for all.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other characteristic protected by law. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that each individual brings to our team and encourage everyone to apply.

If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.