Senior Proposal Engineer at Wabtec — Erie, PA

Who will you be working with?

Wabtec’s Train Handling team develops a range of high‑tech fuel efficiency and automation solutions for customers across the rail industry. As a Senior Proposal Engineer, you will collaborate closely with Product Management to identify new technology opportunities and partner with Engineering teams to develop concepts and estimates. These efforts will drive future enhancements and new features across our product portfolio.

How will you make a difference?

The Senior Proposal Engineer is a critical technical role that bridges Sales, Product Management, and Engineering. In this position, you will:

• Partner with Product Management to define technical requirements and key customer KPIs
• Work with engineering design teams to develop concepts that meet these requirements
• Develop preliminary cost estimates and project timelines from initiation through completion
• Lead the transition from proposal to execution when projects are awarded, ensuring alignment on scope, assumptions, risks, and schedule
• Maintain a repository of proposals and supporting documentation for future reference

What do we want to know about you?

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in Project Engineering, Application Engineering, Systems Engineering, Hardware/Software Engineering, and/or Information Systems
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally (~10%)

Desired Characteristics

• Master’s degree in Engineering, STEM field, or MBA
• Experience developing technical proposals and cost estimates
• Customer-facing experience as a technical expert
• Proven ability to work in a cross-functional, global environment
• Experience with locomotive systems design (preferred)
• Rail industry experience (preferred)
• Self-starter with the ability to lead with minimal supervision
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and leadership capabilities

What will your typical day look like?

• Collaborate with Product Management and customers to translate ideas into technical requirements and actionable engineering concepts
• Lead technical discovery discussions with customers to define preliminary project scope
• Support the business approval process from concept (CP0) through formal quotation (CP1)
• Partner with engineering teams to develop technical concepts and participate in concept reviews (e.g., TG240)
• Identify and engage key stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to support concept development
• Provide technical oversight where needed, especially in the absence of senior systems architects
• Develop estimation templates and work with engineering leaders to produce accurate bid estimates
• Provide consolidated cost and effort estimates to support deal reviews
• Prepare technical scope summaries, preliminary schedules, and effort estimates for Program Management inputs
• Identify technical and programmatic risks and key dependencies
• Track and manage active proposals, providing status updates to leadership
• Establish and maintain proposal data in engineering (ELM) and financial (Clarity) systems
• Coordinate with other business units (P&Ls) to support estimation of new opportunities

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $91100-129800 The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.