Proposal Engineer

Job Title: Proposal Engineer

The Proposal Engineer defines, engineers, and manages bids for power plant simulators and digital control system solutions in close collaboration with Engineering, Operations, and Business Development teams. This role takes full ownership of technical solutions and cost estimates, prepares and delivers compelling technical proposals, and supports the organization in winning complex projects within industries such as power plants, utilities, marine, nuclear, transport, and industrial control systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and engineer technical solutions for power plant simulators and digital control systems in collaboration with Engineering, Operations, and Business Development.
• Manage the full bid and proposal lifecycle for complex engineering projects, from initial concept through submission.
• Take ownership of the technical solution and engage with estimators and other functional groups to accurately cost projects.
• Analyze requirements from RFPs and RFQs and translate them into clear, structured technical and commercial proposals.
• Present proposed solutions and cost bases to all levels of internal leadership in a clear and persuasive manner.
• Draft, edit, and deliver high-quality technical proposals, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with customer requirements.
• Support the supply chain function in estimating and optimizing costs associated with equipment, software, and services.
• Collaborate with systems, software, electronics, and control engineering teams to validate feasibility and risk of proposed solutions.
• Participate in business development activities by supporting solution development for new opportunities and markets.
• Provide field support by delivering demonstrations and presentations at industry conferences and customer events.
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to clarify technical requirements and ensure alignment of proposed solutions with their needs.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of proposal processes, templates, and tools to enhance efficiency and win rates.
• Support bids related to industrial controls, nuclear power simulation, and power systems, ensuring compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
• Coordinate with multi-disciplinary project teams to ensure smooth transition from proposal phase to project execution.
• Travel occasionally, including internationally, to support customer meetings, demonstrations, and conferences as required.

Essential Skills

• Eligibility for Reliability and NATO security clearance.
• Proven experience in proposal writing for engineering projects, including responses to RFPs and RFQs.
• Strong experience in engineering project environments involving systems, software, electronics, or control engineering.
• Experience in business development, solutions, or proposals within technical or industrial domains.
• Excellent technical writing skills with the ability to produce clear, concise, and persuasive proposals.
• Strong oral and presentation skills, including presenting technical and cost solutions to various levels of management.
• Experience with industrial control systems such as distributed control systems (DCS) or digital control centers (DCC).
• Knowledge of nuclear power simulation or power plant engineering environments.
• Understanding of power systems and their control and simulation requirements.
• Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including engineering, operations, supply chain, and business development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in industries such as power plants or utilities.
• Experience in control systems for complex products or industrial applications.
• Exposure to transport sector projects involving control or simulation systems.
• Familiarity with industrial control systems, PLCs, and broader industrial control architectures.
• Experience working with nuclear engineering, nuclear reactors, or nuclear-related control systems.
• Knowledge of software engineering practices related to control or simulation systems.
• Understanding of bidding processes and best practices for competitive proposals.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Ability to support demonstrations and presentations at industry conferences and events.

Work Environment

The role is based in a multidisciplinary engineering environment that supports naval systems, nuclear power plant solutions, and space systems, with this position focused on the nuclear power plant team. The organization operates as a leading global supplier of controls and simulation solutions for marine, power, and space sectors, as well as communications, underwater acoustics, handling systems, and visual landing aids. All projects originate from competitive bids and proposals, so this position plays a central role in bringing new work into the business. The work involves close collaboration with engineering, operations, supply chain, and business development teams, using advanced control, simulation, and industrial automation technologies. Occasional international travel may be required to support customer meetings, demonstrations, and industry conferences. The environment emphasizes teamwork, technical excellence, and the opportunity to support complex programs from their inception alongside a multi-disciplinary team.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ottawa, ON.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $60.00/hr.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Ottawa,ON.

À propos d'Actalent

Actalent est un leader mondial dans les services d’ingénierie et de sciences ainsi que dans les solutions de talents. Nous aidons des entreprises visionnaires à faire progresser leurs initiatives d’ingénierie et de science grâce à l’accès à des experts spécialisés qui favorisent l’échelle, l’innovation et la rapidité de mise sur le marché. Avec un réseau de près de 20 000 consultants et 5 000 clients à travers les États-Unis, le Canada, l’Asie et l’Europe, Actalent dessert de nombreuses entreprises du Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers d’être l’une des 500 meilleures firmes de conception de l’Engineering News-Record (ENR) pour nos services de conception en ingénierie et un lauréat du prix ClearlyRated Best of Staffing tant pour le service client que pour les talents.

Actalent est un employeur souscrivant au principe de l’égalité des chances et accepte toutes les candidatures sans tenir compte de la race, du sexe, de l’âge, de la couleur, de la religion, des origines nationales, du statut d’ancien combattant, d’un handicap, de l’orientation sexuelle, de l’identité sexuelle, des renseignements génétiques ou de toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi.

Si vous souhaitez faire une demande d’accommodement raisonnable, tel que la modification ou l’ajustement du processus de demande d’emploi ou d’entrevue à cause d’un handicap, veuillez envoyer un courriel à View email address on ca.workus.org pour connaître d’autres options d’accommodement.

Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco: Conformément à l’Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco, pour tous les postes situés dans la ville et le comté de San Francisco, nous examinerons les candidatures des personnes qualifiées ayant un casier judiciaire ou des antécédents criminels.

Utilisation de l’intelligence artificielle (IA): Nous pouvons utiliser l’intelligence artificielle (IA) pour soutenir certaines étapes de notre processus d’embauche, notamment la recherche, la présélection et l’évaluation des candidatures. L’IA aide à analyser les candidatures et les qualifications, mais les décisions finales sont prises par notre équipe de recrutement. En soumettant votre candidature, vous reconnaissez et acceptez que celle-ci puisse être examinée à l’aide d’outils d’IA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ca.workus.org for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.