Estimation Engineer – Special Purpose Vehicles

Job description

About the Role We are seeking an experienced Estimation Engineer – Special Purpose Vehicles to join our engineering and commercial team. The role focuses on preparing detailed, accurate estimates and proposals for specialist vehicle projects including fire trucks, rescue vehicles, airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) and other customized chassis builds. The successful candidate will work closely with sales, design, procurement and production to convert enquiries and specifications into competitive, margin-aware quotations that meet technical, commercial and regulatory requirements. Key Responsibilities Review incoming enquiries, specifications, drawings and tender documents; identify scope, exclusions and any clarification queries required to produce a complete estimate. Prepare detailed cost estimates and bill of materials for chassis, bodywork, pump and suppression systems, electrical systems, ancillaries and fit-out works using company templates and estimating tools. Coordinate with design and engineering teams to confirm manufacturability, interfaces, weights and vehicle stability, and to capture any design-related costs or risks. Liaise with procurement and suppliers to obtain current component prices, lead times and commercial terms; evaluate alternative suppliers and cost-saving options. Develop labour, overhead and subcontract cost models; apply appropriate profit, contingency and risk allowances to produce margin-aware proposals. Prepare formal quotations, commercial schedules and tender submissions ensuring clarity on scope, exclusions, delivery timelines and warranty or service obligations. Support commercial negotiations by providing cost breakdowns, justifications for pricing decisions and recommended commercial positions. Maintain and update estimating databases, standard cost libraries and parts catalogues to improve estimating speed and accuracy. Perform post-tender reviews and lessons-learned analyses to refine estimating assumptions and continuous improvement of estimating processes. Ensure estimates and proposals comply with relevant regulatory, safety and industry standards, and liaise with compliance or certification teams where required. Provide technical and cost input to change control and variation orders during project delivery, assessing impact on schedule and margin. Maintain accurate records of enquiries, bids, win/loss outcomes and estimate revisions within CRM/ERP systems; provide regular reporting to commercial management. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Automotive, Manufacturing Engineering or equivalent technical discipline, or relevant industry experience. Minimum 3–6 years' experience in estimation or commercial roles for fire trucks, specialist vehicles, commercial vehicle bodies, plant equipment or similar capital goods. Good technical understanding of vehicle chassis integration, body structures, pump & suppression systems, electrical wiring, hydraulics and ancillaries. Proven experience preparing detailed bills of materials, labour estimates and tender submissions; familiarity with cost modelling and margin management. Competent in reading technical drawings, specifications and wiring diagrams; able to identify missing information and request clarifications. Experience working with procurement and suppliers to obtain quotations and manage lead-time constraints. Proficient with MS Office; experience with estimating software, ERP or CRM systems is desirable. Preferred Skills Experience with airport rescue and firefighting vehicles (ARFF). Familiarity with NFPA, EN1846, ICAO, or other firefighting vehicle standards. Understanding of procurement and supply chain costing. Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.). Knowledge of Incoterms, freight costing, and import/export logistics. Ability to interpret engineering drawings and 3D models. Excellent analytical and numerical skills. Strong communication and negotiation abilities.