Solution Architect – Proposals

Job description

Avanceon is looking to hire Solution Architect who will be responsible for developing technically compliant, commercially competitive, and executable solutions for complex industrial automation and system integration opportunities across the Middle East. The role will lead assigned bids from technical understanding through solution development, costing, proposal preparation, technical review, and submission support. The Solution Architect will work closely with Regional Delivery Managers, Sales, Proposal Engineers, OEMs, vendors, and internal stakeholders. The role will also provide technical leadership to Proposal Engineers and support workload distribution, mentoring, and development of team capability. Key Responsibilities 1. Solution Architecture & Technical Design • Review customer RFQs, specifications, drawings, BOQs, datasheets, and tender requirements. • Develop complete and optimized technical solutions aligned with customer requirements. • Define system architecture, control philosophy, communication architecture, redundancy requirements, and third-party interfaces. • Select appropriate technologies, hardware, software, and OEM platforms. • Identify technical gaps, missing scope, ambiguities, integration risks, and specification conflicts. • Prepare appropriate technical clarifications, assumptions, deviations, and exclusions. • Ensure proposed solutions are technically complete, compliant, scalable, maintainable, and commercially viable. 2. Solution Portfolio The candidate should have broad exposure to industrial automation and system integration solutions, including: • PLC & RTU Systems • SCADA & HMI Systems • DCS/ESD/F&G Systems • Instrumentation & Control • Industrial Cybersecurity • Industrial Networking & ICT • Building Management Systems • Power Management Systems • Low Current / ELV Systems • Servers, Storage & Virtualization • Industrial IoT & Edge Computing • Water & Wastewater Automation • Tunnel Automation • Intelligent Transportation Systems • Data Center Monitoring & Controls The candidate is expected to have broad multidisciplinary solution understanding with strong expertise in at least two to three core automation/control domains. Expertise across the entire portfolio is not mandatory. 3. Proposal Development & Bid Execution • Lead technical proposal development for assigned opportunities. • Develop proposal execution plans in coordination with the Bid Manager and Regional Delivery Manager. • Break down tender requirements into technical work packages and assign tasks to Proposal Engineers. • Define internal proposal milestones and monitor progress against submission deadlines. • Prepare and/or review technical proposals, compliance statements, system architectures, design philosophies, BOMs / BOQs, scope matrices, interface matrices, technical clarifications, assumptions, deviations, exclusions, and vendor scopes. • Ensure consistency between technical scope, BOM, vendor quotations, services, and commercial costing. • Review proposal quality and completeness before submission. 4. Technico-Commercial & Costing Responsibilities • Prepare and review complete project cost estimates. • Develop cost build-ups covering hardware, software, engineering, project management, FAT / SAT, installation, testing & commissioning, site services, training, travel & mobilization, vendor and subcontractor scope. • Perform BOM development and engineering-hour estimation. • Evaluate vendor and subcontractor quotations. • Identify missing scope, commercial exposure, and technical risks. • Support pricing strategy, cost optimization, value engineering, and margin improvement. • Ensure appropriate consideration of execution risks and contingencies. The candidate must have hands-on ownership of complete bid costing, including BOM development, engineering estimation, vendor costs, services, project execution costs, risk provisions, and commercial optimization. 5. OEM & Vendor Coordination • Prepare technical RFQs for OEMs, suppliers, subcontractors, and technology partners. • Review vendor proposals for technical compliance and completeness. • Identify scope gaps, assumptions, exclusions, and deviations. • Define clear vendor scope boundaries and interface responsibilities. • Coordinate multi-vendor solutions where required. • Support technical and commercial negotiations. 6. Technical Compliance & Risk Management • Ensure compliance with customer specifications and applicable standards. • Identify technical, integration, execution, and vendor-related risks during the bid stage. • Ensure missing scope and third-party dependencies are addressed. • Recommend mitigation measures for identified risks. • Participate in technical and bid risk reviews for complex and strategic opportunities. 7. Technical Leadership & Team Development • Lead and mentor Proposal Engineers assigned to the team. • Allocate proposal tasks based on competency, workload, and priority. • Monitor quality, progress, and deadlines. • Provide technical guidance and review engineering outputs. • Develop junior and mid-level engineers through mentoring and cross-training. • Identify competency gaps and recommend development plans. • Build backup capability to reduce dependency on individual resources. • Support other Solution Architects where specialist expertise is required. 8. Cross-Regional & Stakeholder Coordination • Support opportunities across KSA, Qatar, UAE, and other Middle East markets. • Work with multiple Regional Delivery Managers and Sales teams. • Participate in pre-bid discussions, technical clarification meetings, and solution workshops where required. • Support opportunity qualification and Bid/No-Bid decisions. • Contribute to technical win strategies and value propositions. • Manage multiple bids and priorities across different regions. Required Skills & Competencies Education: BS Electrical Engineering / BS Electronics Engineering / BS Mechatronics Engineering Experience: Minimum 8 years of relevant proposal, solution design, estimation, and technico-commercial experienc e Key Performance Indicators • On-time proposal submission • Technical proposal quality and completeness • Costing accuracy • Compliance accuracy • Bid turnaround time • Win rate • Reduction in scope gaps and post-award exposure • Team utilization and development • Cross-regional support effectiveness • Reduction in single-person dependency Reporting & Key Interfaces Reports To: Bid Manager Key Interfaces: • Regional Delivery Managers • Sales • Proposal Engineers • Engineering • Project Management • Procurement • Commercial / Finance • OEMs • Vendors • Consultants • Customers