Job Purpose:

The Head - Estimation will lead the costing and bidding function for complex, custom-engineered equipment.

This role is responsible for delivering highly accurate, competitive, and technically sound cost estimates to win high-value contracts.

The scope covers static equipment, rotary equipment, and material-handling systems for major sectors including Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Fertilisers, Defence, and Nuclear energy.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Estimation & Pricing Strategy:

- Lead the end-to-end estimation, costing, and technical pre-bid process for static equipment (pressure vessels, heat exchangers, columns), rotary equipment, and material-handling equipment.

- Establish precise cost baselines by analyzing raw material requirements, manufacturing/fabrication man-hours, machining costs, welding operations, and special testing parameters.

- Formulate competitive pricing strategies by balancing risk mitigation with target profit margins to optimize win rates.

Bid Management & Process Controls:

- Review complex global tenders, Request for Quotations (RFQs), and technical specifications to identify critical commercial risks, deviations, and fabrication constraints.

- Oversee the timely preparation of technical and commercial bid packages for major global EPCs, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and private industrial giants.

- Standardize estimation models, historical cost databases, and benchmarking templates to scale department accuracy and speed.

Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Synergy:

- Partner with the Procurement and Supply Chain teams to secure accurate, up-to-date vendor quotes for specialized raw materials (e.g., exotic alloys, clad plates) and outsourced items.

- Collaborate closely with Design Engineering to optimize material take-offs (MTOs) and propose cost-effective alternatives (value engineering) during the pre-bid stage.

- Interface with the International Marketing and Sales team to provide technical-commercial clarity during contract negotiations and client meetings.

Team Leadership:

- Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of estimation and costing engineers.

- Set clear performance metrics, conduct regular bid post-mortems to refine estimation formulas, and maintain accountability for pricing accuracy.

Required Candidate Profile:

Technical & Domain Expertise:

- Deep, fundamental knowledge of the heavy mechanical fabrication industry, including welding technologies, machining, plate-rolling, heat treatment, and non-destructive testing (NDT).

- Proven expertise in reading engineering drawings (GA drawings, data sheets) and translating them into precise manufacturing cost breakdowns.

- Thorough familiarity with international codes, standards (ASME, TEMA, IBR), and raw material pricing cycles.

Experience & Education:

- 10+ years of progressive experience in the estimation and costing function within heavy engineering or process equipment manufacturing.

- Bachelor's degree (B.E. / B.Tech) in Mechanical Engineering or Production Engineering.

Competencies:

- Exceptional analytical and mathematical capabilities with sharp financial acumen.

- High-stakes negotiation skills and the ability to articulate technical-commercial trade-offs cleanly to executive leadership and clients.

- Strong leadership presence to guide cross-functional bid alignments under tight deadlines.