Lead Engineer - RFQ

Main purpose of the job

Lead the technical and engineering activities associated with RFQ and early programme phases, ensuring robust, competitive and manufacturable solutions are developed to support successful business acquisition.

Act as the technical interface between Engineering, Business Development, Commercial, and external stakeholders, translating customer requirements into feasible, cost-effective engineering solutions that align with Artifex capabilities and strategy.

Main missions and results

RFQ & Pre‑Nomination Leadership

• Lead engineering input into RFQ activities, ensuring customer requirements are clearly understood, defined, and translated into technical solutions

• Support the preparation and validation of RFQ packages, including technical assumptions, specifications, and risk assessments

• Assess feasibility of customer designs, identifying manufacturing, technical and commercial risks early in the process

• Define and validate product and process concepts to support competitive and compliant quotations

Technical Solution Development

• Develop and propose robust engineering solutions aligned to customer requirements, internal standards, and manufacturing capability

• Definition of the Product Validation plan, Design Validation (DV), Process Validation (DV), conformity of production

• Definition of a Costed Engineering Delivery plan, Resources, services, external partners etc

• For proposed solutions, ensure intellectual property ownership is understood.

• Support Design-to-Cost activities, ensuring solutions meet cost, quality and performance targets

• Contribute to BOM definition, cost modelling and technical input into quotation development

• Ensure alignment between design intent, manufacturing feasibility and customer expectations

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Business Development, Commercial, Purchasing and Manufacturing Engineering teams to support RFQ responses and programme strategy

• Coordinate technical inputs across functions to ensure a consistent and aligned submission

• Support customer technical discussions during RFQ and pre‑award phases, acting as a key engineering contact

• Engage with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support feasibility, costing and solution development

Risk Management & Governance

• Identify, assess and communicate technical and programme risks associated with RFQ opportunities

• Support development of mitigation plans to ensure risk-balanced commercial submissions

• Ensure engineering assumptions, decisions and outputs are clearly documented and traceable

• Support internal reviews and governance processes for RFQ and business award decisions

• Ensure foundation documentation exists to support the proposed product and processes

Transition to Programme (Post‑Nomination Support)

• Support successful transition from pre‑nomination into programme delivery phases

• Ensure technical knowledge transfer into delivery teams, maintaining continuity from RFQ to launch

• Provide early-phase technical support to programmes to ensure alignment with original assumptions

Preferred skills and experience

Essential

• Degree or HNC/HND in Engineering or related discipline (or equivalent experience)

• Proven experience in engineering roles within a manufacturing or automotive environment

• Experience interpreting customer drawings, specifications and technical requirements

• Good understanding of manufacturing processes and product feasibility

• Experience supporting or contributing to RFQ, costing or early programme activities

• Ability to analyse technical requirements and translate them into practical engineering solutions

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to assess risk and propose solutions

• Effective communication skills, with the ability to work across cross-functional teams and with customers

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy

Desirable

• Experience leading RFQ or pre‑nomination engineering activities

• Experience with cost estimation, BOM development and Design-to-Cost methodologies

• Knowledge of automotive standards and processes (APQP, PPAP, IATF)

• Experience working with suppliers during early design or sourcing phases

• Understanding of product development lifecycle from concept through to production

• Experience supporting customer technical reviews and presentations

• Awareness of commercial considerations in engineering decision-making

Note: this is not an exhaustive list. All employees are expected to show flexibility and continued self-development to meet the ever-changing needs of the business. All job descriptions / vacancy notices will be subject to continual development.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV with your contact details.

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