Accounting Associate

Job Description

Panel Costing Engineer / Executive

Company: Micro Instruments & Control System (MICS) / Micro Engineering & Technology (MENT)

Department: Estimation & Costing / Panel Engineering

Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Position: Panel Costing Engineer / Executive

Experience: 6 Months–5 years in LT Electrical Panel / Automation Panel Costing & Estimation

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Role

We are looking for a technically strong and detail-oriented Panel Costing Engineer / Executive responsible for preparing accurate and commercially competitive cost estimates and quotations for electrical and automation panels.

The candidate should have a good understanding of LT panels, PCC, MCC, APFC, VFD panels, DOL/Star-Delta starters, AMF/ATS panels, PLC/DCS panels, control panels and customised electrical distribution panels.

The person will work closely with the Sales, Design/Engineering, Purchase, Production and Management teams to ensure that quotations are technically correct, commercially viable and submitted within the required timelines.

Key Responsibilities

1. Panel Costing & Estimation

• Study customer RFQs, specifications, SLDs, BOMs, GA drawings and technical requirements.
• Prepare detailed panel-wise and project-wise cost estimates.
• Develop accurate BOMs for electrical, automation, control and panel fabrication requirements.
• Calculate costs for:
• Electrical components
• Automation components
• VFDs/soft starters
• PLC/HMI/DCS components
• MCCBs/ACBs/MCBs/contactors/relays
• Busbars and copper
• Enclosures and gland plates
• Control wiring and terminals
• Cable ducts, DIN rails and accessories
• Fabrication and sheet metal
• Powder coating
• Assembly and wiring labour
• Testing and inspection
• Packing and transportation
• Site installation/commissioning, wherever applicable

2. Technical Understanding

• Understand electrical SLDs and control schematics.
• Select appropriate components based on ratings and application.
• Verify:
• Current ratings
• Short-circuit ratings
• Breaking capacity
• IP protection
• Form of separation
• Busbar sizing
• Cable sizing
• Panel dimensions
• Component compatibility
• Understand relevant IEC/IS standards, particularly IEC 61439 for LV assemblies.

3. Vendor & Purchase Coordination

• Obtain and maintain updated prices from approved vendors.
• Compare vendor quotations and identify the most commercially suitable option.
• Maintain a database of component prices, discounts, lead times and alternate makes.
• Coordinate with Purchase for special/project-specific pricing.
• Identify cost-saving alternatives without compromising technical requirements or quality.

4. Quotation Preparation

• Prepare detailed commercial quotations based on approved costing.
• Ensure correct application of:
• Material costs
• Engineering charges
• Manufacturing charges
• Testing charges
• Freight
• Installation/commissioning
• Taxes
• Warranty provisions
• Applicable margins
• Clearly identify exclusions, assumptions and deviations.
• Ensure quotation submission within the customer's deadline.

5. Cost Control & Margin Management

• Maintain standard costing templates and cost databases.
• Compare estimated cost against actual production/purchase cost.
• Analyse cost variations and identify reasons for deviations.
• Support management in determining appropriate selling prices and margins.
• Highlight unusual or high-risk cost elements before quotation submission.

6. Tender & Project Estimation

• Review tender documents and technical specifications.
• Prepare BOQ/BOM-based estimates for large projects.
• Identify missing information and prepare technical/commercial clarification points.
• Support Sales and Management during price negotiations.
• Revise costing quickly based on customer/vendor negotiations.

7. Documentation

Maintain organised records of:

• RFQs
• BOQs
• BOMs
• Costing sheets
• Vendor quotations
• Revised quotations
• Customer offers
• Approved costing
• Final order costing
• Actual project cost

Required Technical Skills

The candidate should have working knowledge of:

• LT Electrical Panels
• PCC/MCC panels
• APFC panels
• VFD panels
• DOL/Star-Delta starter panels
• AMF/ATS panels
• PLC panels
• DCS/control panels
• Electrical distribution panels
• MCCB/ACB/MCB selection
• Contactors, overload relays and control components
• Busbar sizing and selection
• Panel enclosure selection
• Copper and cable calculations
• Electrical component makes and specifications
• AutoCAD electrical drawings – basic understanding
• MS Excel – strong proficiency required

Knowledge of ERP/CRM/quotation or costing software will be an advantage.

Preferred Experience

Experience with reputed makes such as:

Mitsubishi, Schneider, Siemens, ABB, L&T, Rockwell/Allen-Bradley, INVT, Honeywell, Emerson, WAGO, Phoenix Contact, Rittal, WIKA, Masibus or equivalent brands will be an advantage.

Experience in costing panels using Rittal or similar modular enclosures and knowledge of IEC 61439/type-tested assemblies will be preferred.

Educational Qualification

• Diploma / B.Tech / B.E. in Electrical Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineering or a related discipline.
• Candidates with strong practical panel-costing experience may also be considered irrespective of degree specialisation.

Key Competencies

• Strong numerical and analytical ability
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good knowledge of electrical components
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to read and understand technical documents
• Strong Excel skills
• Ability to work under quotation deadlines
• Vendor negotiation skills
• Good communication and coordination skills
• Ability to identify costing errors before quotation submission
• Strong ownership and accountability

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The candidate will be evaluated on:

1. Costing accuracy
2. Quotation turnaround time
3. Cost vs. actual project cost
4. Gross margin achieved
5. BOM accuracy
6. Reduction in costing errors
7. Vendor price optimisation
8. Timely quotation submission
9. Quality of technical/commercial documentation
10. Contribution towards winning profitable orders

Important Requirement

The candidate must understand that panel costing is not simply an exercise of adding component prices. The objective is to develop a technically correct, commercially competitive and profitable quotation while accounting for all material, engineering, manufacturing, testing, logistics and project-related costs.

The candidate should be capable of independently taking an RFQ from technical review → BOM → component pricing → fabrication costing → labour → overheads → margin → final quotation.

Reporting

Reports to: Head – Estimation / Business Head / Management

Coordinates with:

Sales | Electrical Design | Automation Engineering | Purchase | Production | Stores | Accounts | Project/Service Team