20+ Proposal Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Proposal engineers are responsible for creating and submitting proposals for projects or contracts.

• Researching and understanding client needs and requirements

• Developing technical and commercial proposals

• Collaborating with sales, engineering, and project management teams

• Ensuring proposals meet company standards and are submitted on time

• Maintaining proposal documentation and records

• Continuously improving proposal processes and strategies

Water treatment plants are facilities that treat water to make it safe for consumption or for industrial use.

• Water treatment plants remove contaminants from water through processes like filtration, sedimentation, and disinfection.

• Common contaminants removed include bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and sediment.

• Water treatment plants can use various methods such as chlorination, UV treatment, and reverse osmosis.

• The treated water is then distributed to homes, businesses, and indu...read more

Silica removal is a process used to optimize cost by reducing the presence of silica in a system.

• Utilize filtration methods to remove silica particles from water or other liquids

• Consider using ion exchange resins to selectively remove silica from a solution

• Implement reverse osmosis or electrodialysis processes to effectively remove silica from water

• Regularly monitor silica levels to ensure efficient removal and cost optimization

Stress strain is the relationship between the force applied to a material and the resulting deformation, while tensile stress is the force per unit area applied to a material.

• Stress strain is a measure of how a material deforms under load.

• Tensile stress is the force applied to a material per unit area.

• Stress strain curve shows the relationship between stress and strain for a material.

• Tensile stress is calculated by dividing the force applied by the cross-sectional area of the...read more

A proposal engineer is responsible for creating and developing proposals for potential projects or contracts.

• A proposal engineer analyzes project requirements and develops technical solutions.

• They collaborate with sales teams and subject matter experts to gather necessary information.

• Proposal engineers create detailed cost estimates and timelines for projects.

• They prepare and present proposals to clients, addressing their needs and requirements.

• Proposal engineers may also par...read more

My favorite subject of my degree course was Mechanical Engineering.

• I enjoyed learning about thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

• I found the design and analysis of mechanical systems fascinating.

• I excelled in courses related to materials science and manufacturing processes.

The Bernoulli principle states that an increase in the speed of a fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy.

• States that as the speed of a fluid increases, its pressure decreases

• Used to explain lift in airplane wings - faster air above the wing creates lower pressure, lifting the wing

• Applies to various fluid dynamics situations such as pipe flow and blood flow in arteries

A thermodynamic cycle is a series of processes that involve the transfer of heat and work to and from a system.

• Involves a series of processes that form a closed loop

• Transfer of heat and work occurs during each process

• Common examples include the Carnot cycle, Rankine cycle, and Brayton cycle

Thermodynamics is the branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.

• Thermodynamics studies the transfer of energy in the form of heat and work.

• It involves concepts such as temperature, pressure, and entropy.

• The laws of thermodynamics govern the behavior of energy in systems.

• Examples include engines, refrigerators, and chemical reactions.

Design software for water systems includes hydraulic modeling, pipe network analysis, and water quality simulation.

• Hydraulic modeling software like EPANET and WaterCAD are used to simulate water flow and pressure in a network of pipes.

• Pipe network analysis software like InfoWater and WaterGEMS are used to optimize the design and operation of water distribution systems.

• Water quality simulation software like WaterNetGen and WQSim are used to predict water quality changes in a d...read more

Finalizing the scheme involves evaluating all options and selecting the most feasible one.

• Evaluate all possible options

• Consider feasibility, cost, and resources

• Select the most suitable option

• Ensure the scheme meets all requirements and specifications

• Get approval from all stakeholders

Various materials are used in proposals, with pricing varying based on factors like quality and quantity.

• Materials commonly used include steel, aluminum, plastic, and glass.

• Pricing depends on factors like material quality, quantity needed, and market demand.

• For example, steel prices can fluctuate based on global market trends and demand.

• It's important to research and compare prices from different suppliers to ensure cost-effectiveness.

RFP stands for Request for Proposal and RFQ stands for Request for Quotation.

• RFP is a document that outlines the requirements and specifications of a project or service, and invites vendors to submit proposals to meet those requirements.

• RFQ is a document that requests vendors to provide a quotation for a specific product or service.

• RFP is more detailed and complex than RFQ.

• RFP is used for complex projects or services, while RFQ is used for simpler products or services.

• RFP is ...read more

Filter press is designed with a series of plates and frames to separate solids from liquids under pressure.

• Filter press consists of alternating plates and frames with filter cloths in between.

• The slurry is pumped into the press and the solids are trapped in the filter cloths while the liquid passes through.

• Pressure is applied to the press to squeeze out the remaining liquid and form a solid cake.

• The design of the filter press can vary based on the size, capacity, and type of ...read more

Enthalpy is a thermodynamic property that represents the total energy of a system, including internal energy and the amount of energy required to create or release the system.

• Enthalpy is denoted by the symbol H in equations.

• It is defined as H = U + PV, where U is the internal energy, P is the pressure, and V is the volume.

• Enthalpy change (ΔH) is often used in chemical reactions to determine the amount of heat absorbed or released.

• Enthalpy is a state function, meaning it depen...read more

Entropy is a measure of disorder or randomness in a system.

• Entropy is a thermodynamic quantity that describes the amount of energy in a physical system that is not available to do work.

• It is a measure of the number of possible arrangements of particles in a system.

• Entropy tends to increase in closed systems over time, leading to a state of maximum disorder or equilibrium.

• An example of entropy is the melting of ice into water, where the solid ice has lower entropy than the liq...read more

A piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) is a detailed diagram that shows the piping and instrumentation of a process flow.

• P&IDs show the piping, equipment, instrumentation, and control systems in a process plant.

• They use standardized symbols to represent components like valves, instruments, and pipelines.

• P&IDs are used by engineers to design, construct, and operate process plants.

• They help in understanding the process flow, control logic, and safety features of a system.

Heat load is the amount of heat energy that needs to be added or removed from a space to maintain a desired temperature.

• Heat load is calculated based on factors such as the size of the space, insulation, number of occupants, equipment, and lighting.

• Examples of heat load include the heat generated by computers in a data center or the cooling needed for a commercial building in a hot climate.

• Understanding heat load is crucial for designing HVAC systems to ensure optimal comfort...read more

Property of materials refers to characteristics such as strength, hardness, flexibility, and conductivity.

• Materials have different properties that determine their behavior and uses

• Common properties include strength, hardness, flexibility, and conductivity

• Examples: Steel is strong and hard, rubber is flexible, copper is a good conductor of electricity

Processes are a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular result or goal.

• Processes involve a sequence of activities or tasks.

• They are often documented and standardized to ensure consistency and efficiency.

• Processes can be automated or manual, depending on the nature of the task.

• Examples include manufacturing processes, project management processes, and sales processes.

Types of evaporation include natural, forced, and flash evaporation.

• Natural evaporation occurs when water is exposed to air and heat, such as in a lake or ocean.

• Forced evaporation involves using mechanical means to increase the rate of evaporation, like in industrial processes.

• Flash evaporation is a rapid vaporization of a liquid when it is suddenly exposed to a lower pressure environment, like in a flash evaporator.