Procurement Engineer

The Procurement Engineer will be responsible for managing end-to-end procurement activities for Railway Infrastructure/EPC projects. The role involves strategic sourcing, vendor management, commercial negotiations, procurement planning, technical and commercial evaluation of offers, SAP purchase order management, import logistics coordination, and market intelligence. The candidate should possess strong commercial acumen and experience in handling domestic and international procurement for railway construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Sourcing

• Manage complete procurement lifecycle from receipt of Purchase Requisition (PR) to Purchase Order (PO) placement.

• Prepare and issue Request for Quotations (RFQs) to approved vendors.

• Identify, develop, and evaluate new suppliers for railway materials and equipment.

• Ensure timely procurement of materials in line with project schedules.

• Conduct supplier pre-qualification and vendor capability assessments.

Technical & Commercial Evaluation

• Coordinate with Engineering, Design, and Project teams for technical evaluation of vendor offers.

• Perform detailed commercial comparison and techno-commercial bid evaluation.

• Participate in design review meetings to ensure procurement aligns with project specifications.

• Evaluate supplier compliance with contractual and technical requirements.

Negotiation & Contract Management

• Lead commercial negotiations on price, delivery, payment terms, warranties, liquidated damages, Incoterms, and contractual conditions.

• Finalize procurement contracts and purchase orders while ensuring commercial competitiveness and contractual compliance.

• Resolve supplier claims and contractual disputes.

SAP & Procurement Systems

• Create and manage Purchase Orders (POs) in SAP.

• Monitor procurement status through SAP and ensure accurate documentation.

• Maintain procurement records, reports, and audit compliance.

Import, Export & Logistics

• Coordinate international procurement and shipment activities.

• Possess strong knowledge of:

  • Import & Export procedures

  • Incoterms (latest version)

  • Customs clearance

  • International freight and logistics

  • Shipping documentation (Commercial Invoice, Packing List, BL/AWB, COO, Insurance, etc.)

• Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, and logistics teams for delivery time.

Market Intelligence

• Monitor commodity price trends such as:

  • London Metal Exchange (LME)

  • Steel prices

  • Copper and Aluminium indices

  • Foreign Exchange (Forex) fluctuations

• Analyze market intelligence to develop procurement strategies and mitigate commercial risks.

• Recommend hedging or sourcing strategies based on market trends.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with Engineering, Planning, Construction, QA/QC, Finance, Contracts, and Project Management teams.

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with suppliers and key stakeholders.

• Ensure timely resolution of procurement-related issues affecting project execution.

Cost & Risk Management

• Achieve procurement cost savings while maintaining quality and delivery commitments.

• Identify procurement risks and develop mitigation plans.

• Monitor supplier performance and implement corrective actions where required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related discipline.

• MBA/Post Graduate qualification in Supply Chain Management or Operations will be an added advantage.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years of procurement experience in Railway Construction, Metro Rail, High-Speed Rail, Railway Electrification, Signaling & Telecommunication, Trackwork, or EPC Infrastructure Projects.

• Proven experience in international procurement and global sourcing.

• Experience working with SAP ERP procurement modules.

• Experience in procurement of railway systems such as Trackwork, Turnouts, Signaling, Telecom, Traction Power, Rolling Stock, MEP, PSD, and associated equipment is preferred.

• Preferred to work in Multinational Corporation.

Required Skills

• Excellent English communication (spoken and written).

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.

• Strong analytical and commercial evaluation capability.

• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced functions, Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Power Query preferred).

• Hands-on experience with SAP MM module and Purchase Order creation.

• Thorough understanding of Incoterms, import/export regulations, customs clearance, and international logistics.

• Strong knowledge of RFQ preparation, bid evaluation, vendor selection, and contract negotiation.

• Knowledge of commodity markets, LME, steel indices, and foreign exchange movements.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and participate in design reviews.

• Excellent planning, multitasking, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Competencies

• Strategic sourcing and category management.

• Vendor development and supplier relationship management.

• Cost optimization and value engineering.

• Contract administration and claims management.

• Risk assessment and mitigation.

• Problem-solving and decision-making.

• Leadership and team management.

• Time management and ability to work under project deadlines.

• High level of integrity and ethical procurement practices.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time procurement and delivery performance.

• Procurement cost savings against budget.

• Supplier on-time delivery (OTD).

• Purchase Order cycle time.

• Procurement schedule adherence.

• Supplier quality performance.

• Reduction in procurement risks and claims.

• Compliance with company procurement policies and audit requirements.

• Vendor development and localization initiatives.

• Customer/project satisfaction with procurement support.