Sentence Analysis:
- "After receiving $\qquad$ welcome from the engineering team, the new employee thought this potentially daunting vocational transition turned out to be quite pleasant."
- The key phrase here is "potentially daunting vocational transition turned out to be quite pleasant." This indicates a positive outcome for the new employee.
- Therefore, the welcome they received must have been a positive one, counteracting the "potentially daunting" aspect. We are looking for synonyms that describe a positive or agreeable welcome.

Analyzing the Options:
- A. an intimidating: Means frightening or awe-inspiring. This would lead to an unpleasant transition, not a pleasant one. (Negative)
- B. a comforting: Means providing consolation or reassurance; making one feel less anxious. This aligns perfectly with a pleasant transition. (Positive)
- C. a stolid: Means calm, dependable, and showing little emotion or animation. A stolid welcome would likely feel indifferent or cold, not pleasant. (Neutral/Negative)
- D. an impassioned: Means filled with or displaying intense emotion. While "intense," it doesn't necessarily mean "pleasant" in the context of a welcome. It could be overwhelming or aggressive, not necessarily making a daunting transition "pleasant." (Could be positive, but less directly fitting than comforting/reassuring)

- E. a reassuring: Means restoring confidence; allaying fear or anxiety. This is a strong fit, as it directly addresses the "potentially daunting" aspect and leads to a "pleasant" outcome. (Positive)
- F. a discouraging: Causing someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm; disheartening. This would lead to an unpleasant transition. (Negative)

Conclusion:

We need two words that convey a positive and supportive welcome.
- B. a comforting and E. a reassuring both fit the positive outcome of the sentence. They suggest a welcome that made the daunting transition feel pleasant.

The correct answers are B and E.