Cost Engineer

Job Title: Project Controls Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on providing comprehensive project controls support for utility and infrastructure construction projects of basic to moderate complexity. The Project Controls Engineer monitors schedule and cost performance, applies Earned Value Management (EVM), and ensures accurate forecasting and reporting to help project teams deliver work on time and within budget. This is a permanent, fully remote position that offers strong benefits and a sign-on bonus.

Responsibilities

• Gather project progress information from project managers and team members to update and monitor projects of basic to moderate complexity.
• Evaluate and update data related to schedule dates, physical percent complete, resource requirements, subcontractor commitments, and project accruals.
• Review schedule progress and resource productivity to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Develop time-phased project cost and resource forecasts and validate project costs, updating requirements as needed.
• Monitor the progress of deliverables and compare actual expenditures against forecasts to ensure alignment with project budgets.
• Perform performance reporting using Earned Value Management (EVM), including key metrics such as Cost Performance Index (CPI).
• Conduct financial analyses, including variance analysis, risk assessments, and profit and loss evaluations, and prepare non-routine financial reports.
• Document and assess the impact of project changes on cost and schedule baselines, ensuring that all adjustments are accurately reflected in project plans.
• Develop and maintain integrated critical path schedules for medium to large segments of major projects or portfolios of moderate complexity in accordance with contract specifications.
• Identify and communicate early warning signals related to schedule, cost, or resource issues to project managers and recommend resource realignments to maintain project execution.
• Generate and analyze earned value reports to evaluate project execution and trends and determine whether projects are proceeding within available resources and budget.
• Prepare client-facing and internal status reports to communicate cost status, schedule performance, and documented trends.
• Manage project documentation using appropriate document management protocols to ensure accuracy, traceability, and compliance.
• Provide additional project controls support and perform other related duties as assigned.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree.
• 10+ years of cost management experience for utility and/or infrastructure projects.
• Strong experience in cost control for construction and utility projects.
• Hands-on experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and Cost Performance Index (CPI).
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 for schedule development and maintenance.
• Ability to develop and maintain integrated critical path schedules for complex projects or portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience in financial analysis, including variance, risk, and profit/loss assessments.
• Experience monitoring project progress, deliverables, and expenditures against forecasts.
• Strong skills in preparing non-routine financial and project status reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to identify early warning signals and recommend resource realignments to support project success.
• Competence in managing project documentation using formal document management protocols.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in utility construction and infrastructure environments.
• Experience in construction management or related disciplines.
• Familiarity with integrated project controls processes, including scheduling, cost control, and risk analysis.
• Ability to work independently in a remote setting while collaborating effectively with geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in cost and schedule data.

Work Environment

This is a permanent, fully remote position that allows you to support utility and infrastructure construction projects from any suitable home office location. You will work extensively with digital project controls tools, including Primavera P6 and standard office productivity software, to manage schedules, costs, and documentation. Collaboration with project managers, team members, and stakeholders occurs through virtual meetings, calls, and online platforms. The role offers company benefits and a sign-on bonus, and it emphasizes a professional, results-oriented environment where accurate forecasting, disciplined cost control, and clear communication are highly valued.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Edison, NJ.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $100000.00 - $165000.00/yr.

Direct hire Full medical dental vision PTO bonus $5k sign on

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 26, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.