Cost Engineer (GPD)

Rolls-Royce SMR; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £42k–£55k

Benefits allowance £2,200

Bonus up to 12.5%

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension 12%

Life assurance

Flexible working options

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Cost Engineer to join our team in the UK. The role focuses on maintaining budgets, tracking costs, and supporting cost controls to ensure accurate forecasting across our nuclear energy projects.

Hybrid working is available from Manchester, Warrington or Derby. A strong background in cost data management, reporting and collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance or related fields.
• Progress toward a recognised professional accreditation (e.g., RICS, APM, CICES, PMI).
• Advanced proficiency in cost data management and analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and update project budgets and forecasts.
• Track actuals, commitments and accruals.
• Support change control assessments and cost impact analysis.
• Ensure cost data aligns with schedule and project controls.
• Raise PRs, manage POs, review supplier applications.
• Prepare monthly cost reports and dashboards.
• Collaborate with planners, commercial colleagues and Work Package Managers.
• Contribute to cost system and tools improvements.

Skills

Cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Change control

SAP

EcoSys

Primavera

Education

Engineering/Finance degree

Professional accreditation in progress

Cost data management tools

Tools

SAP

EcoSys

Primavera

Job description

Pay Range

£42,000.00

Cost Engineer

Location: Manchester, Warrington or Derby with Hybrid Working available.

Why this role matters

We're building something that has never been done before - and we need you to help make it happen. As a Cost Engineer at Rolls-Royce SMR, you'll play a key part in ensuring our projects are delivered accurately, responsibly, and efficiently. Your work will directly influence how we plan, forecast, and deliver one of the UK’s most exciting clean-energy programmes.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Maintaining and updating project budgets and forecasts
• Tracking actuals, commitments and accruals
• Supporting change control assessments and cost impact analysis
• Ensuring cost data aligns with schedule and project controls
• Raising PRs, managing POs, and reviewing supplier applications
• Preparing monthly cost reports and dashboards
• Collaborating with planners, commercial colleagues and Work Package Managers
• Contributing to continuous improvement and supporting our cost systems and tools

What You’ll Bring

We don’t expect you to tick every box - if you meet around 75% of the requirements, we’d still love to hear from you. Success in this role looks like:

• Strong understanding of cost control, budgeting, forecasting, and change processes
• High proficiency in cost reporting and variance analysis (Excel, Power Query or similar)
• A detail-orientated and accountable approach to your work
• The ability to build strong relationships and collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience in cost engineering or project controls, ideally in infrastructure, energy or nuclear
• Familiarity with tools such as SAP, EcoSys or Primavera
• A proactive, solution-focused mindset

Essential Qualifications & training

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance or related fields
• Progress toward a recognised professional accreditation (e.g., RICS, APM, CICES, PMI)
• Advanced proficiency in cost data management and analysis tools

Desirable

• Training in cost control, estimating or forecasting
• Exposure to NEC/FIDIC contracts
• Experience with change control and performance reporting

What Success Looks Like In This Role

• Cost data is accurate, consistent, and delivered on time
• Forecasts reflect the latest, best-known view
• Monthly reporting lands smoothly and informs confident decisions
• You build strong partnerships across the project
• You contribute to system and process improvements
• You support high standards of internal controls and audit compliance

Key measures & scope

• Potential line management of up to 3 Assistant Cost Engineers
• Close collaboration across project controls, planning, commercial, engineering and supplier teams

Reward & Benefits

• Salary: £42,000 - £55,150
• Benefits allowance: £2,200
• Bonus: Up to 12.5%
• Holiday: 28 days + bank holidays
• Pension: Standard Rolls-Royce SMR pension 12%
• Other benefits: 6x life assurance, 50% income protection, £250 new joiner payment
• Flexible working options available

Inclusion & accessibility

We value the unique perspectives and experiences that everyone brings. We're committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where you can be yourself and thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage - from application to interview to your day-to-day work - we're here to support you.

Security & checks

This role requires BPSS clearance. As part of the offer process, we'll carry out standard background, security and financial checks. These are never assessed in isolation - individual circumstances and role context are always taken into account.

Pay Range

£42,000.00

£55,125.00

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Our Application Process

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check