Cost Engineer - Life Sciences

Jacobs; Dublin; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a highly motivated Cost Engineer to support Life Sciences projects, ensuring cost transparency and financial control across multi-disciplinary engineering programs.

The role entails managing project cost estimates, preparing reports, and engaging with teams to enhance cost efficiency. Required qualifications include a relevant degree and experience in cost engineering within Life Sciences. This position requires onsite presence in Limerick three days per week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in cost engineering or project controls, ideally within Life Sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotech, or advanced manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of capital project lifecycles, estimating methodologies, and cost control principles.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and manage project cost estimates, budgets, and forecasts across all project phases.
• Prepare and deliver regular cost reports, dashboards, and KPIs for internal and client stakeholders.
• Engage with multidisciplinary teams to drive cost efficiency and value engineering initiatives.

Skills

Proven experience in cost engineering or project controls

Excellent analytical and communication skills

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced project environment

Education

Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Construction Management, or related field

Tools

EcoSys

Prism

SAP

Excel

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Jacobs is seeking a highly motivated Cost Engineer to support our growing portfolio of Life Sciences projects. You’ll play a key role in ensuring cost transparency, financial control, and commercial rigor across complex, multi‑disciplinary engineering programs. This is an opportunity to contribute to projects that advance pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, medical devices, and cutting‑edge research facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and manage project cost estimates, budgets, and forecasts across all project phases.
• Track and report actual costs vs. budget, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Maintain and update the project cost control system, ensuring accuracy and traceability of all financial data.

Project Support

• Work closely with project managers, planners, procurement, engineering, and construction teams to ensure cost alignment with project scope and schedule.
• Participate in change management, including cost impact assessments, trend analysis, and change order evaluation.
• Support risk management activities by identifying cost risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies.

Reporting & Governance

• Prepare and deliver regular cost reports, dashboards, and KPIs for internal and client stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with Jacobs’ project controls procedures, client requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Contribute to project reviews, audits, and financial governance activities.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Engage with multidisciplinary teams to drive cost efficiency and value engineering initiatives.
• Support the development and refinement of Jacobs’ cost engineering tools, templates, and best practices.
• Foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and proactive problem solving.

Here’s what you’ll need

• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Construction Management, or related field.
• Proven experience in cost engineering or project controls, ideally within Life Sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotech, or advanced manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of capital project lifecycles, estimating methodologies, and cost control principles.
• Proficiency with cost management tools (e.g., EcoSys, Prism, SAP, Excel).
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, highly technical project environment.

Required on site in Limerick 3 days per week.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria and welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working or who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.