Cost Engineer

Pathfinder L L C; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathfinder L L C in Houston, TX is seeking a Cost Engineer to maintain accurate cost information, forecast trends and support cost control across a data center construction program.

Collaborating with Construction, Contracts, Procurement, Finance, Engineering and scheduling teams, you will track budgets, validate cost data, and deliver reliable cost forecasts to leadership for informed decision-making.

Qualifications

• Strong cost engineering / cost control background on large-scale construction, power generation, data center, industrial or infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain control budgets and track commitments, actuals and forecasts.
• Clear understanding of the difference between committed costs, actual costs, accruals and forecast exposure.
• Experience with change management, including change orders, trends and exposure.
• Advanced Excel: data reconciliation, financial modeling, pivot tables and large dataset analysis.
• Understanding of the relationship between progress, schedule, productivity, earned value and cost forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain control budgets and track commitments, actual costs, accruals, forecasts and EAC across multiple contracts and work packages.
• Develop and maintain cost forecasts based on actual expenditure, committed costs, remaining scope, field progress and anticipated changes.
• Identify, evaluate and track scope changes, change orders, trends and potential cost exposure; reconcile changes against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Review contractor cost submissions, validate supporting information, and challenge inconsistencies and unreasonable costs or quantities.
• Reconcile cost data across Omega 365, ERP and other sources, and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Integrate physical progress, schedule performance, productivity and earned value into cost forecasting.
• Prepare concise management cost reporting and detailed supporting analysis.
• Work with Construction, Contracts, Procurement, Finance, Engineering, Scheduling and contractor teams.

Skills

Cost engineering / cost control

Excel advanced

Financial modeling

Data center construction

Earned value management

Tools

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Houston, TX, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1025

Salary Range: $80,000.00 To $150,000.00 Annually

ROLE SUMMARY

The Cost Engineer maintains accurate cost information, identifies emerging trends and provides reliable forecasts for Data Center construction program while scopes, schedules and priorities continue to change. The role explains where the money is going, identifies potential overruns before they materialize and gives management dependable cost forecasts.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and maintain control budgets and track commitments, actual costs, accruals, forecasts and EAC across multiple contracts and work packages.
• Develop and maintain cost forecasts based on actual expenditure, committed costs, remaining scope, field progress and anticipated changes.
• Identify, evaluate and track scope changes, change orders, trends and potential cost exposure; reconcile changes against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Review contractor cost submissions, validate supporting information, and challenge inconsistencies and unreasonable costs or quantities.
• Reconcile cost data across Omega 365, ERP and other sources, and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Integrate physical progress, schedule performance, productivity and earned value into cost forecasting.
• Prepare concise management cost reporting and detailed supporting analysis.
• Work with Construction, Contracts, Procurement, Finance, Engineering, Scheduling and contractor teams.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Strong cost engineering / cost control background on large-scale construction, power generation, data center, industrial or infrastructure projects, including direct work with construction and contractor teams.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain control budgets and track commitments, actuals and forecasts.
• Clear understanding of the difference between committed costs, actual costs, accruals and forecast exposure.
• Experience with change management, including change orders, trends and exposure.
• Advanced Excel: data reconciliation, financial modeling, pivot tables and large dataset analysis.
• Understanding of the relationship between progress, schedule, productivity, earned value and cost forecasting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• ERP familiarity and cost data reconciliation experience.
• Power BI experience.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Analytical, resourceful and adaptable
• Comfortable with evolving scope, imperfect data and tight deadlines
• Hands-on ownership and accountability
• Effective communication and teamwork
• Moves between detailed analysis and concise management reporting

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Cost engineering is more than recording expenditures or producing monthly reports. The ideal candidate works with imperfect data, reconciles multiple sources and brings discipline to cost reporting without slowing execution. Strong fundamentals, analytical judgment, field awareness and practical cost control experience matter more than familiarity with any single software platform.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Fast-paced construction program with aggressive schedules, rapidly evolving priorities and multiple contractors working concurrently. Hands-on, site-engaged role.