Cost Engineer

Evonik Industries AG; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Evonik Industries AG in Lafayette, IN seeks a Cost Engineer acting as owner-representative Project Controller to oversee financial control across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning.

You will develop and manage the cost baseline, budgets, EAC, and cash flow, and deliver monthly cost reports and KPI dashboards. The role requires strong collaboration with Finance, Procurement, and EPC/EPCM teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Business, or related discipline.
• 8–10+ years of experience in project controls, project controlling, or cost management for large capital projects.
• Strong knowledge of cost estimating principles, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and scheduling fundamentals.
• Experience managing budgets, EAC, forecasting, and financial performance across projects.
• Proven change management, contingency planning, and cost-control systems expertise.
• Experience with owner-representative, EPC/EPCM environments and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and manage the project cost baseline, CBS, budgets, forecasts, EAC, and cash flow throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor costs by tracking commitments, actuals, forecasts, and variances; identify drivers, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead cost change management, including evaluating, documenting, and integrating scope, schedule, and commercial changes.
• Establish and monitor contingency and management reserve usage aligned with risks; advise on adequacy.
• Consolidate cost information from Engineering, Procurement, Contracts, Construction, Site Operations, and external contractors for reporting.
• Develop and deliver monthly cost reports, dashboards, KPIs, and executive presentations showing health and forecast accuracy.
• Coordinate with Finance and Procurement to support accruals, payments, funding, and audit-ready documentation.
• Work with Project Leadership, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, and EPC/EPCM contractors to resolve discrepancies and improve forecasts.

Skills

Cost management

Budgeting

Forecasting

Change management

Financial reporting

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction/Finance/Business

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Project management software

Job description

What we offer Explore a world of opportunities with us. Look ahead with us and help shape innovative solutions to make our world more sustainable and life healthier, more vibrant and more comfortable. At Evonik, you have the chance to explore, thrive, and grow alongside 33,000 colleagues. Among attractive career paths and high‑quality development programs, we not only offer performance‑based remuneration and occupational health benefits but also hybrid and flexible working environments with #SmartWork. Bring your fresh perspective, develop your strengths, break out your mold, and find a career that fits your dreams with us.

The Cost Engineer acts as the owner‑representative Project Controller for capital projects, responsible for the financial control and integration of project cost information across engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning. This individual understands estimates and schedules, but is not the estimator nor the scheduler. Instead, this role is focused on budget stewardship, change management, cost integration, KPI reporting, contingency management, and cash‑flow control, ensuring leadership has a clear, accurate, and forward‑looking view of project financial performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop, maintain, and manage the project cost baseline, cost breakdown structure (CBS), budgets, forecasts, Estimate at Completion (EAC), and cash flow forecasts throughout the project lifecycle.

• Monitor project costs by tracking commitments, actual costs, forecasts, and financial performance while performing variance analysis and identifying cost drivers, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead the project cost change management process, including identifying, evaluating, documenting, and integrating approved scope, schedule, and commercial changes into project budgets and forecasts.
• Establish, monitor, and report on contingency and management reserve usage, ensuring alignment with project risks and providing recommendations on contingency adequacy.
• Consolidate and analyze cost information from Engineering, Procurement, Contracts, Construction, Site Operations, and external contractors to ensure accurate and consistent project financial reporting.
• Develop and deliver monthly cost reports, dashboards, KPIs, and executive presentations that communicate project financial health, forecast accuracy, change exposure, and risk outlook.
• Coordinate with Finance and Procurement to support accruals, payment timing, funding requirements, cash flow planning, and audit‑ready project documentation.
• Partner closely with Project Leadership, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, and EPC/EPCM contractors to resolve cost discrepancies, improve forecast accuracy, and support project decision‑making.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Business, or a related discipline; equivalent experience considered.
• 8-10+ years of experience in project controls, project controlling, or cost management supporting large capital projects required.
• Strong knowledge of project cost estimating principles, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and project scheduling fundamentals.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, Estimate at Completion (EAC), cost forecasting, and financial performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Proven expertise with change management processes, contingency planning, management reserve practices, and cost control systems.
• Experience working in owner‑representative, EPC, or EPCM project environments with cross‑functional project teams and external contractors.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to present financial information to project leadership.
• Proficiency using project controls, financial reporting, and ERP/project management systems, with advanced Microsoft Excel skills preferred.

The Evonik Group adopts an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) approach. Candidates are assessed based on their educational qualifications, experience, job competencies and potential and shall not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, nationality, disability or sexual orientation or other classifications protected by local, state, or provincial regulations.

This is your opportunity to join a thriving global organization that combines cutting‑edge science, technology and engineering with world‑class business services to create solutions that answer real‑world problems. If you join us, we’ll expect you to take ownership of your work, team up with other great minds, and add your name to creations that make a positive difference for generations. As one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals operating in more than 100 countries with over 32,000 employees, we need your diversity of thought to make us better. In return for your passion, initiative and creativity, you’ll enjoy opportunities to improve and to be respected for your contribution.