Cost Engineer

ORCAS Project Controls; Thousand Oaks (CA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development assistance

Job summary

ORCAS Project Controls seeks a Cost Engineer to support large-scale biotech capital projects valued over $500M in Northern Los Angeles. The role is hands-on, delivering budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cost controls across the project lifecycle.

You will collaborate with project managers, contractors, and stakeholders, manage cost data in the project controls system, develop cash flow and variance analyses, and support design-to-cost and change management in a hybrid on-site/remote setup

Qualifications

• 3–5 years experience in cGMP, R&D or office construction (cC&S, fitout).
• 5–7 years cost controls for industrial/manufacturing capital projects.
• Strong understanding of cost control/management.
• Biotech experience preferred.
• Multiple mid-scale complex projects, $200M+.
• Strong procurement and contract knowledge.
• Experience with project controls, accounting, estimating, scheduling and forecasting.
• Monte Carlo risk management experience in construction.
• Excellent organization and self-direction.
• Knowledge of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and follow the Project Controls Plan for Estimating, Funding, Procurement, and Cost.
• Maintain project cost in the cost management tool per control accounts.
• Manage budgets, forecast, commitments, actuals, changes, EV, CPI and SPI.
• Support cost reporting, forecasting, and change orders negotiation.
• Create reports on actuals, variances, trends, and re-forecasts.
• Ensure change management throughout project phases.
• Develop cash flow and commitment flow across phases.
• Assess external costs and develop internal estimates with stakeholders.
• Contribute to value engineering and risk cost impacts.
• Review invoices for contractual compliance and assist close-out.
• Capture lessons learned for future use.

Skills

Cost management

Forecasting

Risk analysis

Cash flow

Earned value

Monte Carlo

Team collaboration

Education

Construction experience 5+ years

MS Excel & SAP

Join.Build & Planisware

PMI or AACE certification beneficial

Tools

Join.Build

Planisware

SAP

Job description

We are looking for a Cost Engineer to support large-scale biotech capital projects with values greater than $500M in Northern Los Angeles.

The Cost Engineer is responsible for directly managing the project cost management, forecasting, reporting, and financial performance throughout the project lifecycle. This a hands-on technical role which encompasses budgeting, change management, risk analysis, cash flow planning, and cost controls while supporting project teams with data-driven insights and decision-making. The position works closely with project managers, contractors, and stakeholders to ensure accurate reporting, effective cost management, contractual compliance, and successful project delivery. Some management of other team members in project controls is expected, but this is not the primary focus.

Candidates should possess strong project controls expertise, including cost, estimating, scheduling, procurement, and reporting, with experience supporting large-scale capital projects.

This is a hybrid position in Northern Los Angeles requiring 3 days per week on-site.

Responsibilities

• Develop and adhere to the Project Controls Plan for Estimating, Funding, Procurement, and Cost.
• Develop and maintain project cost in the cost management tool according to control accounts guidelines.
• Manage original budget, current budget, current forecast, commitments, actuals, changes, earned value, productivity, CPI, SPI, staffing plans vs. actuals by name, risk, commitment curve, cashflow curve, and accruals based on work in place.
• Provide target value design setup and support to manage design to cost.
• Perform reconciliation of cost data from local accounting systems to the project controls system of record.
• Support the Project Manager on cost reporting, forecasting, and negotiation of contracts and change orders.
• Develop reports on actuals, variances, trends, and re-forecast as necessary.
• Ensure proper change management throughout the project phases.
• Develop and maintain detailed cash flow and commitment flow throughout the project phases.
• Evaluate external costs and develop internal cost estimates in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Participate in the value engineering process.
• Analyze change orders for cost impact.
• Provide costs impacts associated with identified project risks.
• Review and validate contractual compliance of project invoices.
• Assist in the financial project close-out.
• Develop and ensure recording of the project's historical cost information and "lessons learned" for future use.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• 3-5 years experience working in cGMP, R&D, or office construction (both cC&S and fitout).
• 5-7 years experience in cost controls for industrial or manufacturing capital construction projects.
• Full understanding of cost control/management.
• Preferable to have biotech experience.
• Multiple mid-scale complex project experience, $200MM+.
• Strong understanding of procurement and contracts.
• Demonstrated strong knowledge and experience in the various aspects of project controls, accounting, estimating, planning/scheduling, progress measurement, and forecasting/reporting, and risk management.
• Demonstrated experience with monte carlo for risk management as it relates to construction.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills for accurate and largely self-directed work.
• Advanced knowledge in the construction of civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems.
• Strong communication and presentation capabilities: written and verbal.
• Good interpersonal and collaborating skills.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills for accurate and largely self-directed work.
• Demonstrate a team spirit and strong dedication to the success of the team.

Education and Training:

• Relevant Construction Experience 5+ years
• Advanced skills in Microsof Excel and SAP
• Intermediate skills in Join.Build and Planisware
• Any certification from PMI or AACE is beneficial

Benefits

• Pay Range: $135,000 - $165,000 per year, based on experience and location401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Why ORCAS Project Controls?

ORCAS has been delivering specialized project controls for complex capital projects since 1988, not by growing the biggest team, but by building the best one. We're a place where your expertise is recognized, your growth is supported, and your work genuinely matters to the outcome of major projects.

At ORCAS, you're not a headcount. You're a professional with a career worth investing in. We support ongoing education, professional development, and the kind of collaborative environment where sharp people do their best work.

We hold ourselves to high standards. Integrity, loyalty, and trust aren't just words here. If you share those values and want to work alongside people who take their craft seriously, we'd like to hear from you.

Learn more at www.OrcasProjectControls.com