Cost Engineer II

PEMEX Deer Park; Deer Park (TX); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

PEMEX Deer Park is seeking a Cost Engineer II to manage project costs, forecasts, commitments and changes across a portfolio of capital projects in a refinery setting. You will work with project managers, planners, contractors, Finance and Supply Chain to ensure cost information is accurate and aligned with schedules.

In this hybrid role, you’ll maintain SAP cost data, prepare monthly cost reports, review contractor invoices, and support forecasting, budgeting and closeout activities while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 4–6 years of project cost-control experience, preferably in refining or petrochemical capital projects.
• Experience with SAP, Primavera P6, project-control systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookup formulas, complex formulas, graphs, and cost curves.
• Strong understanding of forecasting, change control, cost reporting, scheduling, contracting, and risk management.
• Experience working with project teams, contractors, suppliers, and Finance.

Responsibilities

• Maintain budgets, commitments, actual costs, VOWD, cash-flow phasing, accruals, and forecasts aligned to the WBS.
• Prepare and review monthly Forecast Final Cost (FFC) reports and explain variances.
• Ensure cost forecasts align with project schedules and actual work progress.
• Flag cost issues early and propose solutions to the team.
• Support the forecasting and estimating processes on a monthly/quarterly/biannual basis.
• Track changes, risks, and opportunities in the cost tool and maintain logs.

Skills

Cost Control

Business Partnership

Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Adaptability

Initiative

Communication

Hands-On Approach

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field

Tools

SAP

Primavera P6

Microsoft Office

Power BI

Job description

The Cost Engineer II manages project costs, forecasts, commitments, changes, and financial reporting for a portfolio of capital projects.

This role works closely with project managers, planners, contractors, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure project cost information is accurate, current, and aligned with the project schedule. The Cost Engineer II works with a moderate level of independence, resolving day-to-day cost issues and escalating complex matters as needed.

The role engages directly with budget holders and project leadership to support sound business decisions and effective stewardship of project funds.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

Cost Control & Forecasting

• Maintain budgets, commitments, actual costs, Value of Work Done (VOWD), cash-flow phasing, accruals, and forecasts aligned to the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Prepare and review monthly Forecast Final Cost (FFC) reports and explain significant variances.
• Ensure cost forecasts align with project schedules and actual work progress.
• Flag cost issues to the project team early and propose solutions.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and semiannual forecasting and estimating processes.

Change Control & Governance

• Track approved and pending changes, risks, threats, and opportunities in the cost tool.
• Confirm budget changes and trends are documented and approved to maintain an accurate cost estimate and history of project performance.
• Support the Project Controls Supervisor in running the change management process.
• Verify the correct coding of purchase orders, contracts, invoices, and estimates, and maintain required cost logs and registers.
• Follow PEMEX Deer Park cost engineering and project-control procedures.

Reporting & Systems

• Maintain accurate cost information within SAP and other project-control systems.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and periodic cost reports for project teams, budget holders, and senior stakeholders.
• Work with planners, project delivery managers, and the central cost team to explain variances against previous submissions.
• Support reporting improvements and digital initiatives.
• Capture cost data for use in future benchmarking and estimating.
• Ensure contractors meet the cost control requirements set out in their contracts.
• Review contractor estimates, man-hour budgets, scope changes, and budget revisions.
• Review contractor and supplier invoices and supporting documentation for payment.
• Maintain cost documentation and records for audits and cost recovery.
• Support benchmarking and contractor, subcontractor, and vendor reviews and audits.

Business Partnership

• Work with project managers, planners, Finance, Supply Chain, and contractors to resolve cost issues.
• Represent the cost function in project and functional meetings and workshops.
• Support annual financial planning activities, including year-end close, budget rollovers, forecast resets, and project closeout, to ensure accurate financial reporting and proper disposition of project costs.
• Support project closeout, including final cost validation, settlement readiness, capitalization, and residual balance resolution.

Broader Team Support

• As part of a small cost team, this role may be required to support other cost or finance activities across capital projects, turnaround, and non-routine maintenance, either temporarily or permanently, as business needs evolve.
• Provide informal guidance to Cost Analysts and Cost Administrators on process and system matters.
• Manage approximately 30-35 capital projects in different phases.
• Complete forecasting and cost reviews within condensed monthly deadlines.
• Work effectively in a demanding refinery and turnaround environment.

Qualifications:

• Cost Control:Applies cost engineering principles to forecasting, change control, and variance analysis with limited supervision.
• Business Partnership:Builds credibility with project managers, budget holders, and contractors, and explains cost implications clearly to non-financial audiences.
• Problem Solving:Identifies and resolves day-to-day cost issues, escalating complex matters appropriately.
• Attention to Detail:Keeps cost data accurate across a high-volume portfolio.
• Adaptability:Works well with competing priorities and shifting project demands.
• Initiative:Identifies risks, opportunities, and process improvements, and takes ownership of outcomes.
• Communication:Explains complex cost information clearly in reports and presentations, and raises difficult issues professionally.
• Hands-On Approach:Willing to perform detailed cost and reconciliation work as required.

Job Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 4–6 years of project cost-control experience, preferably with refining or petrochemical capital projects.
• Experience with SAP, Primavera P6, project-control systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Advanced Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookup formulas, complex formulas, graphs, and cost curves.
• Strong understanding of forecasting, change control, cost reporting, scheduling, contracting, and risk management.
• Experience working with project teams, contractors, suppliers, and Finance.
• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• S/4HANA, EPPM, EcoSys, or Power BI experience a plus.

Physical requirements:

• Hybrid schedule — minimum 3 days on-site per week.
• Occasional extended hours during planned and unplanned events, including turnaround execution.
• Must hold or be able to qualify for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must have legal authorization to work in the United States on a full-time basis.