Principal Cost Estimator Associate with Security Clearance

Quantech Services Inc.; Arvada (CO); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Quantech Services Inc. seeks an experienced cost estimator to develop, maintain, and defend cost estimates for programs in the acquisition life cycle. You will work with software components, CERs, and risk analyses using ACEIT, SEER, PRICE, and related tools.

You will analyze historical data, build program cost models, and prepare briefings for Program Offices. Security clearance and relevant ACEIT/Microsoft Office experience are required; located near Colorado Springs with hybrid onsite work.

Qualifications

• 12 years of cost estimating for IS, radars, aircraft, and spacecraft in DoD/space domains.
• ACEIT experience required; five+ years of ACEIT experience.
• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred; 24 semester hours quantitative analysis.
• ICEAA certification (CCE/A, PCE/A) preferred; security clearance required.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and government databases (PMRT, CCaR, EDA, AFTOC).

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and update cost estimates across the acquisition life cycle.
• Analyze and reconcile Program Office Estimates, Should Cost Estimates, and other cost analyses.
• Build complex spreadsheet-based cost models and conduct regression analyses for CERs.
• Assess cost drivers, risk, and uncertainty; document methodologies and data sources.
• Support briefings, program reviews, and government/prime meetings with cost insights.

Skills

ACEIT

SEER

PRICE

MS Office

Cost Estimating

PMRT

CCaR

EDA

AFTOC

ACEIT (tool)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Quantitative analysis coursework 24 sem hrs

ICEAA certification preferred

Tools

PMRT

CCaR

EDA

AFTOC

ACEIT

Job description

• Develop, maintain, and update credible, defensible, and replicable cost estimates for all programs in the Division's portfolio in any phase of the acquisition life cycle
• Develop, maintain, and update credible, defensible, and replicable cost estimates for software related components of all programs leveraging source/logical/physical lines of code, programming productivity and maintainability, code growth, engineering updates, capability insertion in accordance with the applicable program documents (e.g., Cost Analysis Requirements Description) and the applicable policies and guidance
• Develop, analyze, reconcile, and/or assess Program Office Estimates, Single Best Estimates, Independent Cost Estimates, Independent Cost Analyses, Sufficiency Reviews, Cost Excursions, Rough Orders of Magnitude, Service Cost Positions, Program Contractor Cost Estimate, Program Executive Officer Estimates in support of annual Program Objective Memorandum (POM) submissions, Should Cost Estimates, Independent Program Assessments, Milestone Cost Estimate Reviews, Interim Program Cost Estimate Reviews, and "what-if" Cost Estimates
• Analyze historical data and develop analogies and Cost Estimating Relationships (CERs) using regression analysis
• Understand technology trends and analyze impacts on cost
• Develop risk and uncertainty distributions for cost driver variables and Cost Estimating Relationship (CER) equations
• Study, analyze, and develop metrics for complex, modern software development programs
• Build complex spreadsheet-based program cost models used as decision analysis tools
• Apply statistical concepts to quantify the probability of success for program budget and schedule plans
• Document, identify, and record all data/information required for the development of the cost estimates to include methodologies, assumptions, Cost Estimating Relationships (CERs), inflation rates, growth factors, risk factors, uncertainty factors, program dates, program milestones, etc.
• Support development, creation, integration, and correlation of briefings charts.
• Support all cost related activities associated with contract award activities - Acquisition Planning, Draft RFP Release, ESIS, ASP, RFP Release, Technical Evaluation, Source Selection, Contract Negotiation, etc.
• Create Business Case Analyses, Cost Benefit Analyses, and Economic Analyses
• Use prescribed standardized/specialized software applications such as ACE-IT, SEER, and PRICE; and apply data from Government-approved published databases
• Possess knowledge of all applicable cost policies and guides - DoDI 5000.73, AFI 65-508, GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide, JA CSRUH, etc.
• Assist in the development of Program Work Breakdown Structures as required and evaluate approved Contract Work Breakdown Structures to ensure and maintain compliance with Military Standard 881F, Defense Cost and Resource Center, Office of the Secretary of Defense/Cost Assessment and Performance Evaluation requirements
• Support the preparation of Program Office Technical Baselines and Cost Analysis Requirements Descriptions (CARDs) as applicable; ensuring completeness and consistency with other program documents
• Support development, review, and update of all cost related tasks/suspenses, staff packages, and action items
• Support and attend Government/Prime Contractor meetings for information gathering purposes to assist the government in assessing cost estimates.
• Assess program performance, cost, and schedule risk as applicable to the cost estimate and appropriately factor any risk and uncertainty into the cost estimates
• Analyze program contractor cost estimates to ensure consistency with Government cost estimating procedures; analyze the contractor BOEs, crosscheck WBS elements or cost drivers
• Provide cost related support to accomplish required Acquisition Reporting, to include, but not limited, to the Monthly Acquisition Report (MAR), the Selected Acquisition Report (SAR), Defense Acquisition Executive Summary (DAES), Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) and Program Management Reviews (PMRs). Minimum/General Experience:
• Twelve (12) years of experience performing cost estimating activities for Information Systems, Radars, Aircraft, and/or Spacecraft commodities in the commercial, industrial, government agencies, (only NASA, MDA, NRO, FAA, NGA, DOE), and/or military arena/DoD, of which five (5) years shall include duties/assignments specifically in support of space and/or ground systems that support/tracks space programs. Space programs are defined as systems that pass above earth's atmosphere.
• Experience required using standardized and specialized software applications such as, but not limited to, Microsoft Office, Automated Cost Estimating Integrated Tools (ACEIT), SEER, PRICE and Government systems and databases including PMRT, CCaR, EDA, AFTOC.
• At a minimum, five (5) years of ACEIT experience
• At a minimum, five (5) years of Microsoft Office Suite experience Required Education:
• Bachelor's degree required in the fields of Management, Business, Economics, Finance, Operations Research Analyst, Accounting, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Engineering, Statistics, or Cost Estimating/Analysis; Master's preferred. Must have 24 semester hours of quantitative analysis, including at least three semester units of calculus. Certification requirements: ICEAA certification (CCE/A, PCE/A) preferred. Software, Agile, Cloud certification preferred. Clearance: Must hold an Active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility. Location: Colorado Springs, CO. Hybrid/Onsite Some travel may be required (10%). Salary information below is a general guide only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as business and market considerations. Salary Range: $160,000-$190,000 WORK, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
• Please see standard Work, Physical and Mental Requirements for all Quantech roles. Work Environment This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets and fax machines. Physical Demands This is largely a sedentary role mostly sitting; however, some filing maybe required . This would require the ability to move files, or boxes with file data, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary, ability to lift up to 40lbs. Mental Demands: Reading; communicate effectively (verbal and written); maintain emotional control and professionalism. We hire military.