Program Planning and Controls Specialist

Xcimer-Energy; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Paid parental leave

Equity opportunities

Flexible PTO and holidays

Sick time

Job summary

Xcimer Energy, Denver, CO, is seeking a Program Planning and Controls Specialist to drive the successful execution of the IFE program. This full-time, onsite role partners with engineering, manufacturing, and procurement to coordinate schedules, track milestones, and deliver KPI-driven performance The candidate will manage costs, forecasts, and variances, leveraging Primavera P6 and Jira, while ensuring schedule integrity and timely communication across teams.

Denver-based, U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or related field.
• 5+ years of project coordination/controls in engineering, construction, or manufacturing.
• 3+ years of hands-on Oracle Primavera P6 with resource-loaded schedules.
• Strong problem-solving, organization, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, and documentation.
• Coordinate activities with element leads, engineers, manufacturing, and teams.
• Manage schedules, milestones, and progress reporting.
• Monitor release metrics to evaluate milestones and escalate risks.
• Track costs against budget and provide regular cost reports.
• Forecast costs, analyze variances, and advise budget risks.
• Support forecasting with schedule, resource, and procurement inputs.
• Facilitate communication between engineering, procurement, and manufacturing.

Skills

Project planning & controls

Problem solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or related field

Tools

Oracle Primavera P6

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Jira

MS Project

Job description

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO.

As a Program Planning and Controls Specialist, you will play a crucial role in supporting the successful execution of complex engineering projects on Xcimer’s Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) program. You will work closely with element leads, engineers, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless coordination, tracking, and reporting of project activities. Your ability to manage schedules, maintain project documentation, and facilitate communication will be key to driving efficiency and meeting critical milestones. We are looking for a highly organized individual with strong problem-solving skills, technical fluency, and experience in project tracking, execution, and performance measurement through KPIs and metrics to ensure project success. We are looking for an experienced project controls professional to apply their technical expertise, problem solving skills, and dedication to quality to positively impact the future of energy!

Responsibilities

• Support the successful execution of complex engineering projects on the IFE program by developing and maintaining project plans, schedules, and documentation.
• Collaborate with element leads, engineers, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to coordinate project activities and ensure alignment with overall program objectives.
• Manage project schedules, track milestones, and report on progress using Jira and other project management tools.
• Monitor and analyze engineering release metrics to evaluate performance against milestones, identify potential risks, and elevate issues to Program Management as necessary.
• Track project costs against budget, including labor, procurement, and commitments, and provide regular cost reporting to program and finance stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain cost forecasts and estimates at completion, and analyze variances between planned, committed, and actual costs, and elevate budget risks to Program Management as necessary.
• Work with finance on program forecasting, providing schedule, resource, and procurement inputs to support budget and forecast cycles.
• Facilitate effective communication and coordination between engineering, procurement, and manufacturing teams to ensure timely issue resolution and efficient project execution.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field (3+ years of related experience may be substituted for the degree)
• Experience: 5+ years in project coordination, project controls, project administration, or a similar role in an engineering, construction, or manufacturing environment
• Must have: 3+ years of hands‑on experience with Oracle Primavera P6, including building and maintaining resource‑loaded schedules
• Problem‑solving mindset with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
• Strong technical acumen with an understanding of hardware development processes and product lifecycles
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired

• Experience with other schedule management software such as MS Project
• Experience with earned value management (EVM), including performance measurement baselines, progress measurement, and cost and schedule variance analysis
• Experience with complex, multidisciplinary engineering, or manufacturing projects
• Experience with budgeting, cost tracking, or financial reporting tools
• Familiarity with Agile project management methodologies
• Familiarity with Jira and other similar project management tools
• Experience managing and tracking Bills of Materials (BOMs)
• Familiarity with the purchase requisition through invoice lifecycle

$100,000 - $120,000 a year

Candidates may be considered for other positions at Xcimer Energy, and our actual base salary will be determined on an individual basis and may vary based on job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The range is published in accordance with Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and California Equal Pay Act.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Xcimer Energy is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. Xcimer Energy hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork, in which all employees recognize and appreciate the diversity of individual team members. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Xcimer Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision coverage
• basic and supplemental life insurance
• short- and long-term disability;
• paid parental leave for employees at the time of birth or adoption;
• and a 401(k) with a company match of up to 6%.
• Eligible employees also receive equity, allowing them to share in the company’s long‑term success.
• Xcimer operates under a flexible Paid Time Off (ATO) approach.
• Rather than a fixed number of vacation days, employees are trusted to take the time they need to rest and recharge while meeting the expectations of their role and team.
• In addition, employees receive paid sick time, 13 company-paid holidays, and an annual paid company shutdown.
• Benefits are available to regular employees, including part‑time and fixed‑term roles, as well as interns, with eligibility varying by benefit.