Project Control Analyst

ARA; Greenville (SC); On-site; USD 67,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) seeks a Project Control Analyst to support a growing portfolio of advanced technology projects. The role emphasizes data analysis, project controls, and process improvement across budgeting, scheduling, and reporting tools.

You will collaborate with project managers, engineering, and accounting to build Smartsheet plans, manage resources, and monitor cost performance. The position requires 2–4 years of experience, strong Excel skills, and U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field.
• 2–4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in data integration, cleansing, or combining datasets.
• Strong Excel skills (Power Query, VLOOKUP, macros).
• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze complex project datasets to identify trends, improve efficiency, and support decision-making.
• Consolidate data across the division to maintain a portfolio-level view of performance and resource projections.
• Maintain dashboards and KPIs to ensure visibility of schedule, cost, and resource metrics.
• Perform cost projections, budget analysis, and estimates for labor, materials, and equipment.
• Support project managers and engineering team in building and maintaining Smartsheet project plans, ensuring accurate linking to reporting tools.
• Maintain resource planning tools to ensure accurate allocation of personnel and materials.
• Identify and communicate potential resource or cost risks proactively.
• Support project manager in tracking subcontractor spending, deliverables, and progress as needed.
• Lead or support internal process-improvement initiatives across project management and accounting workflows.
• Maintain and improve cost tracker templates; troubleshoot formula or formatting issues.
• Assist the accounting team in reconciling revenue and cost data between AP, E-Office, and internal trackers.
• Support efforts to integrate project, financial, and reporting systems for greater accuracy and efficiency.
• Assist project management and systems engineering teams with the change management process.
• Participate in configuration review boards and ensure required approvals are completed.
• Contribute to proposal estimates and cost inputs.
• Support project portfolio reviews, capturing and communicating action items.
• Facilitate lessons-learned activities for completed projects.
• Provide additional project management support as needed.

Skills

Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

Citizenship: U.S.

Earned Value Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Smartsheet

Power BI

Job description

The Integrated Products Division (IPD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Project Control Analyst to support our Project deck which encompasses rapidly growing portfolio of advanced technology solutions and products. Our team develops solutions across advanced technology domains including robotics, vehicle platforms, advanced sensors solutions, geotechnical applications and weapon systems, for existing and emerging commercial and defense customers.

This role provides critical support to project managers, engineering team and the accounting team, with a focus on data analysis, project controls, and continuous process improvement.

Project Portfolio Data & Performance Analysis

• Analyze complex project datasets to identify trends, improve efficiency, and support decision-making.
• Consolidate data across the division to maintain a portfolio-level view of performance and resource projections.
• Maintain dashboards and KPIs to ensure visibility of schedule, cost, and resource metrics.
• Perform cost projections, budget analysis, and estimates for labor, materials, and equipment.

Project Planning & Controls

• Support project managers and engineering team in building and maintaining Smartsheet project plans, ensuring accurate linking to reporting tools.
• Maintain resource planning tools to ensure accurate allocation of personnel and materials.
• Identify and communicate potential resource or cost risks proactively.
• Support project manager in tracking subcontractor spending, deliverables, and progress as needed.

Process Improvement & System Integration

• Lead or support internal process-improvement initiatives across project management and accounting workflows.
• Maintain and improve cost tracker templates; troubleshoot formula or formatting issues.
• Assist the accounting team in reconciling revenue and cost data between AP, E-Office, and internal trackers.
• Support efforts to integrate project, financial, and reporting systems for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Configuration & Change Management

• Assist project management and systems engineering teams with the change management process.
• Participate in configuration review boards and ensure required approvals are completed.

Project Portfolio Support & Documentation

• Contribute to proposal estimates and cost inputs.
• Support project portfolio reviews, capturing and communicating action items.
• Facilitate lessons-learned activities for completed projects.
• Provide additional project management support as needed.

Required Experience & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field
• 2-4 years of relevant experience
• Experience in data integration, cleansing, or combining datasets
• Strong Excel skills (Power Query, VLOOKUP, macros)
• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and communication skills
• U.S. Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Power BI, Deltek Costpoint, Smartsheet and Earned Value Management
• Familiarity with project/task scheduling
• Knowledge of configuration or change management processes

Expected compensation for this position will range from $67,000 - $80,000/year depending on education and experience.

Company & Division Information

Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,200 employee-owners and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees contributions not only add to the company's success, but their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, "Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit" sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please apply at careers.ara.com.