Project Control Engineer

First Point Group; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

First Point Group seeks an experienced Project Controls Engineer to support major transportation and infrastructure initiatives in Riverside, California. This role will manage project funding and financial performance, cost estimating, invoicing, budget management, and grant administration, reporting to government and public-sector stakeholders.

You will collaborate with project managers, engineers, contractors, finance teams, and other stakeholders to monitor performance, identify variances,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 10 years of relevant Project Controls or cost control experience in lieu of a degree.
• Strong experience in project controls, cost engineering, cost estimating, cost control, and cost analysis.

Responsibilities

• Support management of project contracts and processing of project-related payments.
• Review monthly invoices for professional services, contractors, consultants, and other project activities.
• Process reimbursement requests and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable funding requirements.
• Perform invoice data entry, coding, review, reconciliation, and document management.
• Maintain SharePoint-based invoice records and historical project data.
• Conduct bid analyses by comparing bidder proposals against established cost estimates and project requirements.
• Coordinate periodic project reviews with Project Managers and Project Coordinators to assess project cost, funding, schedule, and performance.
• Monitor environmental, design, construction management, geotechnical, and other professional service contracts.
• Assist in developing and managing annual project budgets.
• Track project funding allocations, expenditures, commitments, and remaining balances.
• Develop and maintain cost recording, reporting, and analysis processes.
• Monitor project performance, including funding, budget, cost, and schedule status.
• Identify variances, trends, and potential issues and develop recommendations for corrective action.
• Maintain project funding databases, spreadsheets, and audit-ready records.
• Reconcile conflicting project information and coordinate with project sponsors and stakeholders to ensure data accuracy.
• Support federal and state grant administration, including eligibility, scope, funding availability, and timely-use requirements.
• Research and analyze project development and implementation status.
• Track project progress against established schedules, funding requirements, and project milestones.
• Prepare technical reports, analytical documentation, and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
• Maintain construction bid databases and other project controls systems.
• Identify project data requirements, sources, and appropriate techniques for collecting and analyzing information.
• Develop and implement project performance measurement and reporting processes.
• Assist with preparation of cost data for proposals, contract negotiations, and project planning activities.
• Manage and maintain project schedules to ensure alignment with deadlines and milestones.
• Track funding schedules related to allocations, project updates, commitments, and expenditures.
• Assess the impact of project cost and schedule changes and ensure timely updates and documentation.
• Support development and tracking of cost impacts associated with project risk registers.
• Monitor project trends and provide early identification of potential budget and schedule deviations.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders on project cost, funding, and schedule matters.
• Promote and support organizational initiatives related to Safety, Quality, and Diversity & Inclusion.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

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

10 years of relevant Project Controls or cost control experience in lieu of a degree

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Excel

SharePoint

Power BI

Job description

Work Arrangement: Hybrid – In Office Monday–Wednesday; Work From Home Thursday–Friday

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Project Controls Engineer to support major transportation and infrastructure projects in Riverside, California. This role will be responsible for project funding and financial performance management, cost estimating, cost analysis, invoice review, budget management, grant administration support, project scheduling, and preparation of reports for government and public-sector stakeholders.

The successful candidate will work closely with project managers, engineers, contractors, consultants, finance teams, and other stakeholders to monitor project performance, identify cost and schedule variances, maintain accurate project records, and support compliance with applicable federal, state, and local funding requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Support management of project contracts and processing of project-related payments.
• Review monthly invoices for professional services, contractors, consultants, and other project activities.
• Process reimbursement requests and supporting documentation in accordance with applicable funding requirements.
• Perform invoice data entry, coding, review, reconciliation, and document management.
• Maintain SharePoint-based invoice records and historical project data.
• Conduct bid analyses by comparing bidder proposals against established cost estimates and project requirements.
• Coordinate periodic project reviews with Project Managers and Project Coordinators to assess project cost, funding, schedule, and performance.
• Monitor environmental, design, construction management, geotechnical, and other professional service contracts.
• Assist in developing and managing annual project budgets.
• Track project funding allocations, expenditures, commitments, and remaining balances.
• Develop and maintain cost recording, reporting, and analysis processes.
• Monitor project performance, including funding, budget, cost, and schedule status.
• Identify variances, trends, and potential issues and develop recommendations for corrective action.
• Maintain project funding databases, spreadsheets, and audit-ready records.
• Reconcile conflicting project information and coordinate with project sponsors and stakeholders to ensure data accuracy.
• Support federal and state grant administration, including eligibility, scope, funding availability, and timely-use requirements.
• Research and analyze project development and implementation status.
• Track project progress against established schedules, funding requirements, and project milestones.
• Prepare technical reports, analytical documentation, and presentations summarizing findings and recommendations.
• Maintain construction bid databases and other project controls systems.
• Identify project data requirements, sources, and appropriate techniques for collecting and analyzing information.
• Develop and implement project performance measurement and reporting processes.
• Assist with preparation of cost data for proposals, contract negotiations, and project planning activities.
• Manage and maintain project schedules to ensure alignment with deadlines and milestones.
• Track funding schedules related to allocations, project updates, commitments, and expenditures.
• Assess the impact of project cost and schedule changes and ensure timely updates and documentation.
• Support development and tracking of cost impacts associated with project risk registers.
• Monitor project trends and provide early identification of potential budget and schedule deviations.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders on project cost, funding, and schedule matters.
• Promote and support organizational initiatives related to Safety, Quality, and Diversity & Inclusion.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field with at least 6 years of Project Controls or cost-related experience; or
• 10 years of relevant Project Controls or cost control experience in lieu of a degree.
• Strong experience in project controls, cost engineering, cost estimating, cost control, and cost analysis.
• Experience supporting large-scale engineering, construction, infrastructure, or transportation projects.
• Advanced or intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel and SharePoint.
• Experience with Power BI for reporting and data analysis.
• Understanding of budget development, administration, invoicing, disbursement, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Ability to maintain accurate, audit-ready project and financial records.
• Knowledge of project funding, financial performance, and reporting processes.
• Understanding of engineering, procurement, contracts, construction, and startup/operations processes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams and external stakeholders.
• Must be authorized to live and work in the United States.
• Must be available to work the required hybrid schedule in Riverside, CA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with federal and state transportation funding programs.
• Knowledge of transportation funding sources, including discretionary and formula funding programs.
• Familiarity with Caltrans and/or FTA procedures and processes.
• Experience supporting public-sector or government-funded infrastructure projects.
• Previous experience with large-scale transportation, engineering, or construction programs.
• Familiarity with project financial reporting systems and controller/account coding structures.
• Experience with grant administration, reimbursement processes, and funding compliance.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Ability to take ownership of assignments from initiation through completion.
• Strong ability to communicate technical processes and procedures to management, staff, clients, and consultants.
• Proactive approach to research, problem-solving, and project coordination.
• Strong multitasking, prioritization, and time-management skills.
• Ability to follow project direction while providing clear and actionable recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead and collaborate effectively in team environments.
• Comfortable working independently while coordinating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Results-oriented approach with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Skilled in preparing professional correspondence, reports, presentations, and analytical documentation.

Work Schedule

Hybrid Work Arrangement: