Project Planning and Controls Specialist (Active DOE Q Clearance Required)

Akima, LLC; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Akima Infrastructure Services (AIS) seeks a proactive Project Planning and Controls Specialist to join the MESA team, partnering with technical leads and the business group to develop and manage cost plans and schedules for complex programs.

The hybrid role requires coordination with project managers and leaders, with a focus on variance analysis, informed decision-making, and timely project execution near Albuquerque, NM.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Project Management, Accounting, Finance or relevant discipline plus five years of relevant experience or equivalent combination
• Knowledge of Nuclear Weapons Product Realization Process (Systems and components)
• Experience in schedule development and maintenance including building and updating project timelines, tracking milestones and deliverables, using Primavera P6
• Experience to resource load to enable accurate allocation and leveling of resources, ensuring realistic schedules, cost control, risk mitigation, and effective project execution
• Experience with Earned Value Management principles
• Active DOE Q clearance

Responsibilities

• Analyze, prepare, validate, and maintain cost estimates, baseline budgets, work package agreements, and monthly cost variance reports
• Provide detailed analysis and reporting of project status within an established system of project controls
• Analyze forecasts to identify issues and enable timely project responses and solutions
• Collaborate with project leads to execute schedule development, monitoring, and integrated change control
• Advise project managers and stakeholders to influence decisions on work breakdown structure, schedule, and budget/cost

Skills

Schedule development

Resource loading

Earned Value Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

AIS is looking for a proactive and skilled Project Planning and Controls Specialist to join the Microsystems Engineering, Science, and Applications (MESA) Project Planning and Controls team. The selected candidate will collaborate closely with technical leads, managers, and the business team to develop and manage cost plans and schedules. This role requires partnering with technical leads who rely on the business team for insightful and relevant variance analysis. The successful candidate will leverage strong communication skills to effectively influence and guide technical leads in making informed project decisions.

This Hybrid position requires that you live within commuting distance from Albuquerque, NM.

Responsibilities

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Analyze, prepare, validate, and maintain cost estimates, detail baseline budgets, work package agreements, and monthly cost variance reports.
• Provide detailed analysis and reporting of project status within an established system of project controls.
• Analyze forecasts to identify issues before they become problems, enabling projects to react timely and develop appropriate solutions.
• Work with the project technical leads and project manager to execute project schedule development, project monitoring and control, and integrated change control.
• Partner with project managers, technical leads, and managers to make recommendations to influence key decision makers within the scope of project controls (work breakdown structure, schedule, and budget / cost).
• Understand the scope of work sufficiently to build and status schedules, generate budget profiles, and support project teams.
• Estimate at Completion (EAC) development by utilizing a variety of project controls tools.
• Analyze, compile, and present project specific data from a variety of sources to meet on-demand needs.
• Research, assemble, and evaluate project information or data and recommend sound, practical solutions to project issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Project Management, Accounting, Finance or relevant discipline plus five (5) years of relevant experience or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience
• Knowledge of the Nuclear Weapons Product Realization Process (Systems and components)
• Experience in schedule development and maintenance including building and updating project timelines, tracking milestones and deliverables, and using Primavera P6.
• Experience to resource load to enable accurate allocation and leveling of resources, ensuring realistic schedules, cost control, risk mitigation, and effective project execution.
• Experience with Earned Value Management principles
• Active DOE Q clearance

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in collaborating with stakeholders to provide solutions and deliver actionable insights to technical leadership through cost and schedule analysis.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage workload efficiently while meeting tight deadlines and adapting to changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of clearly explaining complex information.
• Strong commitment to gaining a thorough understanding of the program’s technical scope.
• Ability to perform and succeed in a fast-paced, dynamic, and ambiguous environment.

Physical Demands:

• If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sub‑contractor you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.
• If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on‑site interview at Sub‑contractor, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

"This position is contingent upon contract award and funding. Applicants selected may be offered but cannot begin work until funding has been confirmed."

Job ID

2026-25512

Work Type

Hybrid

Company Description

Work Where it Matters

Akima Infrastructure Services (AIS), an Akima company, is not just another staffing contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At AIS, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, AIS provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, AIS supports vital missions with the most in-demand and specialized skill sets in the world.

As an AIS employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.