Senior Cost Engineering Specialist

STV Incorporated; Dallas, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 117,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Continuing Education Program

Professional Licensure and Society Sub

Job summary

STV Incorporated is seeking a senior Cost Engineer/Project Controls leader to manage budgets, forecasts, and EVM across large transportation and infrastructure programs. You will drive cost analyses, reporting, and risk mitigation while collaborating with project teams and executives.

You will mentor junior staff, improve forecasting models, and develop dashboards that communicate financial health and performance. A strong Excel skillset and experience with PMIS platforms are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Project Controls, or related discipline.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in cost engineering, project controls, construction management, or program controls.
• Demonstrated experience supporting large transportation, infrastructure, aviation, transit, facilities, energy, or capital improvement programs.
• Advanced experience with: Cost forecasting Budget management Earned Value Management (EVM) Cost variance analysis Change management Financial performance reporting.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including advanced financial analysis and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, maintenance, and analysis of project budgets, cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and EAC calculations.
• Monitor expenditures, commitments, accruals, and forecasts to align with budgets.
• Perform cost variance, trend, and productivity analyses to identify risks and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain CBS and reporting frameworks.
• Support financial planning, budget controls, and forecasting processes.
• Implement and maintain EVM processes and methodologies.
• Analyze CPI, SPI, and other performance indicators.
• Develop dashboards and executive-level reports communicating performance and health.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate cost overruns and improve performance.
• Evaluate change orders and scope changes for financial impact.
• Support cost impact assessments and negotiations with clients and contractors.
• Maintain change management logs and approval workflows.
• Identify project cost risks and opportunities through project lifecycle.
• Develop forecasting models and scenario analyses.
• Collaborate with controls, scheduling, and risk teams for integrated assessments.
• Present financial updates to leadership and clients.
• Mentor junior cost engineers and controls professionals.
• Contribute to standards and best practices across Project Controls.

Skills

Cost forecasting

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Budget management

Cost variance analysis

Change management

Financial performance reporting

Multitasking in fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Project Controls, or related discipline

Tools

Excel

e-Builder

Kahua

Oracle Primavera Unifier

Deltek Cobra

EcoSys

Primavera P6

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Cost Management & Forecasting Lead development, maintenance, and analysis of project budgets, cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) calculations.
• Monitor project expenditures, commitments, accruals, and forecasts to ensure alignment with approved budgets.
• Perform detailed cost variance, trend, and productivity analyses to identify project risks and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain cost breakdown structures (CBS) and reporting frameworks.
• Support project teams with financial planning, budget controls, and forecasting processes.
• Earned Value Management & Performance Reporting Implement and maintain Earned Value Management (EVM) processes and methodologies.
• Analyze Cost Performance Index (CPI), Schedule Performance Index (SPI), and other key project performance indicators.
• Develop dashboards and executive-level reporting packages that communicate project performance, trends, and financial health.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate cost overruns and improve project performance.
• Change Management & Cost Impact Analysis Evaluate change orders, contract modifications, and scope changes for financial impacts.
• Perform detailed cost impact assessments and support negotiations with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders.
• Maintain change management logs and ensure proper documentation and approval workflows.
• Support claims avoidance and dispute resolution through detailed cost analysis and documentation.
• Risk Analysis & Financial Planning Identify project cost risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support quantitative risk assessments and contingency evaluations.
• Develop scenario analyses and forecasting models to evaluate alternative project outcomes.
• Collaborate with project controls, scheduling, and risk management teams to establish integrated project performance assessments.
• Client Engagement & Leadership Serve as the primary cost engineering resource on assigned projects and programs.
• Present project financial performance updates to internal leadership and external clients.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior cost engineers and project controls professionals.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, standards development, and best practices across the Project Controls organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Project Controls, or a related discipline.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in cost engineering, project controls, construction management, or program controls.
• Demonstrated experience supporting large transportation, infrastructure, aviation, transit, facilities, energy, or capital improvement programs.
• Advanced experience with: Cost forecasting Budget management Earned Value Management (EVM) Cost variance analysis Change management Financial performance reporting.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including advanced financial analysis and reporting capabilities.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• AACE International certifications such as: Certified Cost Professional (CCP) Earned Value Professional (EVP) Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP).
• Experience with PMIS platforms such as: e-Builder Kahua Oracle Primavera Unifier Deltek Cobra EcoSys.
• Experience supporting public-sector and transportation clients.
• Familiarity with Primavera P6 and schedule-cost integration methodologies.
• Experience supporting projects valued at $100M+.

Compensation Range: $116,930.89 - $133,635.31

Benefits

• Health insurance, including an option with a Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care and Transit and Parking where applicable)
• Disability insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• 401(k) Plan
• Retirement Counseling
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (starting at 16 days)
• Paid Holidays (9 days)
• Back-Up Dependent Care (up to 10 days per year)
• Parental Leave (up to 80 hours)
• Continuing Education Program
• Professional Licensure and Society Memberships

STV is committed to paying all of its employees in a fair, equitable, and transparent manner. The listed pay range is STV’s good-faith salary estimate for this position. Please note that the final salary offered for this position may be outside of this published range based on many factors, including but not limited to geography, education, experience, and/or certifications.

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,300 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category.

STV is deeply committed to investing in its people and creating a world-class employee experience. We are passionate about mentoring, coaching and cultivating our talent because we know they are destined to become the next generation of industry leaders. We’re also committed to delivering formative career experiences – and we do that by providing challenging and unique work experiences, by mapping multiple ways to advance (beyond the traditional career ladder!) and by recognizing those who successfully chart new and exciting paths for the firm.

We value a wide range of perspectives and experiences, without regard to any factor or characteristic, regardless of whether it is a category protected by federal, state and/or local law, making them an integral part of how we work. Our approach ensures that every individual is respected, heard, and given opportunities to contribute meaningfully.

We remove barriers and create pathways for growth, embedding fairness into our daily operations.

Learn more atstvinc.com.

STV exists to make communities better through innovative solutions that connect people, places and the present to the future. Our local teams throughout the country deeply understand the needs of their communities and have the expertise to provide solutions.

We are also committed to giving back to our communities and our neighbors through volunteering and philanthropic activities; fundraising events; scholarships, internships, and mentoring; and sustainability and community improvement projects.

Learn more.

STV provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.