Job Description

Position: Cost Engineer

Location: Brentwood, TN (ONSITE & Local Candidates ONLY)

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM (40-hour work week)

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire

Role Summary

PTS is seeking a self-motivated and detail-oriented Cost Engineer to join our Project Controls team. This role is responsible for timely and accurate project cost forecasting and reporting across a dynamic portfolio of capital projects, primarily in midstream and semi-construction environments. You will take full ownership of cost control processes, working in close coordination with small, focused teams including planning, scheduling, and construction stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and has strong communication and organizational skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain rigorous cost control over all project-related activities in strict alignment with approved budgets.
• Partner closely with planning and scheduling SMEs to balance cost and schedule in both project and portfolio management.
• Develop budget forecasts, track costs, monitor trends, and prepare estimates to complete (ETCs) and cost reporting.
• Collaborate with the Project Controls team to deliver weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly project status updates.
• Prepare and issue Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) requests approximately 3–4 weeks in advance of funding needs.
• Ensure AFE spend plans accurately support funding justifications.
• Track, validate, and process service/labor costs in SAP; coordinate with Cost Analysts on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.
• Generate detailed and summary-level financial reports for individual project components and consolidated portfolios.
• Provide expert-level cost engineering support to the Director and Manager of Project Controls.
• Analyze cost data to identify variances and escalate with proposed corrective actions.
• Lead or support project meetings with a focus on cost forecasts, contract allowances, risk tracking, contingency, and scheduled values.
• Support development and ongoing refinement of project Work Breakdown Structures (WBS).
• Communicate with vendors to resolve financial issues related to cost and invoicing.
• Respond to information requests from project and construction management teams.
• Conduct periodic site visits to validate reported cost data.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree (Engineering, Finance, Business, Project Management, or Construction Management preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project controls including cost engineering, estimating, or planning/scheduling.
• Strong working knowledge of SAP , ERP systems , and midstream/downstream industry practices.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in MS Excel and other Microsoft Office programs.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to small team environments.
• Demonstrated initiative and a sense of ownership over work deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in two or more areas of project controls: cost engineering, estimating, planning, scheduling.
• Proven success supporting large capital projects ($50M+) during development and execution phases.
• Familiarity with engineering deliverables, quantity takeoffs, and financial reporting.
• Understanding of accounting principles and commercial terms.
• Experience with portfolio-level cost control in refining or petrochemical industries.
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits as needed.

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