Senior Cost Engineer

Job Title

Salary range is $81k to $186k with a midpoint of $133k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market. Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including: Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner. Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance. Employee Assistance Program. Retirement Plans: 401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution). Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year. Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents. Pet Insurance discount. ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost. Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses. Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services. Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues. This is an opportunity for two positions at our agency - one regular full-time position and one term-limited position for 5 years.

General Purpose

Under general direction, performs professional senior level technical expertise in preparing total construction cost estimates at different stages of project design, from preliminary through final design document development; ensures the full integration of scope, schedule, costs, risk, and resources; establishes budgets and engineer estimates for construction of large-scale transit projects; performs cost impact analysis related to the project/contract potential and/or directed change orders and for comparison with cost trending analysis; tracks and recommends pricing thresholds to the project team and senior management; maintains cost database based on historical and current market prices; monitors consultant construction management (CM) and construction contractor progress and cost changes to ensure projects adhere to project control policies and procedures and are completed on time and within budget; develops project risk assessment, conducts construction risk analysis and risk mitigation, and cost contingencies analysis; develops and implements standards for the preparation of cost estimates for change order/contract amendment negotiations; interacts, shares knowledge, and negotiates across organizational boundaries with other Agency departments and local, state and federal agencies/jurisdictions and with business partners such as local transit agencies; partners closely with Project Delivery Teams, project controls staff, and leadership to support informed project decision-making; and provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to Director of Scheduling, Cost Estimating, Risk and VE, and the Executive Director of Transformation.

Essential Functions

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties. Manages multiple estimating assignments concurrently and provides assistance to Project Controls Managers for tracking review/development by staff. Prepares total cost estimates using preliminary design criteria and narrative information; and documents estimate assumptions, exclusions, qualifications, and conditions. Prepares detailed total cost estimates based on 30% to 100% complete design drawings and specifications including total project estimate compilation, cost estimate presentation and reporting, supporting documentation, and assumption and basis of the estimates. Prepares detailed independent cost estimates (ICE) for construction changes for all work category disciplines. Coordinates with design groups, site construction manager and visits jobsites to determine actual change conditions and confirms scope as required. Prepares cost impact analysis related to the contract potential and/or directed change orders, and for comparison with cost trending analysis, and tracking. Recommends pricing thresholds to the project team and senior management. Prepares cost estimates for funding agreements (BCE) and conversion of cost estimates to the required Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formats for funding and grant request submittals. Reviews and analyzes consultant estimates, from preliminary engineering through final design; at final submittal, adjusts consultant estimate to add addendum changes, cost escalation, contingencies and provisional sum costs for risk impacts; issues as engineer estimate at bid; integrates cost estimates with the schedule to build stronger cost and schedule models, and expands their use from design to also monitor the construction projects ; supports estimate reconciliation and estimate validation workshops with consultants and project stakeholders. Attends meetings with design groups, cost consultants, third parties, ST project and construction management, consultant construction management and contractors to determine scope and discuss costs for various projects and to resolve scope and costs for proposed changes; facilitates alignment between project controls, design, construction, and commercial teams regarding cost assumptions and project impacts. Monitors current construction market prices and develops and maintains historical cost database; and continually maintains database based on current market prices. Develops project risk assessment; conducts construction risk analysis, risk mitigation, and cost contingencies analysis using risk analysis and simulation tools such as @Risk or Crystal Ball; supports quantitative risk analysis (QRA) and contingency development processes. Develops and implements standards for the preparation of cost (check) independent cost estimates for change order and contract amendment negotiations; assists the project controls manager with other cost estimating, risk assessments and risk mitigation as required. Provides support to the Director of Scheduling, Cost Estimating, Risk and VE, and the Executive Director of Transformation and others on matters as directed. Serves as staff on a variety of committees as assigned; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence; attends and participates in professional group meetings. Maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment. Incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively. Ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations. Mentors junior staff and consultants in cost engineering principles, estimating practices, and project controls procedures. Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency. Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy. It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees. It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or closely related field. Five years of experience in developing project and construction cost estimates on major public capital projects that includes risk assessment, project control, and cost database development and reporting, preferably in major light rail projects or similar; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Preferred Licenses or Certifications: Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) by AACEI or other nationally recognized certifications. Required Knowledge and Skills: Advanced knowledge of estimating strategies and techniques, including conceptual, parametric, and detailed estimating methodologies. Thorough understanding of construction, contracts and terminology. Design criteria for light rail projects, project documents and all discipline design drawings and specifications, including civil, structural, architectural, systems, and utilities disciplines. Construction with field and bid experience in construction methods, labor productivities, work processes, equipment types/usage, scheduling of work activities, judgment related to incidental cost impacts, owner/general contractor/subcontractor contract relationships and claim analysis. Advanced construction cost estimating principles, escalation methodologies, contingency development, and cost benchmarking techniques. Resources used for cost estimates including labor/prevailing wage rates, equipment costs based on industry-standard cost databases and estimating resources, productivity information, material pricing, subcontractor pricing, and market trend analysis. Principles and practices of project controls integration, including coordination between scope, schedule, cost, risk, and change management functions. Contractual terms and conditions. Advanced methods and techniques of statistical and financial analysis and financial concepts. Computer and project controls/project management and estimating software skills. Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. Techniques to work effectively under pressure, meet deadlines, and adjust to changing priorities. Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation. English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases. Supervising/leading and evaluating work carried out by staff and consultants. Highly skilled communicator with the ability to form and maintain good relationships internally and externally. Proven management skills with the ability to optimize team performance and development, including coordination of consultants and cross-functional project teams. Highly developed analytical skills Strong technical mindset and able to read and interpret technical data and translate to others Highly numerate with the ability to research, assemble, manage and manipulate numerical information Results oriented and organized with the ability to plan and deliver against deadlines. Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups and the general public. Developing, implementing, interpreting and administering policies and procedures sufficient to administer, discuss, resolve, and explain