Cost Engineer

Cost Engineer

This Cost Engineer role sits within the Project Controls group and focuses on cost estimating, cost control, and financial analysis for construction and related projects. You will support project teams by developing, monitoring, and optimizing project budgets, purchasing activities, and change orders to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Project Controls group to develop, maintain, and track project cost estimates and budgets for large and small projects.
• Perform detailed cost analysis to support decision-making and ensure accurate forecasting of project expenditures.
• Support purchasing activities by reviewing, analyzing, and validating costs associated with materials, services, and contracts.
• Monitor and control project costs throughout the project lifecycle, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.
• Manage and track change orders, assessing cost and schedule impacts and updating project budgets accordingly.
• Collaborate with project teams in corporate and plant locations to provide cost-related insights and reporting.
• Utilize project controls tools such as Ecosys and Power BI to create dashboards, reports, and visualizations that communicate cost performance.
• Prepare and present cost reports and summaries to stakeholders, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and transparency.
• Support continuous improvement of project controls processes and cost control methodologies.
• Work independently as a self-starter, quickly integrating into the team and contributing from day one.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Project Controls, with a focus on cost engineering, cost estimating, and cost control.
• Proven experience managing both large and small projects, including budgeting, tracking, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of project controls practices in construction or similar project environments.
• Hands-on experience with purchasing processes and cost analysis related to materials and services.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets, monitor costs, and handle change orders effectively.
• Proficiency in using Ecosys for project controls and cost management.
• Proficiency in Power BI for data analysis, reporting, and visualization of cost and project performance.
• Ability to work as a self-starter, quickly understand project requirements, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail and accuracy in financial and cost data.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with project teams and present cost information clearly.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Turnaround (TA) project experience is a plus but not required.
• Positive client feedback and a track record of strong performance in prior roles.
• Ability to "hit the ground running" in a fast-paced project environment.
• Familiarity with construction industry practices and terminology related to project controls and cost engineering.

Work Environment

This role supports project controls and cost functions from either a corporate office in Wichita or from plant locations in Minnesota or Texas. You will work closely with project teams in an office and plant-based environment, using tools such as Ecosys and Power BI to manage and report on project costs. The work setting is professional and collaborative, with a focus on supporting multiple projects and stakeholders across different sites.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Rosemount, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $60.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Rosemount, MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 25, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.