Lead Cost Engineer

The Lead Cost Engineer role is a senior position within the Project Services organization supporting a major capital power project. The role is responsible for establishing, managing, and reporting the project’s cost position across all phases of execution. This individual will lead cost engineering activities including cost control, forecasting, earned value management, and support change management. The Lead Cost Engineer will work closely with Project Management, Scheduling, Procurement, and Construction teams to ensure full integration of cost with project execution. The role requires an experienced professional capable of operating within a complex EPC/EPCm environment, managing multiple stakeholders, and providing clear, accurate, and timely cost visibility to both internal and client leadership teams. This position will be based out of the Nexus Cleveland Office with up to 25% travel to Akron, OH.

Responsibilities

Manage the total installed cost (TIC) position for the project; Ensure project cost performance aligns with client expectations and Nexus standards; Lead the development and maintenance of the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS); Establish and manage project cost baselines, budgets, and forecasting processes; Provide clear and timely reporting of cost performance; Lead earned value management implementation; Ensure procurement commitments, subcontract costs, and vendor forecasts are accurately reflected; Support governance processes; Drive integration between cost, schedule, procurement, engineering, and construction teams; Develop and maintain cost control systems; Lead cost reporting cycles; Perform variance analysis; Implement and manage earned value metrics including CPI, SPI, and EAC; Maintain the project trend log; Support change orders and claims; Track procurement commitments and subcontractor cost exposure; Develop project cash flow forecasts; Ensure alignment between cost reporting and schedule progress; Interface with client representatives; Support system setup and integration with ERP and project controls tools

Requirements

10–15 years of cost engineering or project controls experience; Proven experience on large capital projects ($500MM–$2B+) within EPC or EPCm environments; Strong experience implementing and managing earned value management systems; Experience working across engineering, procurement, and construction phases of projects; Demonstrated experience managing cost on complex, multi-contractor projects; Experience supporting change management, claims, and commercial discussions; Strong understanding of project controls systems, cost management tools, and ERP integrations; Excellent communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership and clients; Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, or a related field (required); Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States and must be able to maintain that authorization throughout employment without any action, filing, or sponsorship by the company

Nice to have

Professional certifications such as CCP (Certified Cost Professional)