Field Cost Engineer

Great opportunity for a Cost Engineer in Portland, TX with a major Oil & Gas corporation!

Field Cost Engineer

Contract Duration: 12 months (possible extension / conversion to perm)

Pay Rate Range: $59/hr - $69/hr w2

Job Summary

The Field Cost Engineer is responsible for supporting cost control, analysis, and reporting activities for complex projects with significant non-routine requirements and/or a high degree of technical complexity. This role develops cost studies, evaluates cost trends, monitors project performance, and helps establish and implement effective cost control processes and requirements.

The successful candidate will apply strong cost engineering principles, analytical skills, and field experience to identify trends, resolve cost-related challenges, and provide actionable recommendations to project management.

This position is based at the Corpus Christi Liquefaction jobsite in Portland, Texas and requires regular interaction with field engineering, construction, and project management teams in an active construction environment.

Major Responsibilities

• Establish, maintain, and monitor project budgets, change management activities, cost performance, cost variances, quantity and craft labor reporting (QURR), and other periodic cost reports.
• Prepare and present cost studies using historical data, statistical analysis, cost trends, and quantity comparisons to support project decision-making.
• Apply cost engineering principles to identify trends, analyze project performance, and develop innovative solutions to complex cost-related challenges.
• Develop and maintain unit job-hour and pricing data for assigned disciplines or specialized areas.
• Analyze cost and productivity data, identify potential issues or performance gaps, and provide recommendations for corrective action and improvement.
• Collaborate daily with field engineering, construction disciplines, and other project professionals to coordinate cost-related activities and support project execution.
• Participate actively in field construction activities, including reviewing construction progress, conducting site walkdowns, supporting safety reviews, and coordinating cost control activities.
• Identify potential cost and schedule impacts early and work with project teams to develop appropriate mitigation strategies and change management actions.
• Provide accurate, timely, and meaningful cost information to project management to support forecasting, decision-making, and overall project performance.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent with 8–10 years of relevant experience, or 12–14 years of relevant work experience in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience in cost engineering, cost control, cost analysis, or a related field, preferably within large-scale EPC or construction projects.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• General understanding of EPC contract types and Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) used on large-scale EPC projects.
• Proven experience performing, monitoring, and reviewing cost engineering functions in a field construction environment, including cost estimating, cost control, and cost analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of monitoring construction budgets at the commodity level.
• Experience analyzing craft labor productivity and developing recommendations to improve performance.
• Ability to identify potential cost and performance issues in a timely manner and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies through effective change management.
• Understanding of earning methodologies for installed quantities, including Rules of Credit.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines, coordinate cost activities, and manage assigned responsibilities independently.
• Advanced proficiency with discipline-specific software applications, including EcoSys and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong understanding of engineering and construction management principles acquired through specialized education, training, and/or practical experience.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative field environment while managing multiple priorities.

Work Environment

This is a field-based position. The successful candidate must be willing and able to work in an active construction site environment, including regularly walking construction areas, conducting site walkdowns, and interacting directly with construction and engineering personnel.