Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho, Las Vegas, Nevada and/or Knoxville, TN
Title: Project Controls Engineer Construction Business Line
Schedule (FT/PT): Regular Full Time
Travel Required: Yes (0-25%)
Government Clearance: Ability to Obtain
For over 25 years, North Wind Group (North Wind) and its subsidiary companies have been influencing the future of, and aiming to be the nationwide small business leader in, the engineering, environmental, construction, IT/cyber, facility operations, and professional service industries. North Wind allows its employees to develop creative and practical solutions to complex problems, while accomplishing its mission of delivering quality results safely, on time, and on budget, for every project. Our mission is accomplished through forward-thinking, advanced technology services, and our cultivation of a diverse and inclusive workplace.
North Wind recognizes our biggest asset is our employees. Our success is a direct result of the hard work, skills, expertise, and unique perspectives and talents that each of our employees bring to North Wind. We are looking for exceptionally talented, motivated, and dynamic individuals to join the North Wind team – not only to support our mission but be an integral part of our continued success.
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Project Controls Engineer plays a key role in coordinating the daily planning, scheduling, cost management, and performance tracking activities for construction projects, maintaining a strong and consistent presence in the field. Working closely with construction teams, this role develops, updates, and analyzes project schedules and cost data to accurately reflect real-time site conditions and progress.
By integrating field performance, cost trends, and project risks, the Project Controls Engineer delivers reliable forecasting, productivity insights, and performance analysis that support timely, informed decision-making. The role partners directly with superintendents, project managers, and craft teams to ensure alignment between installed work, schedule advancement, and budget expectations—ultimately driving efficient, predictable, and successful project execution.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Scheduling, Cost Planning & Budgeting
- Develop and maintain integrated project schedules using tools such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.
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Assist in creating Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) with project scope and deliverables.
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Define logical sequencing of activities, durations, and resource requirements
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Support the development and validation of construction budgets ensuring alignment between estimate, scope, contracts, and schedule
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Establish and maintain the project Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) aligned with WBS and schedule
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Assist in developing cost-loaded schedules in coordination with planning/scheduling team
Cost Control & Forecasting
- Monitor and control project costs including labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracts
- Track commitments (POs, subcontracts) and actual expenditures against budget
- Work closely with field teams to validate installed quantities and progress
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Prepare cost forecasts, estimate-at-completion (EAC) projections and performing monthly project fee analyses
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Assist in earned value management (EVM) analysis and reporting.
Performance Monitoring & Reporting
- Analyze critical path activities and schedule variances and provide corrective action recommendations
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Perform schedule updates based on progress, changes, and field input, and validate logic and durations.
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Track and measure project performance (schedule and cost) against baseline schedules.
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Monitor project performance metrics (schedule variance, cost variance, productivity).
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Develop and maintain Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC)
- Perform earned value analysis (CPI, SPI, productivity trends) where applicable
- Identify cost variances, trends, and potential overruns/underruns
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Communicate key cost drivers, variances, and risks to project leadership
- Conduct what-if and scenario analysis to support decision-making
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Ensure reporting aligns with organizational standards and requirements
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Identify trends, deviations, and potential risks affecting project success.
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Provide actionable recommendations to improve performance.
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Produce regular reports, dashboards, and presentations for project stakeholders.
Change Management & Claims Support
- Evaluate the impact of scope changes, delays, and disruptions on cost and schedule.
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Support time impact analyses (TIA) and cost impact assessments.
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Assist in preparation of change orders, claims, and supporting documentation.
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Evaluate and quantify cost impacts of scope changes and project risks
- Maintain change logs and integrate changes into forecasts
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Maintain schedule revisions and audit trails.
Risk and Contingency Management
- Participate in risk identification, assessment, and mitigation planning.
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Conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses (“what-if” modeling).
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Monitor risk triggers and support contingency management.
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Track contingency usage and provide justification for drawdowns
Coordination & Collaboration
- Work with project managers, engineers, construction teams, and subcontractors to collect and validate data.
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Participate in project meetings (progress reviews, planning sessions, risk meetings).
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Ensure alignment between engineering, procurement, construction, and project controls data.
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Compile necessary backup for invoicing including project SOVs - Ensure that invoices are tracked, confirmed, and handed off to Accounting properly.
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Manage cash calls and forecasts to/from Finance including revenue recognition on projects.
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Manage contract administration activities as it pertains to change control on projects.
Compliance & Standards
- Ensure adherence to company project controls standards and client requirements.
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Maintain accurate documentation and audit trails.
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Support compliance with contractual reporting requirements and industry best practices.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Provide other administrative procedures to projects as required.
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Assist Project Managers in effectively and proactively managing projects to ensure project success.
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Responsible for the development, maintenance, monitoring, and execution of complex project performance baseline.
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Responsible for the development, monitoring, and updates to project budgets.
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Responsible for the cost modeling / cost analysis to determine health of the projects.
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Responsible for identifying impacts and assisting with development of recovery plan activities.
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Assist Project Managers with development of project charge numbers, schedule of values, and resource allocation for project execution.
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Assist the project team in progress tracking and reporting.
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Assist in the development of RFPs for subcontractors and ensure subcontractor schedules are incorporated into project schedule.
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Support PMs in managing procurement actions.
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Development of requirements for monthly schedule updates, I.E., building metrics to ensure accurate status is taken on project schedules.
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Monitoring schedule weekly, updating with status, identifying critical activities, producing 3-week, 30-day, 60- day look ahead schedules.
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Review of earned value metrics and perform forward-looking analysis to verify fee projections and identification of cost trends for project management attention.
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Determine reason for schedule, cost, and funding variance based on project controls threshold and prepare variance statements for review with project managers
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, or related field.
- 10-12+ years of experience in project controls, construction management, or engineering environments (level dependent).
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Experience supporting large-scale construction or capital projects >$10M or $15M preferred
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Experience in EPC, heavy civil, industrial, or infrastructure projects strongly preferred.
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Minimum 10 years' Experience in the preparation of cost estimates to completion utilizing bottoms up ETC analysis and forecasting utilizing other PMI approved methods.
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Minimum 10 years' demonstrated experience and working understanding of project planning and scheduling, cost control, risk analysis and cost estimating and EVMS.
- Minimum 10 years' experience with Primavera P6 scheduling software.
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Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of schedule spec requirements for DOE, USACE and NAVFAC projects.
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Knowledge of construction processes and project lifecycles.
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Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of joint-venture projects
Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work independently and trouble shoot knowledge gaps. Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team, make decisions, and exercise good judgement.
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Self-motivation for proactive growth in application of the software to essential job duties.
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Ability to interpret and perform analysis of cost and schedule reports, data, and trends.
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Strong aptitude for research. Motivation for self-starting and ask valuable questions. Ability to see the full project picture and anticipate WBS need to capture possible changes on the project throughout the lifecycle of the project. Strong planning skills.
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Strong time management skills and organization with emphasis on meeting deadlines for deliverables. Ability to prioritize and reprioritize tasks based on urgency.
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Strong analytical skills and attention to detail. Mastery of earned value concepts.
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Ability to think creatively and identify potential issues. Strong foresight with association of risks on projects. Ability to initiate and maintain clear communication about sensitive topics including project performance and elevate to leadership areas for concern.
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Strong understanding of performance and forecasts of remaining work based on that performance. Ability to read and interpret earned value metrics and advocate for accurate forecasting, adherence to company policies and procedures and elevate to leadership areas for concern.
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Strong understanding of company needs for cash flow as well as project set up for solid earned value tracking throughout life of project.
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Knowledge of project controls support needs for various types of contracts, ability to analyze RFP to assist estimating in forecasting PCE support needs to project. Experience supporting many different types of projects with many different types of scope. Assists proposal scheduler and estimating team in development of WBS for proposal pricing.
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Clearly demonstrated strong technical competence in all Microsoft software with strong aptitude in Excel
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Ability to work within a diverse cultural environment.
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Strong understanding of project planned scope for subcontractors and how that scope is built into the project schedule. Proficiency in timely review of PO requests and willingness to challenge misalignment in invoiced amounts against completed scope.
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Strong understanding of schedule logic and types of impacts to critical path. Ability to demonstrate through windows analysis and narrative for TIA backup for requests for additional time on projects.
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Demonstrated interpersonal/teambuilding skills. Desire to help others and supports growth of team members. Strong desire to continue learning throughout career. Ability and desire to learn new tasks regularly.
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Strong process improvement skills. Identifies and leads project controls initiatives for process improvement.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills.
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Demonstrates work efficiency on project controls tasks above that of junior and mid-level staff
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
This position is a sedentary role. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be sitting for long periods of time but will also be required to stand, walk, and communicate with others.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Standard indoor office and periodic field / outdoor environment in both summer and winter conditions. Occasional exposure to moving equipment and noise levels associated with typical field activities.
SPECIAL REQUIREMEMTS:
- Must have a valid state driver's license / REAL ID ACT compliant documentation at time of hire.
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Must pass background check/pre-employment drug screen and nothing on record that would prohibit applicant from gaining access to military installations.
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Ability to work overtime and/or occasional evenings / weekends as needed to meet proposal or project deadlines.
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Travel required for at least 25% of the time depending on functional group training, project, or business line needs.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people! For more information about our benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline +1.208.528.8718 or use the Request for Reasonable Accommodation (https://northwindgrp.com/careers/request-for-reasonable-accommodation-confidential/) form to get assistance.
North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Proof of citizenship will be required as a condition of employment.
Candidates may be required to obtain and hold a Secret or Higher US Government Clearance.
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees, and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information NW collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed here: https://northwindgrp.com/wp-com (https://northwindgrp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/HRP-5047-California-Privacy-Policy.pdf) .
