Cost Analyst Jobs
Cost Analyst jobs are open across manufacturing, defense, healthcare, financial services, and government contracting, from entry-level to senior and manager, with specializations in cost accounting, variance analysis, and program cost control. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Description
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal/Senior Principal Cost Estimating Analyst for our Corporate Office, located in Falls Church, Virginia. Due to the position's requirement for significant travel (up to 35%) to proposal work locations, the candidate may work remotely or from any Northrop Grumman site within the U.S., offering flexibility on work location.
The Independent Cost Evaluation (ICE) Analyst plays a critical role in collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing data to support independent cost assessments of proposal reviews. This role focuses on building credible data foundations, cost models, and uncertainty ranges to enable effective and accurate independent assessments of proposals. The ICE Analyst will work to establish consistent processes and tools across sectors, ensuring the organization has a standardized and scalable approach to independent cost evaluation activities. This is a highly collaborative role that involves coordination across multiple functions, leveraging external industry data, internal program performance metrics, and historical information to improve cost evaluation methodologies and future proposal review quality.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collect, analyze, and validate data from internal program performance, external industry sources, and historical actuals to create foundational datasets for future proposal reviews.
- Develop and maintain repositories of historical cost data and modeling inputs, ensuring data quality, accuracy, and accessibility for independent cost evaluations.
- Design, refine, and document standardized tools, frameworks, and methodologies for independent cost and risk assessment that are scalable and consistent across various sectors.
- Support independent reviews by supplying validated datasets and performing analyses that establish independent ranges of cost uncertainty.
- Perform statistical analysis on cost and performance data, developing predictive models to support robust and defensible independent evaluations.
- Contributes to the identification of key cost drivers and risk factors, ensuring these are integrated into standardized evaluation frameworks.
- Collaborate with data owners to gather relevant information and ensure alignment of shared objectives.
- Assist in the refinement of the evaluation process, identifying areas for improvement and contributing to the development of best practices for cost evaluations.
- Communicate data-driven insights, trends, and recommendations effectively in both written reports and presentations for use by review teams, management, and external stakeholders.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Demonstrates expertise in independent cost estimating, cost modeling, and financial risk assessment methodologies.
- Familiarity with external data sources, industry benchmarks, and internal program performance metrics for cost assessment purposes.
- Demonstrates a high level of expertise in data collection, statistical analysis, and cost model development, with a focus on supporting independent cost evaluations.
- Proficient in building, maintaining, and improving cost data repositories and modeling inputs.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify critical cost drivers, risk factors, and trends across large datasets.
- Demonstrates innovative thinking and an ability to develop methodologies, tools, and processes that ensure the consistency and efficiency of independent cost evaluations across sectors.
- Skilled in interpreting and visually representing complex cost data to support decision-making and independent reviews.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively articulate technical findings and data analysis in a clear and concise manner.
Impact:
The Independent Cost Evaluation Analyst plays a crucial role in supporting the broader ICE community’s ability to assess and evaluate proposal positions. Accurate and thorough independent cost estimates significantly influence resource allocation, competitive positioning, customer satisfaction, and the long-term success of the company.
This role can be filled at a Principal or Senior Principal level, depending on the years of experience candidates bring to our screening and evaluation process.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Independent Cost Evaluation Analyst
BS Degree in Business, Engineering or a similar field and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience. (Masters degree and 3 years of relevant experience. )
Basic Qualifications for a Senior Principal Independent Cost Evaluation Analyst
- BS Degree in Business, Engineering or a similar field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience. (Master's degree and 5 years of relevant experience.)
Remaining Qualifications for Both Levels:
- Demonstrated experience in business management cost modeling and government contracts.
- Ability to travel up to 35% of the time to required sites for reviews.
- An active DoD Secret Clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Clearance within a reasonable amount of time following hire.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Business, Engineering or similar field from an accredited institution.
- Cross-sector experience is highly desirable.
- Experience in the aerospace industry.
- Active or transferable Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
Cost Analyst Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Cost Analyst JobsCost Analyst Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Northrop Grumman87

- Raytheon19

- Augmentis13A
- Tecolote Research10

- Booz Allen Hamilton6

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services17
- Technology & Software9
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals8
- Manufacturing6
- Construction & Real Estate6
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in cost analyst jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related quantitative field
- Proficiency in cost accounting methods including standard costing and variance analysis
- Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or Deltek Costpoint
- Advanced Excel skills including financial modeling and data analysis
- Knowledge of FAR, DCAA, or government contracting cost principles preferred for defense roles
- CPA, CMA, or CCEA certification preferred for mid-level and senior positions
Tips for Your Cost Analyst Job Search
Quantify variance findings on your resume
Cost analyst resumes that land interviews show specific variance results you identified and what corrective action followed. Avoid vague phrases like 'supported cost reduction.' Write what you found, how much it was off, and what changed because of your analysis.
Highlight ERP and cost accounting software
Recruiters filter cost analyst applicants by system experience. Call out SAP, Oracle, Costpoint, or Hyperion by name in your skills section. If you've built cost models in Excel, note whether they used Power Query, pivot tables, or macro automation.
Target openings by contract type or industry
Cost analyst roles in government contracting require FAR and DCAA compliance knowledge, while manufacturing roles lean on standard costing and BOM analysis. Applying to roles that match your industry background dramatically improves your callback rate.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists cost analyst openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare to walk through a cost build in interviews
Cost analyst interviews often include a live or take-home exercise where you build or review a cost model. Practice explaining your assumptions out loud, especially how you handle overhead allocation, escalation rates, and data gaps, before your first interview.
Negotiate using total compensation, not base alone
Cost analyst offers often include performance bonuses tied to savings targets or project outcomes. Before you respond to an offer, confirm whether the bonus is discretionary or formula-based and ask how it has paid out in recent years.
Cost Analyst Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most cost analysts?
The companies hiring the most cost analysts right now include Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Augmentis, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Defense contractors, large manufacturers, and healthcare systems consistently maintain the highest volume of cost analyst openings.
How many cost analyst jobs are remote?
About 42% of cost analyst openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, though availability varies by industry and employer. Cost analysts working in financial planning, budgeting, and software-based cost modeling tend to have the most remote flexibility, while those supporting manufacturing plants or government contract sites are more likely to be on-site.
How do you become a cost analyst?
You become a cost analyst by earning a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, then building hands-on experience with cost accounting, budgeting, or financial analysis in an entry-level role. Learning ERP systems and Excel modeling strengthens your candidacy. Pursuing a CMA or CPA credential opens paths to senior positions in manufacturing, defense, and corporate finance.
Can you get hired as a cost analyst without direct experience?
Yes, you can get hired as a cost analyst without direct experience if you can demonstrate adjacent skills from accounting, auditing, financial analysis, or supply chain roles. Employers hiring junior cost analysts look for familiarity with variance analysis, cost allocation concepts, and Excel. Internships, coursework in managerial accounting, and any exposure to ERP data entry all strengthen an entry-level application.
What does the cost analyst interview process look like?
The cost analyst interview process typically involves an initial phone screen with a recruiter, followed by a technical interview where you walk through your experience with cost models, variance analysis, and systems. Many employers include a case study or take-home exercise requiring you to analyze a cost dataset or build a simple model. A final round with a finance manager or controller is common before an offer.
Where can I find and apply to cost analyst jobs?
You can find and apply to cost analyst jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, industry background, and location preferences, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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