Mid Level Cost Engineer Jobs
Mid level cost engineer jobs go to professionals ready to own project budgets end to end, mentor junior engineers, and deliver cost analyses with limited oversight. Roles are concentrated across Construction & Real Estate, Manufacturing, and Technology & Software, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote positions, and employers like Clayco, Amazon, and Turner & Townsend hiring at this level now.
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Job description
Cost Engineer
Foster CM Group, Inc.
Location: Austin, TX (Regional Project Office / Field Settings)
Position Type: Full-time
About Foster CM Group
Founded in 1992, Foster CM Group, Inc. has over 30 years of history delivering premier program management, construction management, and project controls engineering services. We act strictly as the owner’s representative and capital advocate across highly regulated public and private market sectors, including Aviation, Education (K–12 Bond Delivery), Transportation, Government Civil Infrastructures, Healthcare, and Water/Wastewater programs.
Position Summary
The Cost Engineer coordinates directly with Project Leads, Schedulers, and Contractor Project Managers to safeguard project-level financial baselines. Operating on high-value portfolios, this professional establishes cost governance controls, reviews and mitigates change-order impacts, manages Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), and delivers predictive cost analytics to protect public and private capital outlays.
Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions
1. Cost Modeling, Budgeting, & Baseline Management
- Structure Integration: Develop and implement project-level Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) to align design elements with construction budget mandates.
- Expenditure Architecture: Maintain comprehensive cost-tracking systems to log active commitments, actual field expenditures, incurred labor burn rates, and financial accruals.
- Predictive Forecasting: Run routine multi-year cash flow forecast models and analyze budget trends to flag potential programmatic overruns or resource misallocations.
2. Change-Order Governance & Contract Auditing
- Independent Cost Estimates (ICE): Perform bottom-up cost modeling, structural takeoffs, and validation models for contract adjustments and variation claims.
- Entitlement Auditing: Evaluate general contractor change-order submittals against contractual agreements, blueprint specifications, and baseline logs to mitigate cost inflation.
- Bid Leveling Support: Audit and grade contractor commercial proposals, contract pricing variables, and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) layers prior to contract award.
Progress Verification & Stakeholder Controls
- Invoice Diagnostics: Audit, verify, and process general contractor payment applications, invoice submittals, and continuation sheets for compliance.
- Schedule Synchronization: Partner with Scheduler Leads to analyze how time extensions, critical path constraints, or project delays impact cost models.
- Executive Transparency: Translate complex project controls variables into executive-ready variance dashboards, cost metrics logbooks, and senior leadership reporting.
Performance Profile & Qualifications
Minimum Required Parameters:
- Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or technical degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Financial Engineering, or a highly related discipline.
- Experience Tier: 3 to 6+ years of progressive construction controls, structural estimation, or dedicated project accounting exposure.
- Software Competency: Elite proficiency in enterprise-grade data management, cost tools, and analytics dashboards (e.g., advanced MS Excel formulas, Power BI metrics tracking, SAP modules, Primavera 6 or cost-loaded critical path scheduling platforms).
- Sector Familiarity: Background navigating public sector procurement rules, municipal agency guidelines, or public-voted bond frameworks is highly preferred.
Other Operational Requirements:
- Schedule Flexibility: May be required to work protracted, irregular hours to meet specific project closeouts or client board schedules.
- Compliance Auditing: Employment offers are strictly contingent upon passing mandatory secure background checks, including SSN validation, criminal history screening, and credential verification.
The Cost Engineer will support project financial performance by developing accurate estimates and budgets, tracking costs, integrating cost data with project schedules, and assessing financial risks. Reporting to the Project Manager, this role will use Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, SAP, and Oracle Primavera Unifier, with occasional site visits.
Responsibilities
- Prepare project cost estimates.
- Develop and maintain project budgets.
- Track project costs and performance.
- Prepare cost reports for project stakeholders.
- Integrate cost data with project schedules.
- Assess cost and schedule risks.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in cost engineering.
Foster CM Group Benefits (benefit package which includes both employer and employee paid plans):
- Medical Insurance to include HSA and FSA benefits
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Prescription Drug
- Telehealth Benefits
- Life Insurance
- STD paid by the Company
- LTD paid by the Company
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 401 (K) with Company Match
- Vacation
- Holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Financial Wellness
- Pet Insurance
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving machinery & mechanical parts, uneven ground, exposure to dust, gas or fumes, exposure to loud noise, and outside weather conditions.
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Intermittent unassisted sitting, walking, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting, stooping, crawling, pushing and lifting is required. Must be able to walk and/or stand for prolonged periods of time for at least eight hours per day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move light equipment up to 50 pounds without assistance. Must be alert to equipment in the field, occasional need to work near hazardous equipment and machinery, ability to walk on uneven ground while physically maneuvering construction sites, ability to work in extreme temperatures or humidity, and potentially work at heights.
Foster CM Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This means that Foster CM Group does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex (gender), age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or sexual orientation. All individuals are encouraged to apply and compete for jobs.
Job description
Cost Engineer
Foster CM Group, Inc.
Location: Austin, TX (Regional Project Office / Field Settings)
Position Type: Full-time
About Foster CM Group
Founded in 1992, Foster CM Group, Inc. has over 30 years of history delivering premier program management, construction management, and project controls engineering services. We act strictly as the owner’s representative and capital advocate across highly regulated public and private market sectors, including Aviation, Education (K–12 Bond Delivery), Transportation, Government Civil Infrastructures, Healthcare, and Water/Wastewater programs.
Position Summary
The Cost Engineer coordinates directly with Project Leads, Schedulers, and Contractor Project Managers to safeguard project-level financial baselines. Operating on high-value portfolios, this professional establishes cost governance controls, reviews and mitigates change-order impacts, manages Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), and delivers predictive cost analytics to protect public and private capital outlays.
Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions
1. Cost Modeling, Budgeting, & Baseline Management
- Structure Integration: Develop and implement project-level Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) to align design elements with construction budget mandates.
- Expenditure Architecture: Maintain comprehensive cost-tracking systems to log active commitments, actual field expenditures, incurred labor burn rates, and financial accruals.
- Predictive Forecasting: Run routine multi-year cash flow forecast models and analyze budget trends to flag potential programmatic overruns or resource misallocations.
2. Change-Order Governance & Contract Auditing
- Independent Cost Estimates (ICE): Perform bottom-up cost modeling, structural takeoffs, and validation models for contract adjustments and variation claims.
- Entitlement Auditing: Evaluate general contractor change-order submittals against contractual agreements, blueprint specifications, and baseline logs to mitigate cost inflation.
- Bid Leveling Support: Audit and grade contractor commercial proposals, contract pricing variables, and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) layers prior to contract award.
Progress Verification & Stakeholder Controls
- Invoice Diagnostics: Audit, verify, and process general contractor payment applications, invoice submittals, and continuation sheets for compliance.
- Schedule Synchronization: Partner with Scheduler Leads to analyze how time extensions, critical path constraints, or project delays impact cost models.
- Executive Transparency: Translate complex project controls variables into executive-ready variance dashboards, cost metrics logbooks, and senior leadership reporting.
Performance Profile & Qualifications
Minimum Required Parameters:
- Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or technical degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Financial Engineering, or a highly related discipline.
- Experience Tier: 3 to 6+ years of progressive construction controls, structural estimation, or dedicated project accounting exposure.
- Software Competency: Elite proficiency in enterprise-grade data management, cost tools, and analytics dashboards (e.g., advanced MS Excel formulas, Power BI metrics tracking, SAP modules, Primavera 6 or cost-loaded critical path scheduling platforms).
- Sector Familiarity: Background navigating public sector procurement rules, municipal agency guidelines, or public-voted bond frameworks is highly preferred.
Other Operational Requirements:
- Schedule Flexibility: May be required to work protracted, irregular hours to meet specific project closeouts or client board schedules.
- Compliance Auditing: Employment offers are strictly contingent upon passing mandatory secure background checks, including SSN validation, criminal history screening, and credential verification.
The Cost Engineer will support project financial performance by developing accurate estimates and budgets, tracking costs, integrating cost data with project schedules, and assessing financial risks. Reporting to the Project Manager, this role will use Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, SAP, and Oracle Primavera Unifier, with occasional site visits.
Responsibilities
- Prepare project cost estimates.
- Develop and maintain project budgets.
- Track project costs and performance.
- Prepare cost reports for project stakeholders.
- Integrate cost data with project schedules.
- Assess cost and schedule risks.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in cost engineering.
Foster CM Group Benefits (benefit package which includes both employer and employee paid plans):
- Medical Insurance to include HSA and FSA benefits
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Prescription Drug
- Telehealth Benefits
- Life Insurance
- STD paid by the Company
- LTD paid by the Company
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- 401 (K) with Company Match
- Vacation
- Holidays
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Financial Wellness
- Pet Insurance
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving machinery & mechanical parts, uneven ground, exposure to dust, gas or fumes, exposure to loud noise, and outside weather conditions.
Physical Requirements:
The physical requirements must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Intermittent unassisted sitting, walking, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, twisting, stooping, crawling, pushing and lifting is required. Must be able to walk and/or stand for prolonged periods of time for at least eight hours per day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move light equipment up to 50 pounds without assistance. Must be alert to equipment in the field, occasional need to work near hazardous equipment and machinery, ability to walk on uneven ground while physically maneuvering construction sites, ability to work in extreme temperatures or humidity, and potentially work at heights.
Foster CM Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This means that Foster CM Group does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex (gender), age, disability, national origin, genetic information, or sexual orientation. All individuals are encouraged to apply and compete for jobs.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
Mid Level Cost Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mid level cost engineer job?
Position your experience around ownership, not just participation. Highlight projects where you led cost estimates, managed a budget, or caught overruns before they escalated. Emphasize tools you use independently, such as cost modeling software or earned value analysis, and show any cross-functional collaboration with procurement or project management teams. Applications that demonstrate decision-making authority, not just task completion, stand out at this level.
Which companies hire mid level cost engineers?
Companies hiring mid level cost engineers right now include Clayco, Amazon, and Turner & Townsend, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this level, hiring tends to come from large engineering and construction firms, energy companies, and manufacturers that need professionals who can run cost functions on complex projects with real accountability.
Are there remote mid level cost engineer jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by industry. About 0% of mid level cost engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with fully remote roles more common in consulting and technology-adjacent sectors. Infrastructure, construction, and energy roles often require on-site presence, so the work setting depends heavily on the project type and employer.
How do I move up to a mid level cost engineer role?
Moving from entry level to mid level takes a deliberate build-up of scope and ownership. Start by volunteering for full project estimates rather than components, ask to lead change order reviews, and develop fluency in cost control methodologies like earned value management. Building a record of measurable outcomes, such as variance reductions or forecast accuracy improvements, signals readiness to take on the broader accountability that mid level roles require.
Which industries hire the most mid level cost engineers?
Mid Level cost engineer roles concentrate in Construction & Real Estate, Manufacturing, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive demand because they run capital-intensive projects where cost control at the mid level directly affects project viability, making experienced cost engineers a core part of the project team rather than a support function.