Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Project Controls Specialist jobs in Illinois are consistently active, concentrated in construction, infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level cost analysts through senior program controls managers. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria anchor most of the hiring, where firms like Bechtel, Aecom, and Caterpillar maintain deep project controls teams across capital programs and industrial operations. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois include earned value management, scheduling, and cost engineering tied to large public infrastructure and industrial capital projects. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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This role offers a hybrid work arrangement. You'll spend three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.
As a Senior Project Scheduler for Capital Projects, you will apply your technical skills to meet project team and client needs for developing / maintaining project schedules and monitoring project performance. This work will include interfacing directly with project management, client management, engineering, construction, and other key stakeholders for the development of detailed project schedules. Using a variety of industry and proprietary software tools, including Primavera P6, you will perform the following tasks:
- Implement project controls tools and methodology
- Develop and support project schedule requirements per client procedures and best practices
- Perform critical path analysis, provide schedule insights and corrective actions when required
- Support schedule contingency management, and work with key stakeholders to identify and manage project risks
- Provide regular project updates and report deviations from the approved project baseline to the project team.
- Proactively manage schedule variances and have a questioning attitude with project deviations.
- Support month end closing and phase gate processes
- Ensure standardized file locations exist for all required schedule documents.
- Produce look-ahead, actuals, and schedule quality reports
- Assemble supporting documentation to meet project team and client requests/needs
- Analyze data and build reports to support project monitoring and decision making
- Interface regularly with project management to support monitoring schedule performance
- Interface with cost analyst staff to develop time-phased cost forecasts
- There is the potential for you to travel to client office for project coordination meetings
We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.
Essential skills and experience:
- Proficiency using Primavera P6 scheduling software
- Familiarity with the practical application of project controls
- 5 or more years of project experience
- Post-secondary graduate
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to interact and multitask with project team members, clients, and vendors of varying position levels.
- Motivation: Eager to learn new skills and develop knowledge to add make a valuable impact to project team operation. Willing to engage with others to understand project team needs. Committed to deliver high quality, accurate deliverables with attention to detail.
- Computer Skills: Working knowledge in MS Office tools, with emphasis on the advanced use of MS Excel and/or MS Access in creating detailed, interactive spreadsheets, workbooks, and databases.
Valued but not required skills and experience:
- Related engineering internship, co-op, or work experience, which includes project controls, project planning, project scheduling, and earned value performance, preferably within the power industry
- i.) AACE CST, or PMI Equivalent
- ii.) Working towards AACE CCP, CEP, PSP, PRMP, EVP, or PMI Equivalent
- iii.) In lieu of Professional Designation (i. or ii.) above, has completed equivalent training
- Or in lieu of i.), ii.) or iii.) above, has successfully passed designated proficiency testing
We value candidates who demonstrate an interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to their role. Employees remain accountable for their work and are expected to apply appropriate professional judgment and review when using technology-assisted tools.
Experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued where relevant but is not required unless specifically identified elsewhere in the job description.
At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Health & Wellness
- Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
- Life & Accident Insurance
- Disability Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Back-Up Daycare
- FSA & HSA
- 401(k)
- Pre-Tax Commuter Account
- Merit Scholarship Program
- Employee Discount Program
- Corporate Charitable Giving Program
- Tuition Assistance
- First Professional Licensure Bonus
- Employee Referral Bonus
- Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave
- Paid Bereavement Leave
- Flexible Work Arrangements
See All 30 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsProject Controls Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Project Controls Specialist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Technology & Software
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project controls specialist jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field
- Proficiency in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project for scheduling and reporting
- Experience with earned value management, cost tracking, and variance analysis
- Familiarity with construction or capital project environments common in Illinois industries
- Strong skills in Excel and project controls software for forecasting and reporting
- PMI Planning and Scheduling Professional or AACE certification preferred by Illinois employers
Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a project controls specialist in Illinois?
Most project controls specialists in Illinois enter the field with a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related discipline, then build experience through cost engineering or scheduling analyst roles. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for project controls work, but certifications such as the AACE Certified Cost Professional or the PMI Planning and Scheduling Professional carry significant weight with Illinois employers in construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.
How much do project controls specialists make in Illinois?
Project controls specialists in Illinois earn a median of about $103,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,300 for the lowest 10% to over $163,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire project controls specialists in Illinois?
Employers hiring project controls specialists in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, HDR, and AMPED I, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of large engineering firms, utility companies, and industrial manufacturers means demand is spread across both the Chicago metro and downstate industrial centers.
Which Illinois cities have the most project controls specialist jobs?
Chicago, Bradley, and Madison have the most project controls specialist openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of engineering firms, major contractors, and infrastructure programs, while Peoria and Rockford reflect the strong industrial and manufacturing base that keeps project controls teams busy across capital improvement and production facility projects.
Are there remote project controls specialist jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since project controls work often requires on-site coordination with construction or operations teams. About 81% of project controls specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with fully remote roles more likely for planning, reporting, or cost analysis functions than for site-based scheduling or field monitoring positions.
How can I get hired as a project controls specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a scheduling analyst or cost analyst role at a large Illinois construction or engineering firm, where the work is structured enough to train candidates who hold a relevant degree but lack direct project controls experience. Firms like Aecom and large Chicago-area general contractors regularly bring in recent graduates for junior controls or project engineer roles. Building proficiency in Primavera P6 and pursuing an entry-level AACE credential strengthens a candidate's case considerably with Illinois hiring managers.
Where can I find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across construction, infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to each one.
See All 30 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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