Project Controls Engineer

DSM

12d•Remote

About The Position

DSM North America, Inc. seeks a Project Controls Engineer for its Plainsboro, New Jersey location. This role involves early-phase project cost estimating (FEL 1-3) for R&D, Chemical & Industrial Plants (Biotech – Fermentation), and Animal & Human Nutrition facilities compliant with cGMP. The engineer will develop Project Controls Plans for CAPEX projects, perform Cost and Schedule Forecast at Completion using CPI and SPI, and support Global Cost Estimating database metrics. Key responsibilities include documenting the Basis of Estimate (BOE), creating Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) for Brownfield and Greenfield projects, estimating total installed factors for ISBL and OSBL scope, and estimating owner costs. The role also requires validation of consolidated estimates using industry benchmarks, conducting Project Risk Assessments (PRA) including quantitative and qualitative analysis (Monte-Carlo modeling), managing opportunities, and applying risk management principles. Progress cost and schedule performance validation, developing project escalation & inflation estimating models, integrating contractor schedules, and performing time impact, critical path, and resource leveling analyses are also crucial. The engineer will manage Project Controls requirements for Engineering and Construction Contracts (AIA G702/G703), develop performance indicators (KPIs) using reports and dashboards, conduct Market Intelligence (CMI) investigations, and utilize Power BI, PIMS 365, and PowerPoint for project reporting and Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives. The role supports DSM HQ, Stage Gate, and VAR/Value Engineering processes, including Stage Gate Reviews (SGR) of project cost estimates globally.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent, in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Engineering (any) or related field.
Six (6) years of progressive, post-baccalaureate experience as Project Controls Engineer, Project Cost Engineer, or a related position for a life sciences, engineering or oil and gas company.
At least six (6) years of employment experience must include: Servicing multi-million dollar capital projects from feasibility phase through detailed engineering and design phase to commissioning phase.
At least six (6) years of employment experience must include: Overseeing project management and capital projects delivery processes, including Total Cost Management (TCM), Earned Value Management (EVM).
At least six (6) years of employment experience must include: Developing the overall estimate schedule identifying all deliverable, including estimating scope of work, preparation of the estimate methodology and basis of the estimate.
At least three (3) years of experience must include using SAP, Ecosys, PIMS, and Procore to manage capital projects, cost control, planning and scheduling, change and trends control, cost validation, progress measurement, and reporting.

Responsibilities

Early phase project cost estimating (Front-End Loading (FEL) 1-3 / Feasibility, Conceptual, and Basic phases) for R&D, Chemical & Industrial Plants (Biotech – Fermentation), Animal & Human Nutrition facilities compliant with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
Develop Project Controls Plans for CAPEX projects of various sizes and complexities.
Perform Cost and Schedule Forecast at Completion (Estimate at Completion) using Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI).
Support for Global Cost Estimating database metrics and data gathering for project KPIs, benchmarking, and cost appraisals.
Develop Basis of Estimate (BOE) documentation throughout the estimate lifecycle, noting the scope, execution strategy, level of precision, key assumptions, exclusions, risks, and other critical project information.
Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for Brownfield and Greenfield facility projects.
Estimate total installed factors for ISBL (inside battery limits) and OSBL (outside battery limits) project scope.
Develop estimates for owner costs / internal resource allocations.
Validate consolidated estimates using benchmarked industry data.
Conduct Project Risk Assessments (PRA), including a risk register, quantitative and qualitative risk identification, assessments, and analysis (Monte-Carlo modeling @Risk & Crystal Ball platforms), opportunity management, and applying project risk management principles, practices, standards, and methods.
Validate progress cost and schedule performance.
Develop project escalation & inflation estimating models based on market conditions and execution timelines.
Integrate level 1-3 project schedules, milestones, and activity durations from multiple contractors.
Perform time impact analysis, critical path analysis, resource leveling, and related qualitative and quantitative schedule evaluations.
Manage Project Controls requirements (Earned Value, Rules of Credit, Reporting, Critical Path) for Engineering and Construction Contracts (AIA G702 and G703 forms).
Develop performance indicators (KPIs), data, and trends using reports, charts, tables, dashboards.
Conduct Market Intelligence (CMI) investigation and reporting for structural steel, labor rates, price per sqft, lead-times.
Manage project and program reporting standards using Power BI, PIMS 365, PowerPoint, etc. and other Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives for DSM HQ, Stage Gate, and VAR (Value Assurance Reviews) / Value Engineering.
Conduct Stage Gate Reviews (SGR) of project cost estimates for DSM capital projects worldwide.