Senior Cost Engineer

Zachry Construction Corporation (Zachry)•Katy, TX

About The Position

Zachry Construction Corporation is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Engineer to support financial planning, cost control, and forecasting for heavy civil construction projects. The role analyzes project costs, develops cost and revenue forecasts, monitors financial performance, and identifies risks that could affect profitability. The Senior Cost Engineer works with project and field leadership and project controls teams to evaluate production, labor, equipment, and material costs and provide financial insights that support project execution. The position also prepares financial reports, reviews budgets and commitments, assesses project progress and forecasted margins, and supports project reviews and improvements to cost-control processes and forecast accuracy. Heavy civil construction experience and the ability to communicate financial performance to project leadership are central to the role. Relocation may be required for ongoing opportunities and career growth.

Requirements

Minimum of 5–10+ years of heavy civil construction experience, including significant cost engineering, project controls, or project financial management experience.
Experience with heavy civil construction projects such as highways, bridges, earthwork, concrete, underground utilities, or similar infrastructure.
Ability to develop and manage accurate project cost and revenue forecasts, including cost-to-complete and estimate-at-completion projections.
Strong understanding of construction cost controls, budgeting, financial reporting, earned revenue, and project profitability analysis.
Experience analyzing labor productivity, equipment utilization, material costs, production quantities, and construction schedules to evaluate financial performance.
Ability to identify cost variances, forecast potential overruns, and recommend ways to improve project financial outcomes.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience with construction accounting, ERP, or project controls software.
Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to present financial information clearly to project leadership.
Ability to collaborate with field operations, Project Managers, accounting, and project controls teams while managing multiple priorities and following company safety policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and analyze project cost and revenue forecasts, including cost-to-complete and estimate-at-completion projections.
Monitor project budgets, actual costs, commitments, and expenditures to identify variances, trends, and financial risks.
Work with Project Managers, Superintendents, and field teams to evaluate production quantities, labor productivity, equipment utilization, and material costs.
Prepare monthly project financial reports, including cost and revenue projections, variance analyses, and profitability assessments.
Analyze project progress, earned revenue, and forecasted margins to assess impacts on project performance.
Review project cost codes, budgets, subcontractor commitments, and change orders to ensure accurate cost tracking and reporting.
Support project planning and forecasting by evaluating construction schedules, production rates, resource requirements, and remaining work.
Identify cost overruns, productivity concerns, and financial risks, and recommend corrective actions to improve project performance.
Collaborate with accounting, estimating, project controls, and operations teams to support accurate and consistent financial reporting and project forecasts.
Provide financial analysis and reporting to project leadership, support monthly project reviews, and help improve cost-control processes and forecasting accuracy.