We are seeking a Cost Engineer to support project financial management, budgeting, forecasting, cost estimation, and cost control activities across complex engineering, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, and transformation programs. The role requires mandatory experience within civil engineering, construction, infrastructure, EPCM, or related project controls environments. The Cost Engineer will work closely with project managers, engineering teams, finance, procurement, vendors, and operational stakeholders to ensure accurate financial tracking, reporting, cost control, and cost optimization throughout the project lifecycle.
The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and financial capabilities with hands-on experience in cost engineering, project controls, and financial governance within civil engineering, infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing, or large-scale engineering environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain project budgets, forecasts, cost models, and cost baselines
- Track project financial performance against approved budgets, baselines, and project schedules
- Analyze actual costs, accruals, commitments, purchase orders, invoices, and forecast variances
- Support monthly financial reporting, project controls reporting, and executive dashboard preparation
- Monitor project burn rates, resource costs, vendor costs, and financial risks
- Perform cost estimation and financial impact analysis for project changes, scope changes, and variations
- Support CAPEX/OPEX tracking and investment planning activities
- Coordinate with procurement, vendors, contractors, and project teams regarding cost tracking, invoicing, and commitments
- Assist in financial governance, audit preparation, and compliance activities
- Support business case preparation, cost optimization initiatives, and value engineering activities
- Identify financial and cost-related risks and propose mitigation actions
- Ensure alignment between project scope, schedules, change requests, procurement activities, and financial forecasts
Support project controls processes, including cost reporting, change control, and forecasting governance
Required Experience
- Mandatory experience in civil engineering, construction, infrastructure, EPCM, or industrial engineering project environments
- Experience as a Cost Engineer, Project Controller, Cost Controller, Quantity Surveyor, Financial Analyst, or PMO Financial Analyst
- Strong understanding of project financial management, cost engineering, forecasting, and project controls
- Experience with budget management, cost tracking, cost estimation, and variance analysis
- Experience supporting complex engineering, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, or transformation programs
- Experience with CAPEX projects, investment planning, and cost governance
- Strong analytical, reporting, and financial modelling skills
Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders, including project managers, finance, procurement, engineering teams, and vendors
Preferred Experience
- Experience within manufacturing, pharma, industrial, EPCM, construction, infrastructure, or IT transformation environments
- Understanding of project lifecycle management and stage-gate project governance
- Experience supporting multi-site or large-scale programs
- Familiarity with CAPEX governance, investment approvals, and financial controls
- Experience with vendor financial management, contractor cost control, purchase orders, and procurement processes
- Knowledge of PMO or project controls governance frameworks
Experience with change control, claims, variations, and cost impact assessment is considered a plus
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, ERP, or other financial/project control systems
- Strong data analysis, cost reporting, and financial modelling capabilities
- Ability to work with cost breakdown structures, budgets, forecasts, accruals, commitments, and actuals
Soft Skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Structured, analytical, and process-driven mindset
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Problem-solving and risk assessment capabilities
- Ability to challenge cost assumptions and provide clear financial insights
- Comfortable working in an international and multi-stakeholder environment
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Engineering, Business, Economics, or a related field
- Civil engineering, construction, infrastructure, or quantity surveying background is strongly preferred
- Relevant certifications are considered a plus, such as PMP, PMI-PBA, CIMA, ACCA, CFA, AACE, RICS, or similar project controls/cost engineering certifications
What we offer
- Long-term contract engagement possible
- Hybrid working model depending on project requirements
- International and multi-stakeholder environment
- Involvement in complex engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, or transformation programs
For more information about us, visit Cognizant Poland.
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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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What we offer
- The chance to work with impact. Here, you’re empowered to bring your biggest thinking to help our company and clients improve everyday life.
- Ownership over your career. Stay at the top of your game through our award-winning learning and development ecosystem. And when your ambitions change or we offer new opportunities, we help you pivot by providing reskilling, on-the-job learning and guidance to find new roles that might be a better fit.
- The opportunity to thrive on a high caliber team with heart. We celebrate each other’s experiences and perspectives and promote a sense of belonging through our affinity groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- A comprehensive total rewards package, including a competitive salary and a pension plan with matching contributions.
- Flexible health and financial benefits to support you and your eligible dependents—from day one.
- True work-life balance. Be at your best through paid time off, flexible work arrangements, volunteering opportunities, social events, and so much more.
About us
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, building the bridge between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, realize tangible returns and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
Other employment-related information
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.
Language requirements vary depending on roles, but we ask that all candidates have basic English proficiency for company-wide communications purposes. For roles based in Quebec, professional English proficiency is required, as you’ll deliver services to and collaborate with stakeholders outside the province who may not speak French.
