Project Controls Engineer – Schedule & Cost (Engineer / Senior / Staff) – Dallas, TX
Summary
The Project Controls Engineer owns the schedule and cost baseline for the deployment of automated production equipment into a partner manufacturing site. This role builds and maintains integrated engineering–procurement–installation–commissioning schedules, tracks cost performance against budget, runs change control, and gives program leadership a clear, current picture of where every line and cell stands. The ideal candidate has done this on large industrial or manufacturing capital projects, is fluent in Primavera P6 and earned value, and treats the schedule as a tool for decisions rather than a report. We are hiring up to three engineers across levels; some will lean schedule, some cost, and all will cover both.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop fully integrated, logically tied, resource-loaded schedules covering equipment design, procurement, fabrication, FAT, shipment, installation, SAT, commissioning, and ramp.
• Status schedules weekly with engineering, procurement, vendors, and site teams; analyze and report critical path, float, and overall program performance.
• Build 3-week look-ahead schedules for installation and commissioning teams; run what-if scenarios to accelerate, de-risk, or recover.
• Own project cost control: budgets, commitments, actuals, accruals, forecast at completion, cash flow, and variance analysis (budget vs. actual vs. forecast).
• Maintain WBS, cost codes, and cost breakdown structure; report earned value metrics (CPI, SPI, EAC, ETC) with root causes and corrective actions.
• Run change management: log, price, and route change orders and budget adjustments; validate vendor and contractor invoices against scope and progress.
• Maintain the program risk register with schedule and cost impacts; escalate early and clearly.
• Produce concise management reports and dashboards for program leadership and partner stakeholders.
• Support estimating and quantity take-offs for new equipment lines and change scope.
Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Engineer: 3+ years · Senior: 5+ years · Staff: 8+ years in project controls on large industrial, manufacturing, EPC, energy, or government capital projects.
• Hands-on proficiency in Primavera P6; strong Excel (complex formulas, large datasets).
• Working command of Critical Path Method and Earned Value Management with a track record of schedule compression and recovery.
• Experience with cost structures on large-scale projects: commitments, accruals, forecasting, change orders, invoice validation.
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting status and risk to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work on-site in the Dallas area and travel to vendor and partner sites as required.
Level Expectations
Staff additionally owns the controls baseline for an entire program, sets the scheduling and cost standards used across deployments, integrates with partner project-controls teams, and mentors engineers.
Preferred Skills
• Experience on capital equipment or automation programs (as opposed to building-only construction).
• Power BI or similar reporting; familiarity with cost management systems and procurement/ERP data.
• Experience aligning WBS-based cost tracking with BIM/model quantities.
• PMP, PMI-SP, AACE CCP/PSP, or equivalent.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or other regulated programs.
Compensation. This role is eligible for equity (employee stock options) and benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off. Roles with significant travel may be eligible for an assignment premium.
Export Control. This position may require access to information controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants must be a U.S. person as defined in 22 CFR 120.62 (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) or be eligible to obtain any required authorization.
Equal Opportunity. Deterrence Defense, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities; if you need an accommodation at any point in the process, contact jobs@deterrence.com.