Project Cost Engineer

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

SUMMARY

As a Project Cost Engineer at Portland General Electric (PGE), you will play a crucial role in supporting capital construction projects with a strong emphasis on budgeting, forecasting and cost control.

Key Responsibilities:

- P2 - Intermediate: This level requires expanded professional-level knowledge and experience in the employee’s own area, with incumbents continuing to acquire higher-level knowledge and skills. Employees at this level expand their high-level knowledge of the company, processes and customers; solve a range of complex problems; analyze possible solutions using advanced knowledge and established protocols; and operate independently with only a moderate level of guidance and direction.

- P3 - Career: This level requires in-depth knowledge and experience, applying best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve products or services. Employees at this level solve complex problems by taking a new perspective using existing solutions; work independently with minimal guidance; and act as a resource for colleagues with less experience.

We are excited for someone who enjoys working with capital construction projects and is passionate about meeting PGE's goals for clean energy and reliable service. Join our Generation, Transmission and Distribution Project Management Organization team and play a vital role in shaping the future of energy in Oregon!

We have 1 position available at either a p2 or p3 level. See determining levels below.

Your Role:

P2 - Associate Project Cost Engineer

- Project Planning: Provides project controls for multiple small- to medium- sized generation, transmission and distribution projects and programs; OR, supports assigned elements or phases of large capital construction projects. Analyzes project needs and determines the appropriate project cost controls that will help ensure stakeholder and regulatory compliance and meet financial goals; assists with preparations needed to gain project authorizations and support requests from various areas, including but not limited to System Planning, Corporate Planning, Substation Operations, Distribution Engineering, Transmission Engineering and large projects, PSES and other company entities.

- Project Cost Engineering: Maintains project budgets, cost baselines, and funding forecasts for multiple small to medium sized projects and programs. Tracks project costs against budgets and cash flow schedules. Prepares monthly cost forecasts and variance reports. Identifies cost risks and mitigation strategies early. Assesses cost impacts to schedule and scope changes. Prepares cost reports for project teams, leadership, and regulatory stakeholders. Maintains change log and decisions affecting forecasts and budgets.

- Process Analysis and Improvement: Contributes to teams in the analysis of business processes, resource requirements and work efficiency; develops processes, analyzes throughput and refines and streamlines processes; recommends improvements; translates processes into quantitative metrics/KPIs for measuring and reporting on project performance.

- Metrics: Recommends or develops project metrics or operational performance metrics to report on project performance.  
Reports on progress to financial metrics.

- Project Controls: Implements project controls to help ensure cost control, regulatory, reporting and other project requirements are met. Updates forecasts in systems as appropriate.

- Monitoring: Monitors project during all or assigned phases to identify real or potential deviations to project plans; identifies changes to project due to scope creep, and/or material changes and internal/external resourcing and determines impacts to project success. Communicates variances and works with project manager (PM) to obtain appropriate level change approval as required.

- Project Reporting and Documentation: Works with PM to ensure coordination of efforts to issue timely, accurate project reports on project costs, problems, risks and other significant issues; provides information, reports and presentations to key stakeholders and other company entities.

- Database  Administration: Administers applicable project management computer systems; manages updates of project documentation; archives project documentation in accordance with records management requirements.

- Coordination and Communication: Communicates with stakeholders to coordinate tasks and provide updates. Develops communications specific to each audience. Responds to questions from stakeholders.

P3 - Staff Project Cost Engineer

- Project Planning: Provides project cost engineering for multiple medium- to large- sized generation, transmission and distribution projects and programs. Analyzes project needs and determines the appropriate project cost controls to help ensure stakeholder and regulatory compliance and meet financial goals; assists with preparations needed to gain project authorizations and support requests from various areas, including but not limited to System Planning, Corporate Planning, Substation Operations, Distribution Engineering, Transmission Engineering and large projects, PSES and other company entities.

- Project Cost Engineering: Develops and maintains project budgets, cost baselines, and funding forecasts for multiple medium to large sized projects and programs. Tracks project costs against budgets and cash flow schedules. Prepares monthly cost forecasts and variance reports. Identifies cost risks, trends, and mitigation strategies early. Reviews and evaluates change orders. Assesses cost impacts to schedule and scope changes. Prepares cost reports for project teams, leadership, and regulatory stakeholders. Supports capital reporting and rate case documentation. Maintains change log and decisions affecting the forecasts and budgets.

- Process Analysis and Improvement: Contributes to or leads teams in the analysis of business processes, resource requirements and work efficiency; develops processes, analyzes throughput and refines and streamlines processes; recommends improvements; translates processes into quantitative metrics/KPIs for measuring and reporting on project performance. Makes recommendations and provides team support on systems and potential enhancements; manages and prioritizes improvements and enhancements; collaborates broadly with operations, IT and other stakeholders to define the evolving objectives and deliverables.

- Metrics: Develops project metrics or operational performance metrics to report on project performance. Develops and maintains financial metrics to communicate status updates, planned action and deviations requiring development of recovery plans. Prepares reports for management.

- Project Controls: Designs and implements project controls to help ensure cost control, regulatory, reporting and other project requirements are met. Identifies risks and recommends remediation. Updates forecasts in systems as appropriate.

- Monitoring: Monitors project during all phases to identify real or potential deviations to project plans; identifies scoping changes, analyzes impacts and adjusts project plans accordingly. Communicates variances and works with project manager (PM) to obtain appropriate level change approval as required.

- Project Reporting and Documentation: Works with PM to ensure coordination of efforts to issue timely, accurate project reports on project costs, problems, risks and other significant issues; develops and provides information, reports and presentations to key stakeholders and other company entities

- Database  Administration: Administers applicable project management computer systems; manages updates of project documentation; archives project documentation in accordance with records management requirements. May build databases and applications to serve the business need for tracking and reporting. May serve as a product owner and subject matter expert for project database used for strategic and long-term planning projects. Accountable for product and service integrity including but not limited to: features, functions, security, performance, reliability, usability and accessibility.

- Coordination and Communication: Build relationships with key stakeholders and develops communication plans. Provides updates and coordinates tasks with stakeholders as needed. Designs communications specific to each audience. Provides technical guidance and expertise to stakeholders.

Your Qualifications:

Required:

- Education/Experience/Certifications Requires a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, project management, engineering, construction management or other related field or equivalent experience.

- Experience

- P2 – Intermediate. Typically, two or more years working in a technical field in a regulated utility company or large complex engineering and construction programs or a related field.

- P3 – Career. Typically, five or more years working in a technical field in a regulated utility company or large complex engineering and construction programs or a related field.

- Preferred for p2 and p3: Experience in utility cost control management; projecting and managing project forecasts and construction finance knowledge

COMPETENCIES (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES)

Functional Competencies: Unless otherwise noted, P2 reflects working knowledge/skill and P3 reflects intermediate knowledge/skill.

- P2/P3: Project management/project controls principles, techniques, methods and standards, particularly related to construction projects and programs

- P2/P3: Project management computer applications and tools, such as team collaboration software, financial tools and spreadsheets

- P2/P3: Asset, financial and inventory management software

- P2/P3: Construction estimating, project risk management, project scope control and project communication management; P3 also includes job planning, design and construction activities

- P2/P3: Procurement, utility accounting and budgeting; P2 includes working knowledge of PGE procurement policies and procedures and basic knowledge of utility accounting and budgeting

- P2/P3: Principles, concepts and methods used in Generation and T&D substation engineering, construction and maintenance

- P2/P3: Utility business

- P2/P3: Intermediate skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint;

- P2/P3: Project management theories and best practices

- P3: Advanced skills in learning and applying new technologies

Physical and Cognitive Demands

Schedule / Attendance

- Ability to work long hours

- Ability to work a variable schedule

- Ability to report to work and perform work during periods of severe inclement weather

- Ability to consistently meet attendance standards for regular, reliable, predictable, full-time attendance

Physical Capabilities

- Does the job require a valid driver’s license? No

- Computer use (use computer regularly for entire work shift)

Environment - Indoor/Outdoor

- Office environment

#LI-SB1  PGE supports hybrid flexible work arrangements; and will have a combination of in-the-office and working offsite. However, these arrangements may change due to business needs or changes in responsibility

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here .

Join us today and power your potential!

Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.

PGE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a workplace where employees feel connected, valued, and empowered to thrive. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Recruiter associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting [email protected]  or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process.

To be considered for this position, please complete the following employment application by the posting close date.  Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed, job is open until filled.
October 4, 2026