Senior Cost Engineer

Job Description

About us

Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the Job

Join UKAEA's Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) and play a key role in delivering some of the UK's most complex and ambitious programmes. As a Senior Cost Engineer, you'll provide expert cost estimating, forecasting and cost control across high-value projects ranging from major infrastructure to cutting-edge science and engineering initiatives. Working closely with programme managers, finance teams and technical specialists, you'll help ensure projects are delivered with robust financial control, informed decision-making and industry-leading cost management practices. You'll also lead and develop a team of Cost Engineers while driving continuous improvement across the organisation's project delivery capability.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead cost estimating, forecasting and cost control activities for complex programmes and projects.
• Develop and maintain robust project budgets, cost baselines and financial forecasts.
• Partner with programme teams and Finance to deliver accurate reporting, variance analysis and estimate-at-completion forecasting.
• Provide expert advice on cost management, estimating strategies and project controls throughout the project lifecycle.
• Integrate cost, schedule and risk information to support effective project planning and decision-making.
• Analyse performance trends, identify opportunities for improvement and champion best practice in cost management.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Cost Engineers, supporting both technical and professional growth.
• Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers and senior leaders.
• Support strategic resource planning and contribute to the continuous development of UKAEA's project delivery capability.

What You'll Bring

• Extensive experience delivering cost estimating and cost control for large, complex projects or programmes (typically £100m+).
• Strong knowledge of cost management methodologies, forecasting and financial reporting.
• Experience presenting cost and budget information to senior stakeholders and project governance boards.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading, developing and managing high-performing teams.
• A recognised project management qualification (e.g. APM PMQ, APMQ, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent).

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits

A full list of benefits can be found here and highlights include: 

• £71,815 salary inclusive of specialist allowance
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 8 Bank Holidays
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit. Further information can be found here.