Project Controls Engineer - Construction

Description

SMG is a nationally recognized professional services organization specializing in workplace safety consulting, training, staffing, program planning, and implementation. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage; a 401(k) with employer matching; paid holidays; Life and Disability Insurance; and a range of additional supplemental insurance products.

SMG is currently seeking a Project Controls Engineer in the Indianapolis, Indiana area.

The Project Controls Engineer plays a critical role in supporting construction project teams by providing detailed planning, cost control, scheduling, risk analysis, and reporting services. This position ensures project execution aligns with financial targets, timelines, and compliance standards. The Project Controls Engineer collaborates with project managers and finance teams to track performance and facilitate decision-making.

Overview of Job Responsibilities:

Schedule Management

• Develop, maintain, and update project schedules using software such as MS Project or equivalent
• Monitor and analyze project progress to identify schedule deviations and recommend corrective actions
• Perform critical path and float analysis
• Assist in preparing look-ahead schedules and schedule reporting

Cost Control

• Support the creation and maintenance of project budgets and cost control systems
• Track actual costs versus budgets and forecast project expenditures
• Monitor cost performance indicators, earned value metrics, and project variances
• Prepare monthly cost reports, cash flow forecasts, and expenditure trending reports
• Produce vendor statements of work and create change order documents
• Review and record vendor invoices

Estimating & Budgeting

• Assist in project estimating, budget development, and scope alignment
• Validate contractor and vendor proposals against budgets
• Maintain change logs and track approved variations and change orders 

Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and track project risks and mitigation measures
• Support the preparation of risk registers and conduct quantitative risk analyses where needed
• Contribute to schedule and cost risk contingency planning

Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare and distribute regular progress reports (daily, weekly, monthly) for stakeholders
• Generate deliverable documents throughout the project life cycle
• Ensure timely and accurate record-keeping of project controls data
• Support project meetings and post-project evaluations
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators
• Manage project closeout documentation process

Systems & Tools

• Utilize and support implementation of project control tools and systems (e.g., MS Project, Autodesk Construction Cloud, SAP, Google suite, etc.)
• Integrate data from various systems for consolidated project reporting 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field
• 3–7 years of experience in project controls or project management within the construction industry
• Proficient in scheduling and cost control software.
• Strong knowledge of project lifecycle and cost engineering principle
• Familiarity with contract types (e.g., lump sum, cost-plus, etc.)
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with project teams, stakeholders, and contractors
• Proactive problem-solving and decision-making capabilities
• Combination of office and campus project sites depending on project phase

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP® (Project Management Professional)
• PSP (Planning and Scheduling Professional)
• Experience in commercial, medical diagnostics, manufacturing, and warehousing construction projects
• Exposure to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and integrated project delivery methods