Cost Control Engineer

Location not specified

Full Time

Posted March 25, 2026

$120k - $170k

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Orenda is on a mission to make the grid more efficient with renewable energy projects and proprietary asset management technology.

Orenda’s Project Execution Division is responsible for designing, permitting, procuring equipment, and constructing distributed energy resources. We thoughtfully develop processes and manage third parties to bring these projects to life.
Orenda’s preconstruction function is responsible for turning early project concepts into contract-ready execution plans by defining scope, validating feasibility, and building defensible budgets.
We are seeking a Cost Control Engineer (Governance) to embed a true “owner’s check” inside the preconstruction team. This role owns the cost governance truth system used to keep budgets and scope assumptions consistent, traceable, and defensible as projects advance from concept into contract-ready execution. This role does not run procurement or contract execution. It owns the project budget baseline and the structured change-control mechanism as scopes and assumptions evolve. It makes sure the cost model and supporting assumptions are clear, consistent, and easy to audit. When inputs are missing or uncertain, the role flags what is unknown and what is needed to close the gap.
This role partners tightly with pre-construction, procurement, development/engineering, construction, and finance.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related field.
Cost Modeling: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain unit-rate models and reconcile them to real market pricing.
Experience: 5+ years of experience in cost engineering, estimating, project controls, or preconstruction for complex projects (energy, utility, industrial, or comparable).
Commercial & Scope Rigor: Strong command of scope definition, cost-code structures, and bid leveling / normalization.
Governance Mindset: High standards for assumptions hygiene, traceability, and document control; able to enforce standards without being the “doer” for every task.
Communication: Ability to write concise decision-grade readouts: what changed vs baseline, what is uncertain, and what requires escalation.
Tools: Strong Excel/Sheets capability. Comfortable adopting project controls platforms (Kahua/Procore equivalents) and structured document control practices.
Experience estimating or managing civil/GC scopes in dense-urban environments.
Experience with BESS projects and NYC constraints (DOB / FDNY / Con Edison).
Experience creating base case configurations and variance libraries for repeatable product types.
Experience implementing cost controls systems and integrations (ERP, cost code structures, dashboards).

You’ll join a mission-driven culture that values ownership, accountability, continuous learning, high performance, and genuine collaboration. We work hard, move quickly, and enjoy doing it together.
In addition to the chance to do important work with a great team, Orenda offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent:
Base Salary: The anticipated base salary range for this full-time position in New York City is $120,000-$170,000 ****per year. The final base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, and qualifications.
Bonus: In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for a significant annual performance-based bonus.
Benefits: Our comprehensive benefits package includes: Health, dental, and vision insurance 401(k) plan LifeTime Fitness corporate membership Monthly commuter stipend Learning and education stipend Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy Regular company events