Senior Project Controls Analyst

Job Description

Owns the independent cost and schedule position for Quantum Leap Energy capital projects across the portfolio. Develops and maintains schedules, estimates, cost forecasts, progress measures, earned value information, change records and controls reporting to support informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle. Provides objective visibility of performance independently from the delivery organizations accountable for project execution, and ensures controls data are accurate, traceable, consistent and defensible for stage-gate reviews, contractor challenges, executive oversight, and investor or loan diligence. Works across owner-led and engineering, procurement and construction delivery models while remaining outside financial accounting, procurement negotiation and technical scope decisions. This is currently an individual contributor role reporting to the Director of Strategic Operations.

Work location: Austin preferred, but remote candidates considered with travel to Austin as needed

Job Responsibilities

• Manage integrated schedules and progress measurement: build and maintain owner and project schedules; review contractor schedules for logic, achievability, float, dependencies and critical path integrity; measure progress; and assess delay and recovery options to protect delivery outcomes. 
• Control project costs, forecasts and estimates: maintain cost reports, commitments, expenditure, cash flow and cost-to-complete forecasts; explain variances and trends; support progressive capital cost estimates and documented bases of estimate; and prepare cost and contingency information for stage-gate and financing reviews. 
• Govern change, contractor performance and risk: own the change register; ensure changes are quantified and reflected in baselines; independently analyses contractor changes and claims; verify progress claims; and translate project risks as identified in the Project Engineers’ risk register into repeatable cost and schedule impacts. 
• Deliver controls reporting, systems and data integrity: develop indicators, dashboards and performance reporting; administer scheduling, cost and reporting systems; and maintain version control, traceability and auditability in line with quality and export control requirements. 
• Provide independent assurance and cross-functional partnership: work with project engineering, research and optimization, laboratories, operations, supply chain and finance so controls information reflects actual performance; challenge information constructively; communicate material risks and corrective options; and travel to sites for review and verification. 
• The role may undertake other reasonable duties aligned with its level and business needs.

Legal & Compliance Notice
Regulatory & Export Control Notice
Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) conducts business in the nuclear technology and advanced materials sectors, which are subject to strict export control, non-proliferation, and national security regulations.
 
Employment with QLE may require compliance with one or more of the following regulatory frameworks, depending on work location and role scope:
United States: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) under the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
United Kingdom: Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and UK Strategic Export Control regulations administered by the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU).
South Africa: National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and Non-Proliferation Council regulations under the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act.
 
Certain positions may require “U.S. person” status (as defined by 10 CFR Part 810 or EAR Part 772) and/or the ability to obtain and maintain applicable export control authorizations or security clearances. QLE complies with all relevant national and international export control, non-proliferation, and security requirements in every jurisdiction in which it operates.
 
Equal Opportunity Statement
Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Experience Requirements

• Extensive experience in project controls, cost engineering, estimating, planning or scheduling on complex capital projects in engineering, construction or heavy industrial environments. 
• Demonstrated depth in cost and scheduling, including critical path schedules, cost reports, forecasts, cash flow, variance analysis and cost-to-complete forecasting. 
• Experience reviewing contractor or vendor schedules, baseline updates, progress claims, change orders or claims and preparing independent owner-side analysis. 
• Experience developing or supporting capital cost estimates through progressive project definition, including documented bases of estimate, contingency and stage-gate information. 
• Desirable experience includes owner’s-side or owner’s-engineer project controls, first-of-a-kind projects, engineering, procurement and construction delivery, quantitative risk analysis, reporting automation, and nuclear, export-controlled or security-sensitive work. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Advanced project controls expertise across cost, scheduling, estimating, forecasting, earned value, change control and progress measurement. 
• Strong analytical judgment to identify material risks, test assumptions and translate complex data into clear decisions. 
• Expertise in critical path scheduling and recognized scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project, Oracle Primavera P6), with advanced Microsoft Excel and project reporting capability. 
• Ability to influence project teams, senior leaders, contractors and engineering partners through credible, objective challenges without direct authority. 
• High standards of accuracy, documentation, traceability, systems integrity and communication in complex or regulated project environments. 

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, quantity surveying or a related technical or quantitative discipline, or equivalent experience gained through progressive project controls, estimating or scheduling roles. 

Job Benefits

• Competitive base salary aligned to global compensation bands and local market data. 
• Bonus eligibility: Target % based on level and impact. 
• Equity participation: Reflecting your contribution to QLE’s long-term success. 
• Comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for global mobility across US, UK, and ZA operations.