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Principal Project Controls Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

STV is seeking a Project Controls Specialist to join our Project Controls department at our New York City office. Our Project Controls professionals play a critical role in helping clients ...

FindTalent is seeking a detail-oriented Project Controls Specialist to support planning, scheduling, cost management, and reporting for energy projects. This role is critical in ensuring projects are ...

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Principal Project Controls Specialist information

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$66

How much do principal project controls specialist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for principal project controls specialist in the United States is $43.84, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36.06 and $50.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a principal project controls specialist collaborate with project managers and other stakeholders during the project lifecycle?

A Principal Project Controls Specialist works closely with project managers, engineers, and finance teams to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget. They facilitate regular progress meetings, provide detailed reports on cost and schedule performance, and proactively identify potential risks or deviations. Their role often involves integrating input from multiple departments, ensuring clear communication, and supporting decision-making with accurate data and forecasts. This collaborative approach helps maintain project alignment with organizational goals and client expectations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal project controls specialist?

To thrive as a Principal Project Controls Specialist, you need deep expertise in project management, cost control, scheduling, and risk analysis, typically supported by a bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field. Proficiency with project management tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, and cost management software, as well as certifications like PMP or AACE, is highly valued. Outstanding analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you lead teams and effectively manage complex projects. These capabilities are crucial for delivering projects on time and within budget while minimizing risks for organizational success.

What is a principal project controls specialist?

A Principal Project Controls Specialist is a senior professional responsible for overseeing and managing project controls processes, such as scheduling, cost management, risk assessment, and progress tracking, on large or complex projects. They ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to quality standards by implementing best practices and utilizing specialized software. This role often involves mentoring junior staff, coordinating with project managers and stakeholders, and providing detailed reports and forecasts to support decision-making. Their expertise is critical in minimizing risks and maximizing project efficiency.

What is the difference between Principal Project Controls Specialist vs Project Controls Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Project Controls SpecialistProject Controls Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires PMP, AACE certifications, or equivalentOften requires PMP or related certifications, with engineering degrees
Work EnvironmentSenior-level, strategic planning, overseeing controls across projectsTechnical, focused on implementing controls and data analysis
Industry UsageUsed in large, complex projects across industries like construction and oil & gasCommon in project execution teams for technical control tasks

The Principal Project Controls Specialist generally holds a senior, strategic role overseeing project controls, while the Project Controls Engineer focuses on technical implementation and data analysis. Both roles require relevant certifications and are vital in large projects, but differ in scope and responsibilities.

More about Principal Project Controls Specialist jobs

What cities are hiring for Principal Project Controls Specialist jobs?

Cities with the most Principal Project Controls Specialist job openings:

What job categories do people searching Principal Project Controls Specialist jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Project Controls Specialist jobs are:

Infographic showing various Principal Project Controls Specialist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,179 per year, or $43.8 per hour.

Principal Project Controls - Cost

Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC

Rock Hill, SC • Remote

$103K - $129K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago


Job description

Are you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse's mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.

About the role:

As a Principal Project Controls Specialist - Cost you will lead cost management and analytics across a portfolio of complex capital projects. You will blend traditional project controls with modern data integration and automation. Your work will require developing, overseeing, and implementing project cost management processes, and includes preparation and analysis of cost status for projects. We ask that you have flexibility to support a variety of delivery models ranging from a single large-scale project with a dedicated team to a portfolio of smaller projects with minimal direct support.

You will report to the Cost Manager. This is a remote role.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Implement project cost control practices during all project phases, across different delivery models. This may include serving as the primary cost lead on a major project, providing oversight for a mid-sized project, or managing a portfolio of smaller projects.
  • Use knowledge of project controls concepts and best practices within project-specific context to support monitoring to accomplish department goals.
  • Oversee cost control systems and reporting including variance analysis and forecasting for presentation to multiple organizational levels ranging from specific task level to senior leadership. Ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting.
  • Work with teams including project managers, estimators, schedulers, risk analysts, technical leads, and financial analysts to maintain an updated and risk-informed financial picture of projects and provide insights.
  • Manage cost, schedule, and budget for assigned deliverables (e.g. Performance and Cost Control Plan) as standard-alone tasks, as a task-level project manager. Coordinate resources to ensure and quality submission of client deliverables.
  • Ensure adherence to project management and project controls procedures. Plan and perform assessments of project controls processes to facilitate proactive identification of issues and promote continuous improvement.
  • Contribute to functional strategy development and programmatic governance maintenance.
  • Help develop work instructions, templates, checklists, and desktop guides to promote and reproducible work products.
  • Identify systemic issues and support issue resolution. Participate in continuous improvement projects by formally documenting issues, observations, and lessons learned. Promote implementation of improvements.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Finance, Data Science) or equivalent experience
  • 8+ years' experience in project management, project controls, or cost engineering.
  • Familiarity with project controls systems such as Primavera P6 and EVMS platforms.
  • Experience working with large datasets and integrating data across systems.
  • Write code (e.g., Python, VBA, and SQL)
  • Develop structured, scalable work processes.
  • Experience with modern data tools (e.g., Power BI, SharePoint integration) is desirable.
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, including modeling, pivot tables, and complex formulas.

We are committed to transparency and equity in all of our people practices. The base salary range for this position, which is dependent upon experience, qualifications and skills, is estimated to be $103,200 to $129,000 per year.

#LI-Remote

Why Westinghouse?

Our benefits package is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our employees, while also promoting wellness and career growth. The following are representative of what we offer:

  • Comprehensive Medical benefits which could include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions options

  • Wellness Programs designed to support employees in maintaining their health and well-being including Employee Assistance Program providing support for our employees and their household members

  • 401(k) with Company Match Contributions to support employees' retirement

  • Paid Vacations and Company Holidays

  • Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements to promote work-life balance

  • Educational Reimbursement and Comprehensive Career Programs to help employees grow in their careers

  • Global Recognition and Service Programs to celebrate employee accomplishments and service

  • Employee Referral Program

Westinghouse Electric Company is the global nuclear energy industry's first choice for safe, clean, and efficient energy solutions. We enable our delivery of this vision by living our value system:

  • Safety and Quality

  • Integrity and Trust

  • Customer Focus and Innovation

  • Speed and Passion to Win

  • Teamwork and Accountability

While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 11,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries. You can learn more by visiting http://www.westinghousenuclear.com.

Westinghouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

Get connected with Westinghouse on social media: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn| YouTube