Role · Project Controls
Cost Engineer Staffing for Data Centre Projects
What a Cost Engineer does
A Cost Engineer maintains the project cost report, tracking committed cost, forecast final cost, contingency drawdown and variance against budget across every work package. On a Data Centre program that includes MEP-heavy scopes and equipment procurement that carries real escalation risk, so the cost engineer needs to understand what is driving movement, not just record it.
Day to day work includes processing change orders, reconciling subcontractor pay applications, updating earned value metrics (CPI/SPI) against the schedule, and producing the monthly cost report ownership relies on for funding decisions. Strong Cost Engineers flag forecast risk before it becomes a funding surprise.
The role works closely with the Scheduler and project management team, since schedule slippage and cost overrun on a Data Centre build are almost always connected.
Typical range
£55–80K base (permanent) or £375–525 / day on contract
Core responsibilities
- Maintain the project cost report and forecast final cost
- Process change orders and reconcile subcontractor pay applications
- Track earned value metrics — CPI, SPI — against the schedule baseline
- Manage contingency drawdown and variance reporting
- Produce monthly cost reporting for project leadership and ownership
Why hire through Cx Recruit
We recruit Cost Engineers with genuine Data Centre or Mission Critical exposure, who understand MEP cost drivers and equipment escalation risk rather than general commercial building cost tracking.
Every candidate is verified against the specific cost reports and change processes they personally owned on named projects.
Live Project Controls roles
View all jobs →Senior Scheduler
London, UK · £600 to £750/day
Senior Scheduler to own the P6 master schedule on a hyperscale Data Centre campus in West London.
Cost Engineer
Slough, UK · £550 to £675/day
Cost Engineer to maintain cost reporting and forecasting on a colocation Data Centre build on the Slough Trading Estate.
Project Controls Manager
Manchester, UK · £85k to £105k p.a.
Project Controls Manager to lead scheduling and cost control across a Data Centre programme in the North West.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Cost Engineer and a Cost Controls Manager?
A Cost Engineer maintains the cost report and forecast on a project or work package. A Cost Controls Manager owns cost control standards and leads cost engineers across a broader program or portfolio.
What tools do Data Centre cost engineers use?
Cost reporting is typically done in dedicated cost management software alongside Excel, with earned value tracked against the P6 schedule. Familiarity with EVM concepts (CPI/SPI) is expected.
Get moving
Cost Engineer enquiry
Talk to the Project Controls desk
Briefing a Cost Engineer vacancy, or looking for your next one? Call 07961 717097 or use the form above.