Project Controls Engineer - Freelance (m/f/d)

Your mission

This contract-based role combines project planning and scheduling with quantity surveying, cost control, and commercial responsibilities. Working closely with project, technical, procurement, and commercial teams, you will help ensure projects remain on schedule, within budget, and commercially controlled throughout the project lifecycle.

This is a temporary freelance role for the below-mentioned duration. Candidates must have all required documentation, permits and/or visas in place to legally work in Saudi Arabia for the duration of the assignment.

Duration: ASAP-end of May 2027.

Your key responsibilities

Project Planning & Scheduling

• Develop detailed project plans, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), activity lists, schedules, milestones, and resource plans in line with project requirements.
• Create, update, and maintain project schedules using Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project, ensuring alignment with contractual milestones and delivery deadlines.
• Identify critical paths, dependencies, potential bottlenecks, and schedule risks, and work with project teams to develop appropriate mitigation measures.
• Monitor project progress against approved schedules and KPIs, identifying deviations and delays and providing accurate progress forecasts.
• Coordinate resource requirements, including manpower, equipment, materials, suppliers, and subcontractors, in collaboration with the wider project team.
• Prepare and maintain progress reports, look-ahead schedules, dashboards, risk registers, and other project controls documentation.
• Support the preparation of Extension of Time (EOT) claims, including Impacted as Planned and Time Impact Analysis where required.

Cost & Commercial Control

• Prepare and support detailed project cost estimates, budgets, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), scope breakdowns, and structured work packages.
• Support tendering and procurement activities through the preparation of tender packages and RFQs for subcontractors and suppliers.
• Review and compare supplier and subcontractor quotations, supporting commercial evaluation and ensuring competitive value.
• Track project costs and commitments against approved budgets and provide regular cost reports and forecasts.
• Monitor the relationship between project progress, programme, resource utilisation, and cost performance to identify potential commercial risks at an early stage.
• Support value engineering initiatives to align project budgets with design, technical, and operational requirements.
• Assist with the management and assessment of variations, change orders, claims, and other commercial adjustments throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate records supporting cost, schedule, and contractual reporting.

Project Controls & Collaboration

• Work closely with Project Managers and multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment between programme, progress, resources, cost, and commercial performance.
• Communicate project status, risks, delays, cost implications, and forecasts clearly to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and internal teams as required.
• Support regular project reviews and provide accurate data and analysis to facilitate decision-making.
• Analyse project performance and lessons learned to identify opportunities to improve planning, cost control, reporting, and project delivery processes.

Your profile

• Around 5 years of relevant experience in Project Controls, Planning Engineering, Cost Control, Quantity Surveying, or similar role.
• Experience within construction, interior fit-out, AVL, exhibition construction, permanent installations, MEP, infrastructure, media technology, system integration, or similar project environments.
• UAE and/or KSA project experience and regional market knowledge would be highly beneficial.
• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project, with hands-on experience developing and maintaining detailed project programmes.
• Good understanding of project costing, budgeting, BoQs, tendering, procurement, variations, and commercial management principles.
• Demonstrated experience combining project planning/scheduling with cost and commercial control responsibilities.
• Strong knowledge of progress measurement, forecasting, critical path analysis, and schedule risk management.
• Advanced MS Excel skills and strong proficiency across the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong numerical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary and international project teams.
• Ability to work independently within a freelance/contract-based assignment and adapt quickly to fast-paced project environments.
• PMP, Certified Planning Engineer (CPE), or other relevant professional certification would be an advantage.

Why us?

• The opportunity to work in an international and multi-cultural team with collaboration across our offices in the Middle East and Europe.
• Collaborative and motivated working environment.
• Trusting and partnership-based cooperation across all units.
• An innovative and growth-oriented company with a matrix organizational structure and an open corporate culture.