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Cost Estimation Engineer

Dar Al Riyadh · SA

SA · On-siteFull-TimePosted Sep 9, 2026

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Job description

Key Responsibilities:

  • Collect, validate and organize historical, market and project-specific cost data.
  • Prepare conceptual, preliminary, detailed and pre-tender cost estimates.
  • Develop estimates for dam operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and improvement works.
  • Estimate the cost of civil, mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation and associated works.
  • Analyze scopes of work, drawings, specifications, bills of quantities and project schedules.
  • Prepare detailed cost build-ups for labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors and indirect costs.
  • Estimate mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works, including pumps, gates, valves, pipelines, hoists and related equipment.
  • Review quantities and verify alignment between drawings, specifications and bills of quantities.
  • Identify the key technical, operational, logistical and market factors affecting project cost.
  • Develop unit rates using productivity, resource and market-price information.
  • Prepare cost plans, cash-flow forecasts, expenditure profiles and budget requirements.
  • Compare estimated, budgeted, committed and actual costs.
  • Analyze cost variances and identify the reasons for overruns, savings and forecast changes.
  • Recommend corrective measures to control expenditure and maintain approved budgets.
  • Prepare estimates at completion and regularly update cost forecasts.
  • Monitor contingency, escalation, allowances and identified cost risks.
  • Conduct cost-risk and sensitivity analyses for major work packages.
  • Support value-engineering studies and evaluate alternative materials, equipment and execution methods.
  • Review contractors’ quotations, commercial proposals and cost breakdowns.
  • Support the technical and commercial evaluation of tenders.
  • Review variation estimates, change requests, claims and additional-work proposals.
  • Assess the cost impact of design changes, delays, scope modifications and schedule-recovery measures.
  • Monitor project budgets, commitments, invoices, payment certificates and claims.
  • Reconcile cost information with Finance, Contracts, Procurement and Project Controls.
  • Maintain cost databases covering market rates, supplier quotations, historical prices and awarded contract rates.
  • Prepare price-comparison reports and cost benchmarks for similar projects.
  • Update cost databases to reflect inflation, market conditions, regional differences and current supplier pricing.
  • Review contractor performance data and identify productivity trends affecting future estimates.
  • Maintain complete estimating records, assumptions, exclusions, clarifications and supporting documents.
  • Prepare clear daily, weekly, monthly, annual and technical reports as required by the assignment.
  • Present estimates, forecasts, cost risks and recommendations to management and government stakeholders.
  • Coordinate with government stakeholders, consultants, contractors and multidisciplinary teams.
  • Attend meetings, inspections and site visits anywhere in Saudi Arabia as required.
  • Comply with Saudi laws, applicable codes, Client procedures, quality requirements and occupational health and safety obligations.

Minimum Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized university.
  • Minimum 12 years of professional experience in cost estimation, cost engineering or project controls.
  • Demonstrated experience preparing estimates for infrastructure, water, dam or asset-maintenance projects.
  • Familiarity with mechanical, hydraulic and pumping-system works.
  • Strong experience analyzing drawings, specifications, work items and bills of quantities.
  • Experience preparing detailed unit rates and resource-based cost build-ups.
  • Knowledge of budgeting, cost forecasting, variance analysis and cost-risk assessment.
  • Experience reviewing quotations, tenders, variations, claims and commercial proposals.
  • Ability to compare estimated and actual costs and recommend corrective actions.
  • Proficiency in specialist estimating, cost-control and project-management software.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills.
  • Strong numerical, analytical, technical-reporting and stakeholder-coordination capabilities.
  • Relevant experience must be supported by verifiable employment records, project references, estimates, reports or studies when requested.

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