Cost Analyst (Engineering Contracts

Senior Cost Analyst

The Senior Cost Analyst provides knowledge and expertise applying principles, theories and methods of cost estimation and analysis.

Relevant foundations that are helpful include:

• Prior cost estimation experience for DoD, IC, or other government agency
• Analytics background, such as operations research or statistics
• Familiar with Excel formulas, statistical features, and macros
• VBA coding behind Excel is a big plus
• Python and/or R coding for statistics is a big plus
• Acquisition or contract management background
• Aerospace background
• Coding & Machine Learning (ML) - this is a new area the customer is looking to leverage to improve its existing cost estimation models and tools
• ML experience in Python and/or R for regression and classification data is preferred here
• SQL database query skills are beneficial
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) for text search/matching and analysis, since a lot of the contract data and deliverables are text-based
• Another useful skillset is importing/exporting data to Excel using Python or R, as well as sending data from a SQL database to Tableau
• Earned Value Management (EVM) / Integrated Performance Management (IPM)
• Prior EVM or IPM experience is beneficial here
• Statistics, analytics, and coding are similarly helpful for this career track

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 11-16 years' experience with a Bachelor's Degree
• Apply principles, theories and methods of cost estimation to complex Government acquisitions
• Develop cost estimating relationships through the application of advanced statistical analysis techniques
• Ability to collect and normalize data and design cost estimating methods and models
• Develop life-cycle cost estimates using a variety of methods (e.g. parametric, analogy, etc)
• Experience leading life-cycle cost estimates for major system acquisitions
• Ability to identify key cost and technical risk areas, and translate the risk areas into program cost impacts
• Proficient with the application of Monte Carlo simulation techniques
• TS/SCI clearance

Desired:

• Master's Degree in Engineering, Physics, Operations Research, Cost Analysis, Mathematics, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or related disciplines
• Cost estimating experience in the following domain areas:
• Space hardware (bus and payload)
• Space systems (e.g. NASA/Air Force, NRO, Commercial)
• Launch systems
• Ground systems (e.g. mission management, command and control, mission processing, ground terminals, communications networks, data centers)
• Software cost estimating
• Parametric and analogy based estimating
• Data collection and normalization
• Model development
• Method development (e.g. multivariate regression analysis, Monte Carlo simulation, cost improvement curve analysis)
• Technical understanding of satellite systems
• Experience using risk analysis software (e.g. @Risk, Crystal Ball)
• Experience using statistical analysis software (e.g. SAS, SPSS, etc)
• ICEAA certification; either Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCEA) group :