Early Planning Engineer

Overview

About M.C. Dean

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation's most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values-agility, expertise, and trust-we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

The Early Planning Engineer or Data Analyst is both a quarterback and contributor in M.C. Dean's structured early project planning process. This position ensures all required playbook deliverables are developed, validated, and presented within the mandated 30-45 day planning window. The individual coordinates cross-functional input across cost engineering, design, project controls, procurement, safety, quality, and modular manufacturing while also contributing technical or analytical expertise. Success requires balancing technical rigor with leadership, facilitation, and communication skills to prepare the project for the Project Kickoff Meeting (PKOM).

Responsibilities

Quarterbacking the Process

• Lead coordination of all required project planning meetings (Cost Engineering Handoff, Design Kick-Off, Scope/Pricing Validation, PKOM, Gate Check, and Key Project Review).
• Track and drive completion of deliverables such as scope validation, WBS development, procurement plans (Form 7), manpower and labor projections (Forms 2 & 8), risk registers (Form 5), submittal logs (Form 6), and earned value set-up.
• Maintain accountability for adherence to the 30-45 day validation and kickoff timeline.

Individual Contribution

• As an Engineer: contribute design validation, modularization planning, constructability reviews, and VDC coordination.
• As a Data Analyst/Scientist: provide cost modeling, productivity benchmarking, earned value reporting (EVMS), Power BI dashboard analysis, and risk modeling.
• Develop and refine planning tools (P6 schedules, InfraLink, Bluebeam validation sessions, cost control reports) to ensure data integrity and traceability.

Leadership & Facilitation

• Serve as the integrator across estimating, engineering, project controls, procurement, logistics, safety, and quality teams.
• Facilitate workshops, resolve conflicts, and ensure deliverables meet standards before executive review.
• Present key elements of the playbook during the PKOM, defending assumptions and recommendations to SBU executives.

Training & Mentorship

• Train project team members on the use of playbook tools, forms, and processes (e.g., InfraLink, Planner action item tracking, cost validation methods).
• Mentor junior engineers and analysts on structured planning best practices.
• Capture lessons learned during Gate Check and KPR meetings to refine future playbook execution.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field), or
• Bachelor's degree in Data Analytics, Data Science, Mathematics, or related field.

Experience

• 5+ years of engineering, construction, project controls, or data analytics experience.
• Familiarity with estimating systems (Accubid), scheduling (Primavera P6), cost control (CMS, EVMS), and data visualization (Power BI).
• Exposure to structured planning processes, modular design, or commissioning preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong facilitation and communication skills; ability to lead without direct authority.
• Ability to analyze and validate data-driven assumptions for cost, schedule, and scope.
• Proficiency with planning and analytics tools: P6, Excel, Power BI, InfraLink, Bluebeam.
• Strong organizational discipline to manage action items, forms, and deadlines across multiple stakeholders.

Key Attributes for Success

• Operates as both leader and contributor-quarterbacking the playbook process while providing deep technical or analytical value.
• Confident communicator who can present complex planning data clearly to executives.
• Constructive challenger of assumptions, ensuring scope, cost, and schedule are validated before execution.
• Passionate about mentoring and strengthening the planning culture across projects.

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

• A competitive salary
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Paid-time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Military Reserve pay offset
• Paid maternity leave

Abilities:

• Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Identify and understand the speech of another person