Project Controller – R&D Projects

Position Summary
The Project Controller – R&D Projects is responsible for the financial oversight of ON.energy’s research and development, product development, and pilot/prototype projects, from budgeting and forecasting through cost control, capitalization and expense treatment, and compliance. This role is a key liaison between Engineering/R&D, Project Management, Accounting, Tax and other departments, ensuring that innovation spend is accurately tracked, reported and governed across the project lifecycle and that leadership has clear visibility into the cost, status and return of the R&D portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• R&D Budgeting and Forecasting: Develop and maintain budgets and forecasts for R&D projects and the overall R&D portfolio, including labor, materials, prototypes, testing, certification and third-party engineering costs; manage cash flow projections
• Stage-Gate Financial Governance: Support stage-gate reviews with cost-to-complete, budget-vs-actual and business-case inputs; flag overruns and scope changes early and support decisions to continue, re-scope or stop projects
• Cost Control & Analysis: Track project costs, analyze variances against budget, and support corrective action plans with project leads and engineering managers
• Labor and Time Tracking: Ensure engineering and staff time is accurately charged to R&D projects, and reconcile time data in NetSuite and HiBob to support allocations and audit-ready documentation
• Capitalization and Accounting Treatment: Partner with Accounting to determine proper treatment of R&D costs (expensed vs. capitalized), including prototype, test equipment and pilot assets, in line with GAAP (ASC 730)
• R&D Tax Credits and Grants: Maintain project-level cost documentation that supports R&D tax credit studies
• Vendor and Contract Oversight: Review and approve purchase orders, invoices and development, testing and supplier agreements for alignment with budget, milestones and proper cost allocation; track commitments and open POs
• Project Monitoring & Reporting: Maintain R&D portfolio dashboards and prepare periodic financial reports for engineering, executive and finance leadership
• Risk & Change Management: Assess financial impacts of technical changes, delays and scope changes, and integrate approved adjustments into forecasts
• Month End Close: Prepare project accruals and cost allocations, review R&D cost reports, and ensure accurate and timely close inputs
• Compliance and Governance: Ensure adherence to corporate, audit and accounting standards (SOX, GAAP) and maintain clear documentation of R&D project costs
• Continuous Improvement: Build repeatable processes, templates and controls for R&D project cost tracking and reporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5-7 years of project-controls, cost-control or financial analysis experience supporting R&D, product development, engineering or technology projects; experience in energy, BESS, manufacturing or EPC environments is a plus.
• Working knowledge of GAAP, including R&D cost treatment and capitalization; familiarity with R&D tax credit documentation preferred.
• Strong proficiency with NetSuite and advanced Excel; Procore and Power BI experience preferred.
• Ability to work with engineers and technical teams, translate technical scope into financial plans, and communicate complex ideas simply.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, drive proactive process improvements, and operate comfortably with ambiguity and changing scope.
• Takes initiative and contributes actively to a fast-growing, results-driven team.