About Meridian
Meridian is a specialized consulting firm focused on program scheduling, program planning, and project controls for complex, high-stakes environments. We support aerospace, defense, and other technical industries by delivering high-quality scheduling, cost management, earned value management, risk analysis, and performance management solutions aligned with industry standards such as EVMS and DCAA compliance.
As a trusted subcontractor to government and prime contractors, our team provides expert-level support across both schedule and cost disciplines. This includes schedule development, maintenance, and analysis, as well as cost baseline management, EAC/ETC forecasting, variance analysis, and EVMS implementation when required. Our work helps clients improve execution, reduce risk, and maintain compliance across their programs.
We place a strong emphasis on technical excellence, responsiveness, and integrity. Our consultants bring deep domain expertise and leverage custom-built tools and automation to deliver efficient, data-driven insights across integrated cost and schedule environments.
Meridian is a growing firm with a collaborative, high-performance culture, offering the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, mission-critical programs.
About the role
- We are seeking a Senior Program Controls Analyst to lead cost and earned value management efforts on complex, mission-critical programs within aerospace and defense environments.
- This role is responsible for driving program financial integrity, ensuring forecasts reflect execution reality, and providing leadership with clear, decision-quality insight. You will operate as a trusted partner to Program Managers and Control Account Managers (CAMs), owning the financial narrative of the program.
What you'll do
- Lead development and maintenance of program cost baselines, including time-phased budgets and control account structures
- Own Earned Value Management (EVM) processes within Deltek Cobra, ensuring data integrity and compliance with EVMS guidelines
- Develop, analyze, and defend Estimates at Completion (EAC) and Estimates to Complete (ETC)
- Perform deep-dive variance analysis and clearly articulate root causes, impacts, and forward-looking risks
- Partner directly with CAMs and program leadership to validate performance, challenge assumptions, and improve forecast accuracy
- Lead monthly program financial reviews, including internal leadership briefings and customer-facing deliverables
- Reconcile cost, schedule, and accounting data across systems (Cobra, ERP, timekeeping) to ensure consistency and audit readiness
- Support baseline change control processes, including BCR development, impact analysis, and implementation
- Ensure compliance with ANSI/EIA-748 EVMS guidelines and support DCMA/DCAA audits and surveillance activities
- Identify cost risks and opportunities and proactively drive mitigation strategies
Qualifications
- 7+ years of experience in program controls, cost management, or earned value management
- Advanced, hands-on experience with Deltek Cobra (required)
- Strong expertise in EVMS principles and ANSI/EIA-748 compliance
- Proven experience developing and defending EACs/ETCs at the program or control account level
- Experience working directly with CAMs and program leadership in a client-facing environment
- High proficiency in Excel and large dataset analysis
- Strong ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights
- Experience in aerospace and defense required
- Experience with Deltek Costpoint or equivalent ERP systems
- Background supporting DCMA or DCAA audits, IBRs, or surveillance reviews
- Familiarity with integrated cost/schedule environments and cross-functional program controls
- Experience leading or mentoring junior analysts
- Active or eligible for a U.S. security clearance
