Job Overview
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Licensed Civil / Structural Professional Engineer (PE) with specialized expertise in forensic investigations and expert witness testimony. This dynamic role offers the opportunity to lead complex civil and structural forensic analyses, providing critical insights into building failures, structural deficiencies, and construction disputes. As a forensic expert witness, you will collaborate with legal teams, insurance companies, and engineering firms to deliver clear, comprehensive reports and testimony that support resolution of technical disputes. This position is ideal for an energetic professional eager to apply their civil engineering acumen in high-stakes investigative contexts, ensuring safety, compliance, and accountability across diverse projects. The successful candidate will provide defensible engineering opinions, forensic analysis, expert reports, and testimony while maintaining compliance with Florida Statutes Chapter 471 and Florida Board of Professional Engineers (FBPE) rules governing engineering practice, responsible charge, and signing and sealing requirements.
This role will also support mentoring internal engineering staff, enforcing quality standards, and developing case strategies with attorneys, insurance carriers, and technical stakeholders.
Required Licensure & Regulatory Compliance
- Active Florida Professional Engineer (PE) License
- Ability to sign, date, and seal engineering reports, plans, and forensic opinions
- Must maintain responsible charge over engineering documents issued under their seal
- Compliance with Florida Administrative Code 61G15 signing and sealing requirements
Under Florida Statutes Chapter 471, engineering reports, plans, specifications, and other engineering documents issued for public use must be signed, dated, and sealed by the licensed professional engineer responsible for the work.
Responsibilities
- Conduct thorough forensic investigations of civil and structural failures, including site inspections, data collection, and analysis of materials and construction practices.
- Prepare detailed technical reports that clearly articulate findings, methodologies, and conclusions for legal proceedings or dispute resolution.
- Serve as an expert witness in court or arbitration settings, presenting evidence confidently and effectively to support client cases.
- Utilize advanced software tools such as AutoCAD, Revit, Civil 3D, MicroStation, Mathcad, and GIS to model structures, analyze system designs, and document findings accurately.
- Apply project management skills to coordinate investigations efficiently while adhering to deadlines and budget constraints.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to review project schedules, construction documents, geotechnical reports, and system designs for consistency and compliance.
- Assist in developing technical presentations and supporting documentation for client meetings or legal proceedings.
- Stay current with industry standards related to civil engineering practices, forensic methodologies, and relevant codes of practice.
Experience
- Proven licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) specializing in civil or structural engineering with active licensure in the relevant jurisdiction.
- Extensive experience in forensic engineering investigations involving structural failures or construction disputes.
- Demonstrated expertise in project scheduling, project management, and technical writing within civil or geotechnical engineering contexts.
- Proficiency with CAD software including AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit, MicroStation; familiarity with GIS platforms; experience using Bluebeam for document review; knowledge of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) tools for system design assessment.
- Hands-on experience with construction practices, materials testing, geotechnical analysis, and system design principles.
- Strong drafting skills complemented by the ability to interpret complex technical drawings and specifications.
- Excellent communication skills for delivering compelling testimony as an expert witness and preparing comprehensive reports that meet legal standards. Join us if you’re passionate about applying your civil engineering expertise to impactful forensic investigations! We value energetic professionals who thrive on solving complex problems through meticulous analysis and clear communication—making a real difference in safety and accountability across the built environment.
Qualifications
Required:
- Active Florida Professional Engineer (PE) license
- Background in civil, structural, or building engineering
- Strong technical writing and defensible opinion development
- Ability to maintain professional independence in litigation or adversarial environments
- Experience collaborating with attorneys, insurance carriers, adjusters, and technical experts
Preferred:
- Expert witness deposition or courtroom testimony experience
- Multifamily residential building design experience
- Site development and land development engineering experience
- Construction field experience (“boots on the ground”)
- Experience leading technical investigations or engineering teams
Primary Industry Experience Sought
Multifamily Residential & Building Design
- Multifamily residential buildings (apartments and condominiums)
- Mixed-use residential developments
- Structural systems and building envelope components
- Foundations, framing systems, and structural analysis
Site Development & Land Development
- Civil site design and infrastructure
- Grading, drainage, and stormwater management systems
- Utility infrastructure design
- Roadways, parking, and residential development planning
Construction & Field Engineering
- Construction observation and field investigations
- Site inspections and engineering investigations
- Coordination with contractors and developers
- Understanding of construction methods, sequencing, and documentation
Core Responsibilities
Forensic Practice Leadership
- Provide defensible forensic engineering opinions
- Lead investigations involving construction defects, structural failures, and property damage
- Establish and enforce report quality and opinion gating standards
- Maintain forensic playbooks for common loss types
Expert Witness Engagement
- Serve as expert witness on assigned forensic cases
- Define opinion scope and key engineering analyses
- Prepare court-ready technical reports and exhibits
- Participate in deposition preparation and testimony
Quality Assurance & Engineering Oversight
- Review and sign-off forensic reports prior to issuance
- Ensure compliance with Florida signing and sealing requirements
- Maintain documentation standards for defensible engineering opinions
Team Leadership
- Mentor engineers, project managers, and analysts
- Train staff on documentation standards and technical writing
Practice Development
- Maintain referral relationships with insurance carriers, attorneys, and adjusters
- Support growth of forensic engineering services within Florida markets
Reporting Structure
Reports To: Managing Director Direct Reports:
Matrix supervision of Project Managers, Engineers, and Analysts assigned to cases
Typical Case Types Investigated
Structural & Building System Failures
- Structural failures and distress investigations
- Foundation settlement and structural movement
- Framing and load path failures
- Concrete, steel, masonry, and wood structural deficiencies
Construction Defects
- Construction defect investigations for residential and multifamily developments
- Contractor workmanship disputes
- Design deficiencies and construction coordination issues
- Code compliance and engineering standard-of-care evaluations
Building Envelope & Water Intrusion
- Water intrusion and moisture damage investigations
- Roof, window, cladding, and waterproofing failures
- Mold and moisture-related building damage
Weather & Catastrophic Damage
- Hurricane and wind damage investigations
- Storm-related structural damage
- Flooding and drainage-related failures
Site & Land Development Failures
- Retaining wall failures
- Drainage and grading issues
- Site infrastructure failures
- Utility installation disputes
Insurance & Litigation Support
- Property insurance claim investigations
- Litigation support for construction defect claims
- Expert witness analysis and testimony
- Preparation of defensible engineering reports for legal proceedings
Pay: $145,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Are you able to sign, date, and seal engineering, reports, plans, forensic opinions, and maintain charge over engineering documents issued under your seal?
- Do you have expert witness deposition or courtroom testimony experience?
- Do you have "boots on the ground" experience?
- Do you have experience leading technical investigations or engineering teams?
License/Certification:
- Florida Professional Engineer License (Required)
Work Location: Remote
