Forensic Mechanical Engineer

Overview
Provides failure analysis and forensic consulting services requiring mechanical engineering expertise for insurance, legal, industrial, and other clients. Evaluates injury, equipment, and property damage claims caused by alleged issues with products, heavy equipment, machines, HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression, and other mechanical systems. Provides oral and written reports of findings, technical guidance to clients, and, when needed, expert testimony. Although this is a remote position, you must reside in the territory of Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing or Grand Rapids.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs failure analysis for forensic assignments within the field of mechanical engineering expertise based on a scope of work and budget prepared by the consultant and agreed upon by the client before performing the work.
• Investigates how and why an incident occurred, including identifying the origin, failure mechanism, and root cause of the incident, as well as the role of the mechanical system in question.
• Inspects sites/products/equipment/systems; performs electronic data retrieval and analysis of commercial and non-commercial equipment; documents site/product conditions and determines cause and origin of damage; performs site surveys with total station survey, scanners, drones, and other means of 3D documentation; performs mechanical engineering calculations; prepares CAD-based and manual sketches as required; orders and evaluates required laboratory testing and performs analyses.
• Reviews and interprets relevant codes, standards, drawings, specifications, technical manuals, peer-reviewed literature, data logs, and other documentation to evaluate the compliance of the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the subject product, equipment, or system.
• Conducts various analyses, including, but not limited to, industrial safety and accidents; equipment and machinery design and failure; product liability; and design and safety.
• Provides support on fire and explosion investigations involving mechanical systems, products, and equipment.
• Initiates, develops, and maintains mutually beneficial client relationships.

Requirements

Required Education and Certifications

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree or higher.
• P.E. required.
• 2-10+ years of experience, including knowledge of products, machine design, HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression systems, and/or other mechanical equipment/systems/processes.
• Project Management and/or Field Investigation experience required Strongly preferred.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Must have a high level of analytical skill. Work requires continual attention to detail with the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.