JOB SUMMARY:
Principled Engineering Consultants (PEC) is a fast growing and reputable expert witness forensic engineering firm. PEC is a member-company of 777 Partners Group – a private equity company that provides the funding for PEC and many other companies. This private equity backing has allowed for PEC to grow its plaintiff and defense clientele and only provide work products that are unbiased, defensible, and fundamentally sound in engineering principles. PEC’s detailed inspection methods and technical reports serve as aid in settling property insurance disputed cases through forensic cause and origin investigations of structural failures, water intrusions, roof damage, construction defects, and more for properties ranging from residential claims to multi-million-dollar commercial buildings and condominiums. PEC’s practice is centered on Reliability, Integrity and Excellent Client Service. The specifics of the duties and responsibilities of a Senior Forensic Engineer (PE) are detailed below.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Primarily responsible for heading PEC production, including preparing and drafting of Technical Reports, Photo Reports, and assisting with research of background documentation or technical publications, or delegating such tasks to Staff Engineers (EI) to keep production moving forward.
- Ability to adapt and quickly learn the field of forensic engineering and the qualities that make an effective expert witness.
- Either individually or as the lead engineer of a team, perform site inspections and investigations for residential and commercial properties to analyze and determine the cause, origin, and extent of structural failures, water intrusions, roof damage, construction defects, and building system failures. This includes investigations related to catastrophic events such as storm damage, hurricanes, and floods.
- Serve as the expert witness on any claim in which the individual acted as the lead engineer. This includes signing and sealing the technical reports and, when necessary, sitting for depositions and trials as the licensed expert engineer on the case.
- Must perform any duties necessary to uphold the engineer’s professional license and keep it current and active.
- Exhibit the capability to manage multiple concurrent projects and assume responsibility for execution of the project within a set time frame or deadline.
SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE / ABILITIES
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills – these will be necessary to write effective technical reports and discuss claims with attorney clients. Effective communication skills are a crucial part of delivering sound and confident expert witness testimony during depositions and trial.
- Demonstrate the capability to work effectively as a team with other engineers to accomplish tasks and projects in a timely manner, be it in a support role of another Senior Engineer or as the lead of other Staff Engineers.
- Perform rigorous inspections in hot climates (South Florida), including investigations of roof surfaces and the ability to crawl through and inspect attic spaces of residential structures.
- The candidate will work directly with the VP and Principal Engineer on cases to ensure consistency in standards and training of younger staff engineers and inspectors.
- Perform all work in accordance with PEC inspection protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Help mentor younger engineers to continue to build a strong organization of expert forensic engineers and a practice focused on Integrity and Excellent Client Service.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Graduated from an ABET-accredited university with a BS degree in either Mechanical or Civil Engineering (master’s degree or PhD preferred).
- Must be an active licensed Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering preferred). Licensed Professional Engineer for 5 years (preferred).
- Forensic investigation inspection experience, especially regarding roof damage evaluations (preferred).
- Deposition/expert witness testimony experience (preferred).
- Master’s degree in Civil or Construction Engineering (preferred).
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES
- The engineer must have an active Professional Engineer license, preferably in Civil Engineering, and preferably for over 5 years.
- Any additional certifications regarding home inspections or construction would be an incredible benefit and asset (examples include Haag Inspector certifications or General Contractor license, etc.)
KEY PERFORMANCE IDICATORS
- Short Term – Become comfortable enough to perform an entire cause and origin damage investigation and serve as the lead engineer on the case, including sealing the report with the knowledge and intention of serving as the expert witness if the case goes to deposition or trial. – 6 months following hire date.
- Medium Term – Obtain a new license that would not only serve as an asset to the team but would greatly improve the individual's status as an expert witness (in addition to the active PE license, this could include inspection/construction certifications or licenses). – 2 years following hire date.
- Long Term – Serve as the expert witness/Lead Engineer on more claims, be it number of claims or claim values, than the previous year for consecutive years. – 4 years following hire date.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms. The employee is rarely required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
EEOC
777 Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All aspects of consideration for employment and employment with the Company are governed on the bases of merit, competence and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.