Divisional Vice President - Forensics Engineering

Stress Engineering Services•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Vice President, Forensic Engineering serves as a senior technical authority responsible for guiding complex forensic investigations, ensuring the quality and defensibility of engineering deliverables, and providing expert testimony in high-stakes matters. The role emphasizes technical oversight, quality assurance, and thought leadership while supporting strategic growth and development of the practice. The position combines technical review and advising with client and legal-team engagement. The Vice President reviews reports and investigative approaches, guides analysis and testing strategies, evaluates complex failure mechanisms, and prepares for depositions or testimony. The role also mentors engineers and helps strengthen the practice’s credibility and client relationships. Stress Engineering Services is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm serving clients across energy, aerospace, consumer products, medical, and other industries. Its teams combine advanced analysis, hands-on testing, failure analysis, and practical engineering judgment to solve complex engineering problems.

Requirements

Master’s degree in mechanical, civil/structural, materials, chemical, or related engineering field.
Strong command of engineering fundamentals and failure analysis methodologies.
10+ years of experience in forensic consulting, failure analysis, or related fields.
Demonstrated expert witness and testimony experience.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to travel as needed for fieldwork and client engagements.

Nice To Haves

PhD preferred.
Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.) preferred or required.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior technical reviewer and authority on forensic investigations, ensuring accuracy, defensibility, and alignment with engineering fundamentals.
Oversee root cause and failure analyses across mechanical, structural, materials, and industrial systems.
Oversee multiple high-priority projects of varying size and complexity, ensuring quality, consistency, timeliness, and adherence to technical standards.
Ensure evidence-based methodologies, proper documentation, and adherence to professional and regulatory standards.
Establish and reinforce best practices for forensic investigations, reporting, and expert testimony.
Provide leadership and oversight on cause-and-origin investigations involving equipment failures, structural issues, industrial incidents, or product performance.
Direct hands-on field investigations as needed for complex or high-risk matters, including cause-and-origin assessments, engineering analyses, testing strategies, and equipment or system disassembly.
Serve as a testifying expert, including preparing expert reports and participating in depositions and courtroom testimony.
Translate complex engineering findings into clear, credible, and persuasive conclusions for legal and non-technical audiences.
Mentor engineers in engineering judgment, failure analysis, and technical communication.
Conduct detailed technical reviews and coach individuals and teams to improve performance.
Foster a culture of accountability, precision, and continuous learning.
Partner with leadership to ensure consistent technical standards and quality control across projects.
Support strategic client engagements by reinforcing credibility and technical depth.
Collaborate across disciplines to solve complex, multidisciplinary engineering problems.
Support practice growth and client relationships, and contribute engineering insights and expertise to the broader industry.