Senior Consultant, Mechanical Engineering

Rimkus•Seattle, WA

About The Position

Provides forensic consulting services requiring mechanical engineering expertise for insurance, legal, industrial, and other clients. Evaluates injury and property damage claims involving commercial products, heavy equipment, machinery, and HVAC/plumbing systems that are not working properly. Provides oral and written reports of findings and, when needed, expert testimony. Performs forensic assignments within an agreed-upon scope of work and budget. Investigates incidents, inspects sites, products, and equipment, retrieves and analyzes electronic data, documents conditions, determines damage cause and origin, performs engineering calculations and surveys, prepares sketches, and arranges or evaluates laboratory testing. Analyses may cover industrial safety and accidents, equipment and system design and failure, product liability, and design and safety. Field investigations include determining the causes of construction defects or mechanical and structural failures. The consultant gathers photographic evidence, documents on-site conditions, oversees field testing, and reviews historical records. They prepare reports describing causes of failure, extent of loss, repair scope, and recommended remediation, and provide opinions and expert testimony in litigation. The role manages multiple projects, coordinates with experts and support staff, follows applicable procedures and safety requirements, and may supervise or evaluate associate team members. It also involves maintaining client relationships and following land-use laws and regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or higher.
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license required.
2–10 years of experience, including knowledge of machinery and equipment.
Project management and/or field investigation experience required.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
High level of analytical skill and continual attention to detail, including the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to communicate and interact with clients and fellow consultants at all levels, internally and externally.
Knowledge of computer software applications, including Microsoft Office and computer-assisted engineering and design software.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical reports, journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to write clear scopes of work, budget estimates, schedules, reports of findings, proposals, correspondence, and other technical documents.
Ability to respond to inquiries and present information effectively to management, clients, public groups, and boards of directors.

Responsibilities

Perform forensic assignments within the agreed scope of work and budget.
Investigate incidents and determine whether they resulted from mechanical or system causes.
Inspect sites, products, and equipment; retrieve and analyze electronic data; document conditions; and determine the cause and origin of damage.
Perform site surveys using total station survey equipment, mechanical engineering calculations, and required CAD-based or manual sketches.
Order and evaluate laboratory testing and conduct analyses, including industrial safety and accidents, equipment and machinery/system design and failure, product liability, and design and safety.
Conduct field investigations into construction defects and mechanical or structural failures, gathering photographic evidence, documenting site conditions, overseeing field testing, and reviewing historical documentation.
Prepare oral and written reports documenting failure causes, extent of loss, repair scope, and recommended remediation; provide opinions and expert testimony when needed.
Manage multiple projects and coordinate with other experts and support staff to deliver client reports in a timely manner.
Follow applicable procedures and safety requirements, check project safety features, and follow land-use laws and regulations.
Initiate, develop, and maintain mutually beneficial client relationships.
May supervise and/or evaluate the performance of associate team members.