Forensic Highway/Bridge Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead forensic investigations involving bridge and highway assets, including superstructure/substructure components, bearings/joints, decks, approach slabs, retaining walls, roadway geometry, drainage interfaces, and related civil works.
• Carry out site inspections and evidence collection following failures, load events, deterioration concerns, construction deficiencies, inspection disputes, or incident-related claims.
• Determine cause, origin, extent, and contributing factors, including evaluation of design intent, construction practices, inspection/maintenance history, load rating practices, and lifecycle performance.
• Prepare independent, litigation-ready expert reports (and supporting exhibits) for arbitration, mediation, and court proceedings, addressing causation, standard of care, and responsibility.
• Provide expert witness testimony in depositions, arbitration, and/or court, including testimony under cross-examination.
• Collaborate with attorneys, insurers, owners, contractors, and other technical experts to develop coordinated expert opinions and respond to opposing expert positions.
• Advise clients on remediation/repair options, risk mitigation, and dispute resolution strategy, including evaluation of constructability and safety considerations.

Technical Bridge / Highway Engineering Expertise

• Review and analyze drawings, specifications, calculations, inspection reports, load ratings, as-builts, maintenance records, and construction documentation.
• Evaluate deterioration mechanisms and performance drivers (e.g., corrosion, fatigue, cracking, scour/hydraulic impacts, joint/bearing performance, concrete distress) and link findings to standard-of-care expectations.
• Assess compliance with applicable codes and standards and inspection guidance (e.g., AASHTO, FHWA/NBIS as applicable, state DOT criteria).
• Perform or direct technical analyses such as load rating review, condition/deterioration assessment, fracture/fatigue evaluation (as applicable), and construction quality review.
• Develop technically sound repair, rehabilitation, and mitigation recommendations, including prioritization of corrective actions and long-term performance considerations.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Structural Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state required; multi-state licensure preferred.
• Minimum 1+ year of experience serving as an Expert Witness, with formal testimony provided in depositions and/or court proceedings.
• 10+ years of highway and/or bridge engineering experience, including design, inspection, or rehabilitation.
• Experience with bridge inspection standards, load rating, and deterioration assessment.
• Demonstrated forensic engineering and litigation consulting experience.
• Strong client delivery, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Experience supporting business development efforts, proposal preparation, and client engagement.