Forensic Systems Engineer/Scientist – Aerospace, Defense & Telecom (Ph.D.)

About the company

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges. The firm engages multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, Exponent has connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.

• 950+ Consultants
• 640+ Ph.D.s
• 90+ Disciplines
• 30+ Offices globally

About the role

Exponent is seeking a Forensic Systems Engineer/Scientist – Aerospace, Defense & Telecom for the Computer, Data & Security Sciences Practice in New York, NY. In this role, you will work as part of a team engaging in both software and hardware analysis of various systems and products, providing scientific and engineering insight for a diverse range of challenges faced by clients in commercial, government, military technology, legal services, and electric utilities. You will conduct investigative analyses such as software code reviews, product teardowns, reverse engineering, safety assessments, system design reviews, modeling and simulation, and failure mode and fault tree analysis. The role requires assessments supporting operational disputes (root-cause failure analysis, project management delays, standard of care, etc.) and intellectual property disputes (patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, etc.) across advanced technology sectors, including telecommunications networks, aerospace/satellite systems, naval/maritime vessels, and power generation utilities. You will be expected to demonstrate continued professional growth in technical areas relevant to your expertise and in business skills essential to providing effective consulting services.

Responsibilities

• Performing technical analyses (e.g., laboratory and/or field investigations, numerical analysis, modeling and simulation, test design, etc.) related to ongoing Exponent work
• Analyzing source code, embedded software, and hardware schematics
• Evaluating design, implementation, and maintenance of systems in comparison to industry standards and regulatory requirements
• Analyzing project lifecycles, engineering design changes, and systemic project management failures in complex engineering, procurement, and construction contracts
• Evaluating project execution records across both traditional Waterfall and Agile/Scrum frameworks to pinpoint delays, scope creep, and systemic failures in delivery of complex systems and critical infrastructure
• Investigating the design of various technologies through software code reviews, reverse engineering, and product teardowns
• Presenting technical results and solutions to a diverse audience through verbal, written, and interactive communication
• Preparing technical proposals to capture new business, including proposals for the Department of Defense
• Pursuing business development opportunities and contributing to growth of the practice through your technical expertise and professional network

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Applied Physics or a related field
• Experience in aerospace, defense, telecommunication, or power industries
• Knowledge of software, hardware, and systems development life cycles, including Waterfall, Agile/Scrum, and Hybrid engineering formats
• Familiarity with requirements traceability, verification, and validation
• An understanding of investigative analysis for troubleshooting technical issues and solving technical challenges
• Experience with finite element analysis, numerical analysis, modeling, and/or simulation of devices, systems, and/or networks
• Experience with at least one common programming language such as Python, C/C++, Java, MATLAB, or similar
• Technical hands-on laboratory experience in the areas of electronics, power systems, robotics, controls, ML/AI, semiconductors, renewable energy, or related fields
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, and ability to work independently or in multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to gather information and convey technical conclusions to individuals in engineering, business, and related industry
• Interest in learning and working with a wide range of devices and systems that span a broad array of consumer and industrial applications, including both hardware and software elements of these systems
• Experience with government projects, proposals, and contracts a plus

Additional requirements

• This position may require occasional travel