Forensic Water/Wastewater Engineer

Responsibilities

• Lead forensic investigations involving water and wastewater infrastructure, including treatment facilities, pump stations, pipelines, storage, valves, and collection/distribution systems.
• Conduct site inspections and evidence collection following failures, service disruptions, flooding events, equipment malfunctions, and construction or operational disputes.
• Determine cause, origin, extent, and contributing factors, including assessment of design intent, construction practices, commissioning, operations, maintenance, 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 options, risk mitigation, operational changes, and dispute resolution strategy.

Technical Water/Wastewater Expertise

• Review and analyze drawings, specifications, calculations, O&M manuals, SCADA/controls records, commissioning documentation, maintenance logs, and incident/failure history.
• Evaluate hydraulic performance and capacity constraints (e.g., HGL issues, surge/water hammer considerations, pump curves, system head, I/I impacts) and identify design or operational deficiencies.
• Assess treatment process performance and compliance considerations, including unit process selection, process control, reliability, and failure modes.
• Perform or direct field diagnostics and data analysis, such as flow testing, pressure testing, CCTV/condition assessment, pump station performance evaluation, and equipment failure analysis.
• Develop technically sound repair and mitigation recommendations, including prioritization of corrective actions and constructability considerations.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering; advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
• 10–15+ years of water and/or wastewater engineering experience, including treatment, conveyance, or utility operations.
• Experience with plant design, hydraulic analysis, and system performance evaluation.
• Demonstrated forensic engineering and dispute consulting experience.
• Minimum 1+ year of experience serving as an Expert Witness, with formal testimony provided in depositions, arbitration, and/or court proceedings.
• Strong client delivery and relationship management experience.
• Experience contributing to business development, proposal support, and client relationship expansion.

About the Role

HKA is seeking a Forensic Water / Wastewater Engineer to investigate failures and disputes involving treatment plants, conveyance systems, pump stations, and utility infrastructure throughout the United States. This role combines technical depth in water systems with forensic investigation and expert testimony responsibilities.

You will work directly with legal counsel and utility owners to assess causation, standard of care, and responsibility in contested matters. This position is ideal for an experienced water or wastewater engineer interested in applying operational and design expertise in a consulting and expert witness capacity.

Benefits

We offer a strong collaborative culture, opportunities to solve problems creatively, and the ability to leverage HKA’s strong network and reputation for exceptional expert witnesses to accelerate career development and connections.

Pay

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Schedule

The role is fully remote.

Department

Forensic Technical Services (FTS)

Locations

United States

Employment Type

Full-time

About HKA

HKA is one of the world’s leading consultancy of choice for multi-disciplinary expert and specialist services in risk mitigation and dispute resolution within the capital projects and infrastructure sector.

We also have experience advising clients on the economic impact of commercial and investment treaty disputes and in forensic accounting matters.

As trusted independent consultants, experts and advisors, we deliver solutions amid uncertainty, dispute and overrun, and provide the insights that make the best possible outcomes a reality for public and private sector clients worldwide.