Electrical Engineer (Remote/Pittsburgh Area)

Job Description:

Our client is seeking a licensed Professional Engineer (Electrical) with a minimum of 10 years of experience in commercial/industrial/institutional/residential building electrical systems design and/or construction to perform electrical related forensic investigations.  Our Senior Forensic Engineers are responsible for all phases of investigation, analysis, and damage evaluation, including but not limited to:

• Maintain, manage, and coordinate individual workload
• Perform damage investigations and failure analysis
• Prepare quality written technical reports detailing analysis and opinions
• Provide litigation support
• Develop rapport with clients to expand business opportunities

This position will handle assignments throughout OH, PA and WV, and the contiguous states of NY, KY, IN and MI.  Regional travel is required (usually day trips; however, longer trips may be required).

This position is hands-on.  Applicants must be in good physical condition, and willing and able to climb ladders, enter fire and/or collapse areas, attics, crawl spaces, etc.  Applicants must possess excellent communication skills.

This position involves hands-on investigative work in the field, with follow-up analysis and report writing.  Excellent writing and speaking skills are a must.  In some situations, our work will lead to litigation, which may require expert testimony in court.  Some marketing and administrative tasks also will be required to support the Vice President.  Marketing tasks may include visits to clients, group presentations, and training seminars.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, with P.E. licensure – must have, or be eligible for NCEES record
• Minimum 10 years of experience in building electrical systems design and/or construction
• Hold or be able to obtain the following certifications:
  • Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (NAFI)

• Experience in forensic investigations or trouble shooting and evaluating electrical systems, and litigation testimony are highly valuable, but not required.  Lack of such experience would require a substitution of extensive design or construction experience.
• Self-motivated, detail oriented and extremely organized

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software
• No current non-compete restrictions
• RFE provides a smoke free environment; non-smokers should apply

Assignments:

Our assignments involve determining cause, separating unrelated damage, evaluating extent of damage, preparing scopes for repair/replacement estimates by in-house estimator, and providing litigation support.

Types of assignments related to electrical systems and components include collapse, fire, design & construction defects, and electrical materials/systems/components defects.

Types of damaged property include single & multi-family housing, hotels, industrial/manufacturing, offices, churches, assembly, restaurants, retail, warehouses, and consumer products.

Examples of Previous Electrical Systems and Equipment Assignments:

• Underground 480-volt feed to a manufacturing plant shorted and caught the transformer on fire.  Evaluated the wiring and underground conduit and determined the sheathing had deteriorated due to the high-water table in the area and loads from delivery trucks had damaged the concrete vault and the conduits, resulting in the cables contacting each other and developing a short.
• Explosion occurred at a large chemical plant.  Assignment was to document the investigation and determine if a product manufactured by the client caused or contributed to the explosion.
• Fire in a single-family residence caused by an improperly installed disconnect switch on the A/C unit.  After extensive investigation determined that the lugs for the primary cables to the disconnect switch were not properly tightened, which resulted in the cables backing out of the lugs, shorting together, and causing the fire.
• Vandals stole copper wiring from a shopping/retail space.  Assignment was to evaluate the damage and develop a repair scope and estimate to replace damaged electrical systems in the building.
• Fire occurred in a large manufacturing facility.  Assignment was to evaluate the damage and develop a repair scope and estimate to replace damaged electrical systems in the building.