Forensic Structural Engineer

Minneapolis, MN | Remote-First with Regional Travel

Overview

We are partnered with a highly respected engineering consultancy to appoint a Forensic Structural Engineer into their growing investigations team in the Minneapolis market.

This is an excellent opportunity for a structural engineer looking to step away from purely design-led work and into a more varied, intellectually engaging role focused on failure analysis, building assessments, site investigations, and defensible technical reporting.

The position offers a unique blend of field work, technical problem-solving, client interaction, and long-term specialist development within a stable, well-supported, and expanding platform.

About the Client

Our client is a long-established and highly regarded engineering consultancy with a strong reputation in the forensic investigations space. They are known for delivering technically robust, evidence-based conclusions across complex and often high-stakes claims, disputes, and property investigations.

Now operating within a broader multidisciplinary engineering platform, they offer access to expertise across a wide range of service lines, including:

• Structural Engineering
• Building Diagnostics
• Repair & Restoration
• Architecture / Building Envelope
• MEP and specialist consulting disciplines

This creates a genuinely collaborative environment where engineers benefit from both deep forensic expertise and the support of a larger national resource base.

What sets this opportunity apart is the combination of:

• Long-term stability in a growing business
• Strong technical credibility and brand recognition
• Access to multidisciplinary expertise
• Clear progression into senior, specialist, and leadership positions
• A remote-first structure with autonomy and flexibility

The Opportunity

This role is ideal for a Structural Engineer who enjoys understanding how buildings perform in the real world, identifying why issues occur, and communicating findings in a way that is both technically sound and easy for clients to understand.

Rather than working on repetitive design work, you will investigate structural issues, assess damage, determine root causes, and deliver clear, defensible conclusions across a diverse mix of projects.

You will gain exposure to a wide range of assignments involving:

• Structural distress and failure
• Foundation movement
• Construction and design deficiencies
• Fire, storm, and impact damage
• Moisture-related deterioration and long-term performance issues

This is a strong long-term move for someone who wants to build a specialist niche in forensic engineering while still working across varied sectors and project types.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct forensic structural investigations across commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential assets
• Perform on-site inspections to assess structural condition, distress, damage, and performance
• Identify and evaluate root causes of structural issues, including foundation movement, material failure, construction defects, loading impacts, and environmental damage
• Analyse drawings, site conditions, photographs, repair history, and other project documentation
• Prepare clear, concise, and technically defensible written reports
• Communicate findings and recommendations directly with clients, insurers, carriers, contractors, legal stakeholders, and internal teams
• Manage projects from initial inspection through to final reporting and resolution
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts on complex investigations
• Contribute to technical quality, best practice, and continued growth of the team

What They're Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in structural and/or civil engineering
• PE licence strongly preferred, or actively working toward licensure
• Background in one or more of the following:
  • Structural assessments
  • Building investigations
  • Repair / rehabilitation design
  • Site inspections or field-based engineering
  • Failure analysis or building envelope / diagnostics work
• Strong technical writing and report-writing capability
• Confident communicator who is comfortable in client-facing situations
• Able to work independently while managing deadlines and priorities remotely
• Curious, analytical, and motivated by problem-solving
• Interest in developing a long-term career within forensic engineering

Why This Role Stands Out

• A genuine opportunity to move beyond traditional design work into a more varied, specialist role
• Exposure to real-world structural behaviour across a broad range of property types and failure scenarios
• Strong onboarding and mentorship for engineers transitioning into forensics
• Opportunity to work alongside highly experienced technical specialists across multiple disciplines
• Clear progression into senior consultant, technical leadership, and specialist practice-building roles
• Stable, growth-oriented platform with significant investment in expansion
• Remote-first working model with flexibility and autonomy
• The chance to build a respected niche skillset in a market with strong long-term demand

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Additional earning potential linked to productivity
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Clear pathway to equity / ownership participation
• Full equipment, expenses, licensing, and professional support provided

Next Steps

If you are a structural engineer who enjoys investigation, site work, technical reporting, and client interaction, and you are looking for a role that offers more variety, autonomy, and long-term specialist development: this is well worth a confidential conversation.