ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Expert Witness Civil Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HKA

Forensic Civil Engineer

HKA is a global leader in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, and expert witness services. We ... The Opportunity HKA is seeking a highly experienced Forensic Civil Engineer with a strong ...

Knott Laboratory LLC

Civil Engineer

Atlanta, GA · Remote

$100K - $130K/yr

Civil Engineer (P.E.) - Premises Liability Location: Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston ... Opportunities forprofessional growth, specialization, and expert witness development. * Supportive ...

Knott Laboratory LLC

Civil Engineer

Denver, CO · Remote

$100K - $130K/yr

Civil Engineer (P.E.) - Premises Liability Location: Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston ... Opportunities forprofessional growth, specialization, and expert witness development. * Supportive ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

People also search for

All JobsExpert Witness Civil Engineer Jobs

Expert Witness Civil Engineer information

See salary details

$34K

$71.4K

$108K

How much do expert witness civil engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for expert witness civil engineer in the United States is $71,360.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,000.00 and $73,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Expert Witness Civil Engineer?

An Expert Witness Civil Engineer is a qualified civil engineer who provides specialized testimony and professional opinions in legal cases, typically related to construction, infrastructure, or engineering disputes. They analyze technical evidence, prepare reports, and may testify in court to help judges and juries understand complex engineering issues. Their expertise is often crucial in resolving lawsuits involving construction defects, safety concerns, or compliance with engineering standards. These professionals must possess strong communication skills and a deep understanding of both engineering principles and legal procedures.

What are some common challenges Expert Witness Civil Engineers face when preparing for court testimony?

Expert Witness Civil Engineers often encounter challenges such as translating complex technical information into clear, understandable language for judges and juries. They must also remain impartial and objective, even when retained by one party, and be prepared for rigorous cross-examination by opposing counsel. Additionally, balancing casework with ongoing professional engineering duties and meeting tight legal deadlines can be demanding. Staying current with changing regulations and standards is also essential to maintain credibility in court.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Expert Witness Civil Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Expert Witness Civil Engineer, you need a solid background in civil engineering, professional licensure (such as PE), and significant experience in your specialty. Familiarity with legal procedures, technical report writing, and presentation tools, as well as certifications in forensic engineering or expert witness training, are commonly required. Exceptional analytical thinking, impartiality, and strong verbal and written communication skills help you convey complex technical information to legal professionals and juries. These skills ensure credibility, clear testimony, and effective support of legal proceedings involving engineering matters.

What is the difference between Expert Witness Civil Engineer vs Structural Engineer?

AspectExpert Witness Civil EngineerStructural Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, licensure, specialized knowledge in civil engineeringEngineering degree, licensure, specialization in structural design
Work EnvironmentLegal settings, courtrooms, consulting for legal casesDesign offices, construction sites, project planning
Employer & Industry UsageLaw firms, insurance companies, government agenciesEngineering firms, construction companies, architectural firms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding role in legal cases, qualifications, and expertiseDesign, analyze, and oversee structural projects

The main difference is that an Expert Witness Civil Engineer provides specialized civil engineering knowledge in legal cases, often testifying in court, while a Structural Engineer focuses on designing and analyzing structures for safety and compliance. Both roles require engineering credentials, but their work environments and industry applications differ significantly.

Infographic showing various Expert Witness Civil Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,360 per year, or $34.3 per hour.

Forensic Civil Engineer

HKA

Remote

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

HKA is a global leader in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, and expert witness services. We tackle complex challenges with our multi-disciplinary expertise.
As trusted consultants and advisors, we deliver solutions in uncertain and disputed situations, ensuring the best outcomes for clients worldwide. Our experts have testified globally on major cases spanning across a wide range of industries and sectors.
As part of the HKA team you can expect:
  • A strong collaborative culture with a mutual pursuit of your success alongside the success of our teams.
  • The opportunity to solve problems creatively, contribute to our innovative direction, and be valued as an individual
  • The ability to leverage HKA's strong network and presence in various industries and reputation for exceptional expert witnesses to accelerate career development and connections.
The Opportunity
HKA is seeking a highly experienced Forensic Civil Engineer with a strong foundation in civil design and a proven track record of expert witness testimony in actual court proceedings. This role focuses exclusively on civil and municipal infrastructure, including transportation systems, utilities, stormwater, water/wastewater facilities, grading, site development, and public works-not structural building failures.
You will lead forensic investigations, determine causation, and provide independent opinions for litigation, insurance claims, and dispute resolution. Ideal candidates bring deep civil design experience and significant courtroom testimony, ensuring they can credibly evaluate design intent, standards of care, and construction performance.
Responsibilities
Forensic & Litigation Consulting
  • Lead forensic investigations involving horizontal civil infrastructure, including:
    • Transportation/roadways and pavement systems
    • Stormwater, drainage, and hydrologic/hydraulic systems
    • Water/wastewater treatment, pump stations, distribution/collection systems
    • Utilities (water, sewer, gas, telecom)
    • Site development, grading, earthwork, erosion/sediment control
  • Conduct site inspections and civil-focused root cause analyses following failures, flooding events, pavement distress, service disruptions, and construction or design disputes.
  • Prepare clear, defensible forensic reports for use in litigation and arbitration.
  • Provide expert witness testimony in court (depositions, mediations, arbitration, and trial), including experiences as the engineer of record for courtroom proceedings.
  • Collaborate with attorneys, insurers, municipal agencies, owners, and multidisciplinary experts to develop integrated evaluations.
  • Advise clients on remediation strategies, design issues, standards of care, and civil system performance.
Civil Engineering Expertise
  • Apply extensive experience in civil design, including:
    • Roadway and transportation design
    • Stormwater system and drainage design (H&H, SWM, E&S)
    • Utility design (water, sewer, dry utilities)
    • Grading, land development, and municipal/public works projects
    • Pavement design and evaluation
    • Water/wastewater facility or system design
  • Review design plans, specifications, calculations, permitting documents, and construction records for compliance and standard of care.
  • Perform or direct field diagnostics such as flow testing, drainage investigations, pavement assessments, and civil system evaluations.
  • Develop remediation and repair recommendations tailored to civil infrastructure failures.
Qualifications and Experience
  • Bachelor's degree or above in Civil Engineering.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license required; NCEES record preferred.
  • 15+ years of civil engineering experience, with substantial civil design background (transportation, stormwater, utilities, municipal engineering, water/wastewater, or site development).
  • 2+ years of Forensic Engineering experience
  • 1+ years documented experience providing expert witness testimony in court, including depositions and trial testimony.
  • Strong analytical capabilities in forensic evaluation, hydrology/hydraulics, civil system diagnostics, and failure analysis.
  • Exceptional communication skills for technical reporting and courtroom testimony.
  • Willingness to travel for site investigations and client engagements.
  • Physical ability to perform field assessments.

Preferred but not required:
  • Multi‑state PE licensure.
  • PTOE or transportation/traffic engineering expertise.
  • Municipal/public agency plan review experience.
  • Stormwater/NPDES permitting experience.
  • Design or forensic experience involving drainage failures, pavement performance issues, flooding events, erosion/sediment issues, utility failures, or land‑development infrastructure performance.

What we offer:
At HKA we recognize that our people are critical to our ongoing success. Our priority is to provide an inclusive and collaborative culture aimed at providing the best opportunities for our people to thrive and develop in their chosen career path.
Our Global Recruitment team is committed to providing an authentic candidate experience for all those who take the time to apply to HKA. We are committed to providing an efficient and insightful recruitment process giving candidates a true reflection of life at HKA.
Fairness and Equality at HKA:
HKA works hard to provide a welcoming environment for all of our employees. We are committed as a business on the continued improvement of our fairness and equality strategy. Please visit our careers page for further information or feel free to ask our recruitment team for further information.
All HKA employment decisions shall be made in accordance with controlling laws and based on merit.
Stay Alert: Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams
Please be aware that HKA only publishes official job postings on our website (Join Us | HKA) and on verified job boards. We will never ask for sensitive personal information during the job application process. If you have any doubts, we recommend you visit our website to verify job listings before applying. If you would like more confirmation, please feel free to email us at enquiries@hka.com to check the authenticity of a job posting.
Department Forensic Technical Services (FTS) Locations United States Remote status Fully Remote Employment type Full-time

Apply