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Forensic Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TekSky

Structural Engineer & Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

We require a master's degree in structural engineering for our traditional practice areas (healthcare, education, science & technology) but we are open to BS candidates with a background in forensic ...

Blueprint Hires

Forensic Consultant

Palo Alto, CA

A multi-disciplinary architectural, engineering and construction firm is seeking a Forensic Consultant and play a vital role in supporting Project Managers and Principals with construction ...

Walter P Moore

Engineer - Diagnostics

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

The engineer should have experience and interest in the area of restoration, rehabilitation, renovation, water infiltration, building envelope issues in addition to forensic engineering work. The ...

Walter P Moore

Engineer - Diagnostics

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

The engineer should have experience and interest in the area of restoration, rehabilitation, renovation, water infiltration, building envelope issues in addition to forensic engineering work. The ...

Walter P Moore

Engineer - Diagnostics

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

The engineer should have experience and interest in the area of restoration, rehabilitation, renovation, water infiltration, building envelope issues in addition to forensic engineering work. The ...

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All JobsForensic Engineer JobsForensic Engineer Jobs in California

Forensic Engineer information

See California salary details

$42.9K

$126.7K

$320.7K

How much do forensic engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for forensic engineer in California is $126,693.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,400.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a forensic engineer?

To thrive as a Forensic Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, analytical problem-solving, and an accredited engineering degree, often paired with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with specialized investigation tools, CAD software, and report-writing systems is typically required. Exceptional attention to detail, critical thinking, and effective written and verbal communication skills help you stand out in this role. These competencies are essential for accurately analyzing incidents, preparing clear technical reports, and providing credible expert testimony in legal contexts.

What does a forensic engineer do?

A forensic engineer investigates failures, accidents, or damages to determine their causes and liability. They analyze physical evidence, conduct inspections, and prepare reports often used in legal cases, requiring skills in engineering, problem-solving, and knowledge of relevant codes and standards.

Are forensic engineers in demand?

Forensic engineers are in steady demand due to their role in investigating failures, accidents, and structural issues across various industries. Employment opportunities are often linked to construction, insurance, and legal sectors, with a need for strong technical skills and relevant certifications. The field is expected to grow as infrastructure and safety regulations evolve.

What is a forensic engineer?

A forensic engineer specializes in accident and failure analysis of structures or product that have failed to perform correctly and to discover whether there is a design flaw. As a forensic engineer, your responsibilities include examining the product or structure that did not perform as intended, collecting and analyzing the evidence and making recommendations for future preventative measures. Your job is to oversee the investigation of the design, materials, and all other contributing factors in the failure, to prevent future incidents.

What is the difference between Forensic Engineer vs Structural Engineer?

AspectForensic EngineerStructural Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, Professional Engineer (PE) license, specialized training in accident or failure analysisEngineering degree, PE license, focus on structural design and analysis
Work EnvironmentInvestigations, courtrooms, consulting firms, insurance companiesConstruction sites, design offices, consulting firms
Industry UsageLegal cases, failure analysis, accident investigationsBuilding design, construction, structural assessments

While both roles require engineering credentials and a PE license, forensic engineers focus on investigating failures and providing expert testimony in legal cases, often working in investigative and courtroom settings. Structural engineers primarily design and analyze structures, working on construction projects and structural assessments. The two roles overlap in engineering expertise but differ in their primary functions and work environments.

What are some common challenges forensic engineers face during investigations?

Forensic engineers often encounter challenges such as incomplete or damaged evidence, tight deadlines, and the need to communicate complex technical findings to non-experts like legal teams or juries. They must meticulously document their work and maintain objectivity, as their analyses may be scrutinized in court. Collaboration with other specialists, such as law enforcement or insurance investigators, is key to piecing together accurate conclusions from limited information.
More about Forensic Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Forensic Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Forensic Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Forensic Engineer jobs in California? For Forensic Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Forensic Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Forensic Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Forensic Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Forensic Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Forensic Engineer jobs in CA? For Forensic Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Forensic Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Forensic Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 68% In-person, 16% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,693 per year, or $60.9 per hour.

Digital Forensic Analyst I

CGS Federal (Contact Government Services)

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
CGS Federal is seeking a Digital Forensic Analyst whose primary focus will be on the preservation and collection of mobile device and cloud-stored data. The role involves performing forensic data collection, coordinating with legal teams, and maintaining forensic tool sets in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities:
• Perform forensic data collection and basic forensic analysis in both on-site and remote capacity
• Coordinate directly with legal teams/client IT departments to understand project scope
• Maintain forensic tool set by staying current on version updates and new options in the market
• Work closely with project management and other team members on completing complex projects in a fast pace, deadline-driven environment
• Assist in developing, documenting, and refining procedures to accomplish discovery process requirements
• Manage all chain of custody best practices associated with the rules of evidence
• Consistently adhere to standard operating procedures
• Perform quality checks on work products prior to delivering to the client
• Complete additional duties assigned by the manager including general IT functions
Qualifications:
Required:
• Minimum of an undergraduate degree, preferably in Digital Forensic Science or Computer Science/Engineering
• 1+ years of relevant experience in where the analyst understands the forensic lifecycle and can properly perform scoping activities, evidence acquisitions on a range of devices, and execute forensic analysis at an intermediate level
• Experience using industry standard forensic tools such as: EnCase, Cellebrite, Oxygen, FTK Imager, MacQuisition, X1 Social Discovery, Logicube Falcon
• General understanding of Mac/Windows filesystems, mobile devices, and encryption
• Experience preserving desktops, laptops, mobile devices/tablets, servers, both cloud and on-premise email implementations, nontraditional cloud data sources, social media, etc. in a forensically sound manner
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully in both verbally and in written format to team members and technical/non-technical clients
• Ability to work extended hours when necessary to ensure client deadlines are met
• Ability to demonstrate superior organizational skills with acute attention to detail
• Must be willing to travel regularly on short notice; must have a valid passport for occasional international travel
• Must be an energetic self-starter who can work within a team environment but also independently as the situation requires
• Ability to document forensic workflows based on sound industry practice
• Willingness to develop/train other team members to increase the group’s overall knowledge base as well as cultivate secondary resources to assist in larger collection events
• Strong troubleshooting skills coupled with the ability to solve on the fly to solve complex problems
Preferred:
• Understanding of the electronic discovery reference model (EDRM)
• Possess at least one industry-standard certification (EnCE, CCE, CCFE, GCFE, GCFA, CCO, CCPA, CCME, etc.)
• General knowledge of litigation support applications (e.g. Relativity, Concordance, Nuix, LAW PreDiscovery, etc.)
• Experience working with structured data exported from various platforms including analysis, custom scripting, and data manipulation to develop reports for client use
• Understanding of (Robo/Rich) copy tools, BAT (PowerShell) scripting, and Active Directory
• Experience with scripting, programming/coding, and database languages (SQL, VB, HTML, Access)
Company:
Contact Government Services strives to simplify and enhance government bureaucracy through the optimization of human, technical, and financial resources. Founded in , the company is headquartered in Washington, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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