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Forensic Structural Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Thornton Tomasetti, Inc.

Structural Associate

Chicago, IL · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

... engineering and architectural issues. Your Role As an Associate in our Forensics Practice, you'll ... Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, or Architectural Engineering; Master's or PhD preferred.

Tt

Structural Associate

Chicago, IL · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

... engineering and architectural issues. Your Role As an Associate in our Forensics Practice,you ... Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, or Architectural Engineering;Master'sor PhD preferred.

Walter P Moore

Engineer - Diagnostics

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

The qualified candidate will have relevant experience acquiring Structural Diagnostics business ... forensics related work. This engineer will also assist in marketing, business development and ...

Socotec

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL

$150K - $225K/yr

Conduct forensic investigations and litigation support for expert witness services. * Able to ... Minimum Bachelor's Degree, Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering preferred.

SOCOTEC

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$150K - $225K/yr

Conduct forensic investigations and litigation support for expert witness services. * Able to ... Minimum Bachelor's Degree, Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering preferred.

Socotec

Principal Engineer

Chicago, IL

Conduct forensic investigations and litigation support for expert witness services. * Able to ... Minimum Bachelor's Degree, Master of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering preferred.

Knott Laboratory LLC

Civil Engineer

Chicago, IL · Remote

$100K - $130K/yr

... structural concerns, accessibility issues). * Evaluate building design, construction, and ... Writing technical or forensic engineering reports * Strong knowledge of building codes, safety ...

Walter P Moore

Diagnostics Intern

Chicago, IL

$27.60 - $38.40/hr

Demonstrated interest in forensics engineering, building envelope rehabilitation, etc. * Excellent ... Providing structural, diagnostics, civil, traffic, parking, transportation, enclosure, WPM ...

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All JobsForensic Structural Engineer JobsForensic Structural Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Forensic Structural Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$44.8K

$118.9K

$172.6K

How much do forensic structural engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for forensic structural engineer in Chicago, IL is $118,930.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,900.00 and $138,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by forensic structural engineers when investigating building failures?

Forensic structural engineers often encounter challenges such as limited access to damaged or hazardous sites, incomplete or missing construction records, and the need to differentiate between original construction flaws and damage caused by external factors like weather or accidents. Collaborating with legal teams, insurance adjusters, and other engineering specialists is common, requiring excellent communication and documentation skills. The role frequently involves balancing investigative rigor with tight deadlines, especially when findings will be used in legal or insurance contexts.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Forensic Structural Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Forensic Structural Engineer, you need a solid background in civil or structural engineering, typically with a bachelor's or master's degree and a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with structural analysis software, building codes, and forensic investigation tools is crucial for accurately evaluating failures. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set professionals apart in this field. These skills and qualifications are essential for accurately diagnosing structural issues, presenting findings clearly, and ensuring safety and accountability in the built environment.

What Is the Job of a Forensic Structural Engineer?

A forensic structural engineer handles the investigation and inspection of building structures to ensure compliance with industry regulation and discover reasons for failure. Your primary responsibilities in this career have you analyzing damage to structures, identifying causes of structural failures, and preparing reports on your findings. Your duties may also include developing protocols for dealing with compliance issues, reviewing photos and site information, and researching code specifications. A forensic structural engineer often works on multiple projects, visits various field sites, and collaborates with several team members.

What are forensic structural engineers?

Forensic structural engineers are professionals who investigate and analyze structures that have failed, been damaged, or are performing unsatisfactorily. Their work involves determining the causes of structural failures, such as building collapses, material degradation, or design errors, often as part of legal or insurance cases. They use engineering principles, site inspections, material testing, and historical research to identify problems and provide recommendations for remediation or legal proceedings. Forensic structural engineers often serve as expert witnesses in court and help prevent similar failures in the future by sharing their findings.

What is the difference between Forensic Structural Engineer vs Structural Engineer?

AspectForensic Structural EngineerStructural Engineer
CredentialsEngineering degree, PE license, specialized training in failure analysisEngineering degree, PE license, design and analysis certifications
Work EnvironmentInvestigations, courtrooms, consulting firmsDesign firms, construction sites, consulting
Industry UsageLegal cases, failure investigations, insurance claimsBuilding design, construction projects, infrastructure

While both roles require engineering credentials and involve structural analysis, forensic structural engineers focus on investigating structural failures and providing expert testimony, whereas structural engineers primarily design and analyze structures for new projects. The forensic role is more investigative and often involves legal or insurance contexts, while the structural engineer role is centered on construction and design.

More about Forensic Structural Engineer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Forensic Structural Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? For Forensic Structural Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Forensic Structural Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Forensic Structural Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Forensic Structural Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Forensic Structural Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,930 per year, or $57.2 per hour.

Regional Technical Leader - Civil/Structural

Corpartners

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago

Job description

Inspiring People - Impactful Experiences

If there was one common theme to describe what our team members get from a career with Envista Forensics, it's: An Experience. Envista prides itself on being One Company/One Team.

Forensic Consulting relies on scientific principles to investigate all types of failures impacting service, people, and business production- from minor to catastrophic. It's our job to analyze and determine why it happened.

We're always looking for great professionals, in all disciplines and locations - contact us for more information about other opportunities.

We're looking for someone who:

  • Is Passionate. You have a genuine passion to problem solve.
  • Is motivated and cultivates innovation. You're driven to be the very best. You challenge yourself to grow and learn every day and are encouraged by other team members.
  • Is collaborative. You're excited to work with others throughout a global organization to help foster a superior workplace and culture. You are constantly thinking of new ways to make Envista successful.
  • Wants to make an impact to drive results. You're looking to do amazing work. You're all about helping our clients both internally and externally.
  • Operates with integrity and instills trust. You always conduct yourself with honesty and operate ethically in everything you do.


Job Description

Envision Your Future with Envista Forensics!

If there is one common theme to describe what our employees get from a career with Envista Forensics - It's An Experience. Forensic Consulting relies on scientific principles to investigate all types of failures impacting service, people, and business production- from minor to catastrophic. It's our mission to analyze and determine why it happened.

Envista's edge:

  • Challenging and motivating projects await you: no day is the same.

  • Propelling your career forward with our thoughtfully designed career paths.

  • We are an organization that innovates and aspires to always do better.

  • We Impact businesses all over the world with our experts' ability to solve intricate matters.

  • We have established a client portfolio that takes us to five continents with endless opportunity.

Explore and embrace your role:

As a Regional Technical Leader in the Civil/Structural Group at Envista Forensics, you will play a crucial role in leading a team of engineers and other experts, who are conducting forensic investigations related to civil/structural incidents and failures. Your technical leadership will build a culture of excellence now and in the future. Working closely with our multidisciplinary team of leaders and experts to determine the origin and root causes of failures, structural malfunctions, product defects, and other failure related issues. Your leadership will be essential in helping clients make informed decisions and resolving complex legal and insurance matters.

  • Lead and mentor a team of civil/structural engineers.

  • Maintain Technical Standards and white glove customer service in your region.

  • Conduct technical training for your team and recommend and assist in developing and conducting training and continuing education.

  • Review and evaluate team performance in areas of technical quality, meeting Client and Envista's expected levels of service, including through the technical review process, and coaches' performance as required.

  • Drive achievement of regional financial goals

  • Work with sales and marketing team members to determine and accommodate customer needs and ensure Client satisfaction via Client relationships and direct marketing at industry conferences.

Essential expertise to ensure success:

  • Bachelor's degree in civil/structural engineering or equivalent discipline required.

  • 10+ years' experience in civil/structural engineering field.

  • 5+ years' experience in the forensic field

  • PE required.

  • Must be available for overnight travel both domestically and internationally.

  • Willingness to travel to clients' sites (25-30%); ability to work in inclement weather and various environmental conditions.

Elevated expertise to excel/stand-out:

  • Testimony/Deposition experience

  • SE


One Company/One Team is not just one of our 5 Guiding Principles, it's we how separate ourselves from our competitors. We learn together, we win together and through our team members voices, we bring certainty to an uncertain world.

At Envista Forensics, we recognize that our potential team members come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a role. We strive to reflect the communities and clients we serve to drive innovation, excellence, and meaningful work-We want you to bring your authentic self to Envista.If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.

Envista Forensics embraces diversity and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds and perspectives

EnvistaForensics believes that Veterans arrive with not only translatable skills and technicalexpertisebutin addition comewith the intangibles; leadership and values that we believealign with our 5 Guiding Principles. Simply put, these qualitiesenable oursuccess,soweencourageallGuardsmen, Reservists, and Veteransto considerEnvistaas their next career destination.

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