Director, Forensic Mechanical Engineering

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 an experienced forensic mechanical engineering expert witness to provide consulting and testimony on complex engineering and technical disputes across the United States.

This role will independently lead client engagements and forensic investigations involving mechanical systems and equipment, develop and defend expert opinions, and work directly with attorneys and clients throughout litigation, arbitration, and trial.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a mechanical engineering expert witness in litigation, arbitration, and other dispute proceedings.

• Lead forensic investigations involving mechanical equipment and systems, failures, defects, performance issues, and other disputed technical matters.

• Conduct site investigations and analyze physical evidence, engineering documents, testing, operating data, maintenance records, and other evidence to determine causation and responsibility.

• Develop independent expert opinions and prepare clear, defensible expert reports, rebuttals, and exhibits.

• Provide and defend expert testimony in depositions, arbitration, and trial, including under cross-examination.

• Work directly with attorneys, clients, and other experts on technical case issues and opposing expert opinions.

• Evaluate mechanical design, equipment specification, installation, testing, commissioning, operation, and maintenance where relevant to an investigation.

• Provide expertise involving rotating machinery and mechanical equipment, including turbines, compressors, pumps, motors/drives, fans, blowers, and related systems.

• Build client relationships and contribute to the continued growth of HKA’s forensic mechanical engineering practice.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• 10+ years of mechanical engineering experience, including experience with rotating equipment and the design, specification, testing, commissioning, operation, or maintenance of mechanical systems.

• Experience across power, oil and gas, chemical/process, manufacturing, water/wastewater, or other industrial facilities.

• Experience in forensic engineering and litigation consulting, including technical investigations and development of independent expert opinions.

• Expert witness experience, including live testimony in at least one court trial within the past four years. Deposition testimony, expert reports, trial preparation, or designation as an expert without trial testimony do not satisfy this requirement.

• Experience working directly with attorneys and clients on complex litigation and dispute matters.

• Experience developing client relationships and contributing to business development.

Compensation

HKA offers an annual salary range of $200,000 to $225,000, along with a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan with company match, 20 days of paid time off plus additional company holidays and wellness time, performance and other bonus opportunities, and access to robust training, professional development, and career advancement programs across our global organization.

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 website 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.

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