Forensic Highway/Bridge Engineer

HKA is a global leader in risk mitigation and expert witness services, seeking a Forensic Highway / Bridge Engineer to support claims and litigation involving highway and bridge infrastructure across the United States. This role focuses on forensic evaluation of transportation assets and requires expertise in design, inspection, and rehabilitation to develop expert opinions and deliver testimony in disputes.

Responsibilities:

• Lead forensic investigations involving bridge and highway assets, including superstructure/substructure components, bearings/joints, decks, approach slabs, retaining walls, roadway geometry, drainage interfaces, and related civil works
• Conduct site inspections and evidence collection following failures, load events, deterioration concerns, construction deficiencies, inspection disputes, or incident-related claims
• Determine cause, origin, extent, and contributing factors, including evaluation of design intent, construction practices, inspection/maintenance history, load rating practices, and lifecycle performance
• Prepare independent, litigation-ready expert reports (and supporting exhibits) for arbitration, mediation, and court proceedings, addressing causation, standard of care, and responsibility
• Provide expert witness testimony in depositions, arbitration, and/or court, including testimony under cross-examination
• Collaborate with attorneys, insurers, owners, contractors, and other technical experts to develop coordinated expert opinions and respond to opposing expert positions
• Advise clients on remediation/repair options, risk mitigation, and dispute resolution strategy, including evaluation of constructability and safety considerations
• Review and analyze drawings, specifications, calculations, inspection reports, load ratings, as-builts, maintenance records, and construction documentation
• Evaluate deterioration mechanisms and performance drivers (e.g., corrosion, fatigue, cracking, scour/hydraulic impacts, joint/bearing performance, concrete distress) and link findings to standard-of-care expectations
• Assess compliance with applicable codes and standards and inspection guidance (e.g., AASHTO, FHWA/NBIS as applicable, state DOT criteria)
• Perform or direct technical analyses such as load rating review, condition/deterioration assessment, fracture/fatigue evaluation (as applicable), and construction quality review
• Develop technically sound repair, rehabilitation, and mitigation recommendations, including prioritization of corrective actions and long-term performance considerations

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil or Structural Engineering; advanced degree preferred
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in at least one U.S. state required; multi-state licensure preferred
• Minimum 1+ year of experience serving as an Expert Witness, with formal testimony provided in depositions and/or court proceedings
• 10+ years of highway and/or bridge engineering experience, including design, inspection, or rehabilitation
• Experience with bridge inspection standards, load rating, and deterioration assessment
• Demonstrated forensic engineering and litigation consulting experience
• Strong client delivery, communication, and relationship management skills
• Experience supporting business development efforts, proposal preparation, and client engagement
• Advanced degree preferred
• Multi-state licensure preferred