Senior Forensic Failure Analysis Engineer/Scientist

Job Description

Job Description

SENIOR FORENSIC FAILURE ANALYSIS ENGINEER/SCIENTIST

Location: Las Cruces, NM | Longmont, CO | Remote Employment

Salary : Compensation will include a competitive base salary (based on qualifications, experience, and location).

WHA International, Inc. (WHA) is seeking an experienced engineer or scientist to join our highly regarded Failure Analysis team. WHA is a recognized world leader in the safety of oxygen, hydrogen, and other high pressure and hazardous fluids. In this role, you will lead complex incident forensic investigation and accident reconstruction services to clients worldwide regarding fires, explosions, and failures in these types of equipment and systems.

From oxygen fires in high pressure oxygen regulators, to hydrogen electrolyzer explosions, to rupture of compressed gas cylinders, WHA’s experts bring a unique blend of education, real-world experience, and hands-on, empirical, data-driven problem solving to identify the cause of incidents.

This is a senior-level role requiring strong technical expertise, independent judgment, and direct client engagement. Although forensic experience is preferred, engineers and scientists with relevant fluid or system expertise but without direct forensic or expert witness experience are encouraged to apply.

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

This role will primarily involve conducting incident investigations of fires, explosions and failures of oxidizing, flammable, high pressure or other hazardous fluid systems. Incident investigations will typically include site inspections and documentation, laboratory evidence examination, scientific and codes/standards research, engineering analysis, testing, and reporting. When the incident involves civil litigation, the expert may be called on to provide expert witness testimony in deposition and/or trial.

Key Responsibilities:

· Serve as a technical and business leader, responsible for both project execution and the development of new client opportunities

· Prepare project proposals, as required, to establish technical statement of work and project estimated budget and duration

· Manage project execution including coordinating technical resources, performing technical project work, maintaining communication with clients, and overseeing project financials

· Develop technical protocols for and conduct incident site inspection, evidence collection, and laboratory examination

· Coordinate work as required with WHA team members for collaboration and support including engineers, chemists, and technicians

· Develop and evaluate hypotheses of origin, cause, mechanisms of ignition, fire, explosion, and failure utilizing research, engineering principles and analyses, and testing.

· Present status and results of investigations to clients

· Prepare technical reports for clients

· Testify in deposition and/or trial

We encourage our subject matter experts on WHA’s Failure Analysis team to author papers and presentations and to actively participate in and lead industry organizations related to our fields of expertise. Team members are active in committees from ASTM, AIChE, NFPA, ISO and others.

WHA is committed to advancing the safety of hazardous fluids and systems through an integrated approach encompassing training, consulting, testing, and incident investigation. In addition to leading complex failure investigations, you will join our team of specialized engineers and scientists to also provide advanced safety consulting focused on mitigating hazards associated with fluid systems. This includes delivering technical training, performing detailed hazard analyses, providing engineering consulting, and overseeing material and component testing.

In this role, you will apply your deep technical expertise while continuing to expand your professional impact through collaboration with a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineers, and chemists. You will be expected to contribute at a high level to both technical excellence and the continued growth of the company.

Once established in our team, travel domestically and internationally for this position is anticipated to be approximately 10% - 20% of the schedule.

Due to the nature of the work, the candidate must be a US Citizen or have legal right to work in the US.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, MS or PhD (preferred) in Mechanical, Chemical, Aerospace, or other related engineering fields, Chemistry, or Physics

Experience : Minimum ten (10) years of relevant experience in oxidizer, fuel, high pressure, or hazardous fluids systems, fire and explosion science and/or forensic fire and explosion investigation.

Technical Skills (required):

· Broad knowledge of engineering principles including fluid dynamics (compressible, incompressible), heat transfer, thermodynamics, engineering mechanics, and basic material science.

· Experience with oxygen, hydrogen, oxidizers, flammable gases, high pressure systems, cryogenics and/or other hazardous fluid media

· Experience with piping/pressure systems (e.g. design, construction, operation) and associated pressure system components (e.g. valves, pressure regulators, pressure relief devices, piping, fittings) and instrumentation (e.g. pressure, temperature, flow, gas sensing).

· Familiarity with principles of piping and pressure vessel codes (e.g., ASME B31.1, B31.3, B31.12, B&PVC Section VIII)

· Knowledge of related industry codes/standards (e.g., NFPA, ISO, ASTM, CGA, API, SAE)

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills and technical report writing experience are essential to successfully provide expert witness services.

· Project management experience

· Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and trust with clients and colleagues

Technical Skills (desired):

· Familiarity with engineering computational software or programming languages such as Mathcad, MATLAB, and Python is desirable

· Knowledge and experience with hazard/safety assessment methodologies such as Hazard Operability Study (HAZOP) and/or Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

· NAFI Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) certification

· Professional Engineering (PE) licensure or the willingness to pursue PE licensure

 

BENFITS

Our team members are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. The base salary range for this position is dependent on experience and capabilities, which will be assessed during the interview process.

WHA’s total compensation plan includes

· base salary

· 100% of the employee's medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums

· annual profit-sharing

· performance bonuses

· 401(k) employer contribution

· Company paid employee life insurance policy

· generous paid time off

· paid holidays

· compensatory time for billable overtime

· parental leave

· educational assistance for company approved degree paths or continuing education

 

Other employee-funded benefits include:

· Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for unreimbursed health, dental, and vision expenses

· Available supplemental insurance coverage (disability, cancer, accident, etc.) at a reduced rate

 

We prioritize people by placing their needs, wellbeing and development at the forefront of strategies, decisions and culture. In addition to being subject matter experts, our team members are also moms, dads, coaches, mentors, and active community members. We value your personal family as part of our work family and always strive to bring employee focus to everything we do.

Company Description

WHA International, Inc. (WHA) was founded in 1987 with a special emphasis on failure analysis and forensic engineering. From the early years, the company’s focus was to provide just resolution of forensic engineering disputes, using the scientific method for testing and evaluation.

Before long, numerous industries began looking to WHA not just for answers about past incidents, but for critical information on how to stay safe around oxygen and other hazardous fluids. WHA’s capabilities expanded organically beyond failure analysis to include our current suite of comprehensive consulting, hazards analysis, training, testing and cleaning services. As the hydrogen economy continued to grow in the 21st century, WHA increased staffing expertise and has since supported notable projects and accident investigations around the world, adding hydrogen as an additional core area of expertise.

Our hydrogen consultants maintain active leadership roles in standards committees. They are also active participants in the Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS) and members of the Hydrogen Safety Panel. Through application of best practices and fundamental scientific knowledge of hydrogen properties and combustion risk, WHA staff is committed to helping the hydrogen economy grow safely and securely.

Company Description

WHA International, Inc. (WHA) was founded in 1987 with a special emphasis on failure analysis and forensic engineering. From the early years, the company’s focus was to provide just resolution of forensic engineering disputes, using the scientific method for testing and evaluation.\r\n\r\nBefore long, numerous industries began looking to WHA not just for answers about past incidents, but for critical information on how to stay safe around oxygen and other hazardous fluids. WHA’s capabilities expanded organically beyond failure analysis to include our current suite of comprehensive consulting, hazards analysis, training, testing and cleaning services. As the hydrogen economy continued to grow in the 21st century, WHA increased staffing expertise and has since supported notable projects and accident investigations around the world, adding hydrogen as an additional core area of expertise.\r\n\r\nOur hydrogen consultants maintain active leadership roles in standards committees. They are also active participants in the Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS) and members of the Hydrogen Safety Panel. Through application of best practices and fundamental scientific knowledge of hydrogen properties and combustion risk, WHA staff is committed to helping the hydrogen economy grow safely and securely.