Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgists
What we need in the Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgist
We presently have vacancies for Materials Engineers to undertake forensic investigations of a wide range of incidents and accidents arising from the engineering failure of a single component or an assembly of components.
These investigations will usually be undertaken for insurance related purposes, including international insurers, loss adjusters, solicitors, marine Protection and Indemnity clubs and insurance brokers.
They require clear and accurate technical advice regarding the cause of the incident or accident and assistance with determining liability, sometimes at very short notice.
The Role of a Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgist
One attraction of this role is that you will typically be responsible for seeing a technical investigation through from beginning to end from initially collecting the evidence on site to preparing the final technical report and ultimately giving expert evidence in Court.
Your work will often require you to visit the location of an incident, to record and gather evidence. The work will often require you to examine and analyse engineering components and other physical evidence in a laboratory environment.
There is also a practical element to the job in that on occasion you will be required to carefully dismantle machinery, equipment or component assemblies in a systematic manner to obtain the evidence that you require to determine the cause of the failure.
Overview of the various aspects of the job for a Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgist
- Conducting site-based investigations to record and gather the available physical evidence
- Obtaining details regarding the background and circumstances surrounding the incident by interviewing individuals associated with the incident.
- Reviewing technical documentation that may comprise engineering drawings, operating manuals and maintenance records.
- Consulting relevant standards, regulations and other published guidance.
- Undertaking technical literature reviews.
- Providing the client with timely preliminary verbal and/or written advice in a form that can be readily understood by a layperson and ultimately a Judge.
- Conducting detailed visual and low magnification examinations of failed components, which will often include recording and interpreting fractographic evidence in a non-destructive manner.
- Conducting detailed laboratory-based examinations and analyses of failed components that may involve optical microscopy of prepared samples, hardness testing, chemical analysis and the examination and analysis of samples using a scanning electron microscope.
- Mechanical testing of components or materials.
- Devising and conducting ad hoc testing of components, equipment or machinery
- Preparing reports that may be in the form of a brief letter style report or in the form of a detailed, illustrated report for Court proceedings.
- Attending client meetings to discuss your investigation.
- Meetings with experts appointed by the other involved parties as part of the litigation process.
- Providing expert witness evidence in Court, which will involve being questioned in depth by a Barrister, who will be briefed by a technical expert.
Their Requirements for a Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgist
The Materials Engineer position is a technically demanding, challenging and most rewarding role requiring not only a thorough understanding of the nature and behaviour of both metallic and non-metallic materials but also a strong engineering knowledge base.
Ideally you will have the following for the Forensic Materials Engineer / Failure Metallurgist role.
- Have attained a good honours degree in a materials engineering related discipline.
- Have gained several years of postgraduate experience, preferably in an industrial engineering environment.
- Have an aptitude and enthusiasm for problem solving.
- Be self-motivated and be able to work effectively under pressure.
- Have experience of undertaking component failure investigations, which will have included conducting scene inspections in addition to undertaking fractographic and materialographic examinations within a laboratory.
- Have a practical engineering ability in addition to a strong academic record.
- Have the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly, both verbally and in writing, to others less informed than yourself.
- Be prepared to provide expert witness evidence in Court when required.
Package
- highly competitive starting salary
- unparalleled prospects.
- five weeks holiday
- a contributory pension scheme
- medical insurance
- life assurance
- permanent health insurance
- company car.
- Where appropriate a relocation package is available
- London Office appointment have London weighting
Send your CV & Details to – CV@charlesfranciscooper.co.uk (please state in the Subject line what role you wish to apply for)
Charles Francis Cooper celebrates and supports diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for both employees and applicants.
(Charles Francis Cooper are acting as an employment agency)
Keywords
Materials, Metallurgy, Metallurgist, Metallurgical, failure investigation, Forensic investigation, non-metallic materials, Metallic
