Forensic engineers investigate causes and damage of accidents. Education in engineering and construction laws, critical thinking, attention to detail, and communication skills are required. Jobs include building and electrical engineering, as well as computer forensics.
When buildings collapse, automobile accidents, or a major electrical accident occurs, forensic engineers’ job is to research the causes and the damage. To become a forensic engineer, you must have sharp critical thinking skills, understand a specific field of engineering, and have excellent communication skills. In addition, a thorough understanding of construction laws and insurance in your area is helpful.
No matter what specific field you focus your skills on, education is the first step if you want to become a forensic engineer. Depending on the job, you will need specialized engineering education, usually a degree in civil engineering or electrical engineering. Most employers don’t require anything beyond a bachelor’s degree, but the added focus and education of a master’s or doctoral degree can be helpful. Depending on the level of expertise, you may also need several years of experience in the forensic and engineering field, typically three to seven years.
There are several skills required to become a forensic engineer, most notably an eye for detail and critical thinking. You might be asked to visit a collapsed building and determine why it collapsed, inspect a bridge after an earthquake to determine its safety, or trace the source of an electrical fire. You and your team must sort through the wreckage and understand the causes of and damage to a variety of structures. Pairing an understanding of engineering with attention to detail is crucial to making the right judgment.
Communication skills are also essential if you want to become a forensic engineer. Many times you will be called as an expert witness in a court case or need to talk through a case with an insurance company, so public speaking skills are required. You will have to write detailed reports that express your findings; therefore, a strong writing ability is essential. You also need to express yourself if you are in charge of engineers and need to give instructions.
Be prepared for a diverse selection of jobs when you choose to become a forensic engineer. There are many fields you can pursue depending on your interests and experience. The most common engineer deals with buildings, determining structural flaws and design flaws. The job of the electrical forensic engineer is a path that focuses less on the construction of buildings and more on the wiring inside the building. There is also a field known as computer forensics engineering which deals with computer problems and determines the cause through classification by digital code.
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