Forensic Vehicle Accident Reconstructionist (ACTAR required) - Charleston, SC, Columbia, SC, Savannah, GA areas

Overview

Mechanical Engineer specializing in vehicle accident reconstruction and forensic analysis

Key Responsibilities

• accident reconstruction
• damage analysis
• forensic analysis
• evidence documentation
• cad modeling
• client reporting

Tasks

-Conducts various analyses including, but not limited to, industrial safety and accidents; equipment and machinery design and failure; product liability, and design and safety. -Responsibility will include analyzing single and multiple vehicle collisions, performing damage analysis, speed analysis, roadway drag factors or coefficient of friction of roadway, perception and response times, lamp analysis, time-distance relationships, occupant kinematics, vehicle dynamics, braking efficiency of air brake systems on commercial motor vehicles and possibly intersection traffic signal analysis. etc. -Work involves documenting and preserving evidence, preparing written reports of findings, and providing expert testimony in litigation as necessary. -Initiates, develops, and maintains mutually beneficial client relationships. -The Vehicle Accident Reconstructionist will also prepare and present demonstrative diagrams and charts and provide an analysis of the cause of various incidents. -The Vehicle Accident Reconstructionist will perform timely, accurate analysis, prepare reports, and present your findings to the client. -Performs failure analysis and forensic assignments within the field of mechanical engineering expertise based on a scope of work and budget prepared by the consultant and agreed upon by the client in advance of performing the work. -Investigates how and why an incident occurred, including identifying the origin, failure mechanism, and root cause of the incident, as well as the role of the mechanical system in question. -Inspects sites/products/equipment/systems; performs electronic data retrieval and analysis of commercial and non-commercial equipment; documents site/product conditions, determines cause and origin of damage; performs site surveys with total station survey, scanners, drones, and other means of 3D documentation; performs mechanical engineering calculations; prepares CAD-based and manual sketches as required; orders and evaluates required laboratory testing and performs analyses. -Inspect and analyze automotive or mechanical parts to determine the cause of failure. -Analyze product liability, design, and safety. -Evaluate cars, trucks, tractors, or other various forms of transportation. -Performing damage analysis, speeds from damage (energy), coefficient of friction of roadway, time and distance relationships, lamp analysis, occupant kinematics, vehicle dynamics, perception and response times, braking efficiency of air brake systems on commercial motor vehicles, and possibly intersection traffic signal analysis. -Speaking and interacting with clients, preparing written reports of findings, and testifying in deposition or trial. -Reconstructing vehicular accidents using analysis, CAE-based tools, and test data where appropriate. -Provides support on fire and explosion investigations involving mechanical systems, products, and equipment. -Reviews and interprets relevant codes, standards, drawings, specifications, technical manuals, peer-reviewed literature, data logs, and other documentation to evaluate the compliance of the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the subject product, equipment, or system. -Provide collision scene evidence analysis and forensic mapping of collision sites and vehicles.

Requirements

• mechanical engineering
• pe license
• actar
• 8+ years
• project management
• technical writing

What You Bring

-Physically able to climb ladders, walk on uneven and unleveled surfaces, enter and work in confined spaces, crawl under vehicles to inspect damage. -Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential. -8+ Years Experience VAR/Mechanical required -Physical Demands - While performing this job, the employee must frequently stand, walk, sit, climb, bend, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, talk, and hear. Must be able to perform field inspections, physically move debris, inspect vehicles (commercial and tractor-trailer), and drive a motor vehicle to job sites. Employee may lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Clear vision and depth perception are also necessary. -Report writing skills are crucial to success. -Must be able to interact and communicate with clients at all levels (e.g., internal and external). -Must possess the mental aptitude, cognition, concentration, and state of mind necessary to perform job duties. -P.E. licensed preferred -Project Management and/or Field Investigation experience required Strongly preferred. -Must have strong technical writing skills. -Ability to respond to inquiries from internal and external clients. -You must be able to manage several investigations simultaneously, so organizational skills, effective time management, and attention to detail are essential. -Must have knowledge of a variety of computer software applications including but not limited to, Microsoft Office Applications and computer-assisted engineering and design software. -ACTAR Accreditation required. -Independent Judgement; strong analytical skills. -B.S. Mechanical Engineering required -Travel Requirements - This position requires up to 25% local/regional travel. Out-of-area and overnight travel may be required. -Ability to clearly and coherently write scopes-of-work, budget estimates, schedules, reports of findings, proposals, general correspondence, and other technical documents.

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Benefits

-Overtime - This position is classified as salaried with an exempt FLSA status. There will be periods where overtime will be required, which the employee will need to comply with in order to meet the demands of the position.

About Rimkus

-Began as a home-based forensic engineering consultancy by chemical engineer Robert E. Rimkus. -Over four decades, expanded into a global network. -Financially backed by private equity partner HGGC since 2024. -Typical projects include double-deck tunnel assessments, run-of-river hydro plants, and other engineering challenges. -Core specialisms include forensic analysis of failures, built-environment consulting, expert witness services, and laboratory testing. -Standout capabilities include human performance labs, materials failure labs, forensic meteorology tools, and product safety testing. -Strategic acquisitions—like CCi in 2021—broadened its reach into building consulting and claims support. -Noteworthy for its in-house WeatherPath™ app, wildfire preparedness guidance, and forensic fire & explosion investigation teams. -Work bridges technical consulting, legal dispute resolution, construction oversight, and scientific testing, serving insurers, law firms, governments, and corporates.

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