JustEng recruits chartered structural failure investigators and expert witnesses into the world’s leading forensic practices — the specialists called in when buildings buckle, collapse, crack, settle or fail. From the Manhattan 235 East 42nd Street column-buckling investigation to Grenfell-related BLO proceedings and megaproject temporary-works failures, we place the CEng MIStructE talent that these instructions require.
What a structural failure expert witness does
A structural failure expert investigates the cause and progression of a structural collapse, buckling, settlement, cracking or other failure mode; produces a written expert report; and gives independent evidence under CPR Part 35 (in England), IBA Rules internationally, or the equivalent rules of the seat. Typical instructions include partial or complete collapse investigation, temporary-works failure inquiries (falsework, formwork, propping), buckling and stability failures, differential settlement claims, cracking causation, defective design allegations, ground-movement damage claims, fire-induced structural damage, and post-blast/impact damage.
Qualifications the market demands
- Chartered status: CEng MIStructE or CEng MICE (fellowship — FIStructE, FICE — common at partner level).
- Cardiff Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate or EWI membership highly valued.
- Documented instruction history (matters given evidence in, tribunals, opposing experts).
- Software fluency: SAP2000, ETABS, LUSAS, TSD/RSA, ROBOT, ANSYS; forensic-specific tools including 3D laser scanning workflow.
- Fire & robustness expertise a strong plus (post-Grenfell, post-BSA).
Salary bands
- Senior Structural Forensic Engineer (5–10 years’ disputes experience): UK £75k–£110k; UAE $150k–$210k; Australia A$180k–A$240k.
- Director / Managing Consultant: UK £115k–£165k; UAE $220k–$320k; Australia A$260k–A$360k.
- Testifying Expert / Partner / Head of Practice: UK £180k–£350k+; hourly rates £500–£950; Gulf $350k–$650k package.
Full grid in the Forensic Engineering Salary Guide 2026.
Who we recruit for
Specialist forensic practices (Rimkus, Envista, Thornton Tomasetti, WJE, Nelson Forensics, Exponent); the disputes teams of Arup, WSP, AECOM, Mott MacDonald, Ramboll; TCC-facing expert-witness practices in London (HKA, Diales, Systech, Silver Shemmings and boutique structural specialists); Middle East regional offices of the same firms; and insurance loss adjusting practices with major-loss capability.
Related resources
- Forensic Engineering & Expert Witness Recruitment (pillar)
- Quantum & Delay Recruitment
- Structural Engineering Recruitment
- Cladding & Fire Forensic Recruitment
- How to Become an Expert Witness Engineer
- Construction Disputes Glossary