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
Talk to our forensic team
Register a vacancy or submit your CV.
Hiring or moving in this field? Our forensic engineering recruitment desk places structural, fire, facade, MEP and geotechnical forensic engineers and expert witnesses across the UK and internationally.