A forensic engineer uses their skills in engineering to analyze and interpret evidence related to a variety of cases. This includes investigating accidents, crime scenes, and manufacturing faults that cause malfunctions in products.
Forensic engineers often work for insurance companies, local governments, and manufacturers. They also provide expert witness testimony in court to help prove or disprove a case.
You need to get a degree in forensic engineering, which requires at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Then you need to pass a rigorous exam. This is known as the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam and is created and scored by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.
The exam focuses on physics, chemistry, math, the scientific method, the legal system, and forensic disciplines. You must also pass exams in ethics and an oral examination.
You will visit crime scenes, collect evidence and then return to the lab where you use computer programs and equipment to analyze the evidence. You may also work closely with law enforcement and other professionals in the investigation process.
You must be able to assess the scene in a big-picture and microscopic sense. This means being able to identify and document different factors that impact where fibers and biological evidence are found. It also means knowing how to take clear, well-lit photographs that can be used later in court.
