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When buildings collapse, auto accidents occur or a major
electrical mishap takes place, it is the job of forensic engineers to research
the causes and damages. In order to become a forensic engineer you must have
sharp critical thinking skills, understand a specific engineering field and have
excellent communication skills. Also, a keen understanding of construction law
and insurance in your area is helpful. No matter what particular field you focus
your skills on, an education is the first step if you want to become a forensic
engineer. Depending on the job, you will need a specialized engineering
education, usually a civil engineering or electrical engineering degree. Most
employers do not demand anything beyond a bachelor's degree, but the added focus
and education of a master's or doctorate can be helpful. Depending on the level
of specialty, you might also need several years of forensic and engineering
field experience, typically three to seven years' worth. There are a number of
skills necessary to become a forensic engineer, chiefly an eye for detail and
critical thinking. You might be asked to visit a collapsed building and
determine why it fell, 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 and damage to a variety of
structures. Pairing an understanding of engineering with attention to detail is
crucial to making the proper judgement. Communication skills also are essential
if you want to become a forensic engineer. Many times you will be called in as
an expert witness in a court case or need to talk about a case with an insurance
company, so public speaking skills are needed. You will have to write detailed
reports that express your findings, so a strong ability to write is a must. You
also need to vocalize 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 backgrounds. The most common engineer deals with
buildings, determining structural failure and design failure. The job of
electrical forensic engineer is a path that focuses less on the construction of
buildings and more on the wiring within the building. There also is a budding
field known as computer forensic engineering that deals with computer problems
and determining the cause by sorting through digital
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