OPEN POSITIONS
Senior Project Engineer
Fire Investigator
Fire Protection Consultant
Administrative Coordinator
TO APPLY, PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO: HR@AEIENGINEERS.COM. PLEASE INCLUDE THE JOB TITLE IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE.
ABOUT AEI
AEI Corporation (Advanced Engineering Investigations) is a forensic engineering and consulting firm founded in 2005 and is based in Littleton, Colorado. The company’s team is made up of licensed engineers and specialists with extensive combined experience in forensic analysis and investigation, covering areas such as fire and explosion origins, electrical and mechanical failures, carbon monoxide and chemical incidents, and materials forensics, and providing expert testimony for legal and insurance cases.
From the beginning, AEI’s mission has been to deliver objective, technically sound answers for clients facing complex engineering and standard of care questions. Its work spans the full lifecycle of investigations — from on-site examination and evidence collection to laboratory testing, analysis, and expert testimony. The firm serves a broad range of clients, including utilities, manufacturers, transportation companies, law firms, insurance carriers, and energy industry stakeholders.
SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER
Position:
We are currently seeking a Senior Project Engineer to join our professional staff. The candidate hired will conduct forensic investigations involving field work, laboratory examinations, testing, and code research.
Functions of the position include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanical or chemical engineering and fire and explosion incident investigations
- Maintaining professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing professional networks, participating in professional societies
- Accepting and integrating constructive feedback into job performance
- Having a regular and predictable presence at work
- Conducting hands-on testing using scientific equipment and methodology
- Implementing forensic engineering protocol
- Preparing technical reports
- Providing expert testimony
Key Responsibilities:
This position requires a thorough understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the forensic engineering field.
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Independently manage and execute all aspects of projects with minimal oversight, including scheduling, investigations, testing, client communication, analysis, reporting, invoicing, collections, and evidence handling.
- Collaborate with engineers, scientists, consultants, and investigators on research, field and laboratory examinations, and related activities.
- Provide expert testimony when required.
- Maintain licenses and certifications and acquire discipline-appropriate continuing education.
- Attend and present at various industry conferences, trade shows, and other marketing events.
- Provide marketing support by authoring articles and papers and preparing text for marketing materials when requested.
- Interact with clients to cross-market other professionals and services provided within the company.
- Consistently demonstrates a team/company mindset.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in mechanical or chemical engineering
- Licensed Professional Engineer (PE)
- 10+ years of forensic engineering experience, or advanced engineering degrees with equivalent relevant experience
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to travel 50%+ of the time by vehicle or airline
- Ability to maneuver in and around job/incident sites
- Extended walking
- Uneven terrain
- Climbing
- Lifting
- Bending
- Kneeling
- Crouching
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to carry/transport equipment to and from job/incident sites
- Ability to drive to site locations in all conditions
- Ability to visually inspect job sites and relevant artifacts
- Communicate effectively and professionally in both oral and written communication
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment as necessary
Work Environment:
- Combination of field investigations, office-based analysis, and courtroom or deposition settings
- Exposure to fire scenes, weather conditions, and potentially hazardous materials
The base pay for this full-time, exempt position has a range of $135,000 to $275,000 per year based on skills and experience, plus potential bonus on billed hours.
FIRE INVESTIGATOR
Position:
The Fire Investigator is responsible for determining the origin and cause of fires and explosions through systematic scene examination, evidence collection, and technical analysis. This role requires strong investigative skills, knowledge of fire behavior, and the ability to communicate findings clearly through written reports and expert testimony.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct on-site fire and explosion investigations to determine origin and cause
- Examine fire scenes, identify burn patterns, and document findings using notes, photographs, and diagrams
- Collect, preserve, and analyze physical evidence in accordance with industry standards
- Apply principles of fire dynamics, heat transfer, and material science to investigative conclusions
- Review witness statements, incident reports, photographs, and other relevant documentation
- Prepare detailed, defensible written reports outlining investigative methods, observations, and conclusions
- Collaborate with engineers, attorneys, insurance representatives, and law enforcement agencies
- Provide deposition and courtroom testimony as an expert witness when required
- Maintain chain of custody and adhere to evidence handling protocols
- Stay current with applicable codes, standards, and investigative best practices, including NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in fire science, engineering, criminal justice, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Minimum 3 years of experience in fire investigation, fire service, or forensic investigation
- Knowledge of fire behavior, fire suppression systems, and building construction
- Familiarity with applicable codes, standards, and investigative methodologies
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple investigations simultaneously
- Willingness to travel and work irregular hours, including nights and weekends as needed
Preferred Certifications:
- Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
- State or nationally recognized fire investigator credentials
Physical & Environmental Requirements:
- Ability to travel 50%+ of the time by vehicle or airline
- Ability to maneuver in and around job/incident sites
- Extended walking
- Uneven terrain
- Climbing
- Lifting
- Bending
- Kneeling
- Crouching
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to carry/transport equipment to and from job/incident sites
- Ability to drive to site locations in all conditions
- Ability to visually inspect job sites and relevant artifacts
- Communicate effectively and professionally in both oral and written communication
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment as necessary
Work Environment:
- Combination of field investigations, office-based analysis, and courtroom or deposition settings
- Exposure to fire scenes, weather conditions, and potentially hazardous materials
The base pay range for this full-time position is $90,000 to $125,000 per year. Additionally, there is a generous bonus structure for billed hours that meet corporate policy requirements.
FIRE PROTECTION CONSULTANT
Position:
We are seeking a Fire Protection Consultant to join our professional staff. The candidate hired will conduct failure analysis of fire protection systems (suppression, alarm, fire-rated construction), standard of care and code analyses, and design evaluations.
The candidate will follow forensic engineering protocol, prepare technical reports, and provide expert witness testimony. This position requires a thorough understanding and wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts related to the trouble shooting of systems as they relate to failures in the field, i.e., frozen sprinkler piping, failure of the sprinkler system to contain a fire, failure of a hood extinguishing system to put out fire on the appliance line, how excessive grease in the hood exhaust system contribute to the extension of a fire, failure of a fire alarm system to activate, failure of a fire alarm system to dispatch the fire department, etc.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage, coordinate, and execute all aspects of a project with very minimal oversight (e.g., scheduling, investigation, testing, client interactions, engineering analysis, report writing, invoicing, past due collections, artifact handling, etc.)
- Work with other engineers, scientists, consultants, and investigators on research, field and laboratory examination and testing, and other project and non-project related activities
- Capable of meeting the physical requirements of the job (e.g., travel, extended walking, walking on uneven and debris-ridden surfaces, climbing, lifting, bending, balancing, kneeling, crouching, etc.)
- Provide expert testimony when required
- Maintain licenses and certifications, and acquire discipline-appropriate continuing education
- Attend and present at various industry conferences, trade shows, and other marketing events
- Provide marketing support by authoring articles and papers, and preparing text for marketing materials when requested
- Interact with clients to cross-market other professionals and services provided within the company
- Consistently demonstrate a team/company mindset
- Generate and develop new business through various marketing avenues, including innovative digital and social media strategies
- Able to meet travel requirement of 50% or greater
Qualifications:
- 10+ years of industry field experience.
- Some combination of the following certifications:
- NICET
- Sprinkler Fitter
- Backflow Preventer
- Fire Alarm
- Restaurant Extinguishing System
Experience:
- Standard of Care
- Sprinkler system design
- Supporting a Senior Consultant
- Fire alarm installation/design
- Restaurant Hood system installation, service, and/or design
- Backflow preventer installation, service, and/or testing
- Fire origin and cause investigations
Physical & Environmental Requirements:
- Ability to travel 50%+ of the time by vehicle or airline
- Ability to maneuver in and around job/incident sites
- Extended walking
- Uneven terrain
- Climbing
- Lifting
- Bending
- Kneeling
- Crouching
- Ability to lift 50 lbs.
- Ability to carry/transport equipment to and from job/incident sites
- Ability to drive to site locations in all conditions
- Ability to visually inspect job sites and relevant artifacts
- Communicate effectively and professionally in both oral and written communication
- Ability to wear personal protective equipment as necessary
Work Environment:
-
- Combination of field investigations, office-based analysis, and courtroom or deposition settings
- Exposure to fire scenes, weather conditions, and potentially hazardous materials
The base pay range for this full-time position is $85,000 to $110,000 per year. Additionally, there is a generous bonus structure for billed hours that meet corporate policy requirements.
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Position:
AEI is seeking a highly organized Administrative Coordinator to support Senior Project Engineers and expert staff. Reporting to the Administrative Manager, this client-facing role requires professionalism, discretion, and strong customer service skills.
This is a full-time, in-office position at AEI’s Littleton headquarters (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.). Occasional overtime may be required. This role is not eligible for remote work.
Key responsibilities:
- Reviewing, editing, formatting, and proofreading technical reports for client delivery and potential legal use, requiring exceptional attention to detail.
- Assisting with travel and calendar coordination.
- Basic bookkeeping skills. Providing backup support for invoicing, expenses, and financial records. Familiarity with QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel is preferred.
- Corporate and expert certification tracking, filing, and coordination.
- Organization and scheduling of inernal safety and technical presenations for staff.
- This position is ideal for someone who can manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Qualifications:
AEI offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits that include but are not limited to:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Quarterly performance-based bonuses
401(k) program with Safe Harbor Match
Paid time off
Annual training/professional development
Licensing and professional membership fees
Health Savings Account (HSA), including company contribution
Life insurance
Competitive salary
AEI Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer providing a smoke-free work environment. AEI Corporation complies with Equal Pay Act transparency requirements.