Graduate Forensics Architect - Diagnostics

Responsibilities

Walter P Moore is seeking a Graduate Forensics Architect to work with our team of experts to investigate the causes of building failures, defects, performance problems, and accessibility issues and to translate those findings into clear, defensible conclusions. You will assess building envelopes, structures, and systems to identify issues and recommend practical remedies. Your work will support owners, insurers, contractors, design teams, and legal counsel in construction defect disputes, insurance claims, and repair projects.

This role suits an architect with a master’s degree or higher and on track to achieve professional licensure who enjoys detective work, technical rigor, code analysis, and who works well in multidisciplinary teams.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Work with multidisciplinary teams under the direction of others to advance project goals and client needs including:

 

• Conduct field investigations of buildings and building components, including water intrusion, envelope failures, moisture and mold, cracking, settlement, fire and storm damage, and code or accessibility deficiencies.

• Perform visual surveys, non-destructive testing, and invasive testing (e.g., test cuts, borings, water testing) and coordinate with specialty labs and consultants.

• Review design documents, specifications, shop drawings, RFIs, inspection records, maintenance logs, and project correspondence to evaluate design and construction conduct against applicable codes and standards of care.

• Determine root causes and contributing factors, and distinguish design, construction, material, maintenance, and weather-related issues.

• Develop repair concepts, scopes of work, and cost-of-repair opinions in coordination with engineers, contractors, and estimators.

• Prepare clear, well-organized investigation reports, photo documentation, and diagrams.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master's degree in Architecture or Architectural Engineering.

• 2+ years of professional experience including architectural design, building enclosure design and/or forensic investigation.

• Eligibility for future architectural licensure.

• Strong knowledge of building science, including moisture transport, thermal performance, air barriers, flashing, roofing, cladding, glazing, and waterproofing systems.

• Working knowledge of the International Building Code, local codes, ADA/accessibility standards, and relevant ASTM, AAMA, and industry standards.

• Excellent technical writing, analytical, and verbal communication skills.

• Willingness to travel and to work on roofs, in crawl spaces, and in other challenging field conditions (with appropriate safety training).

 

Preferred:

• Proficiency with Revit or AutoCAD, Bluebeam, and report-production tools.

• Experience with a range of building types, such as multifamily, commercial, institutional, and historic structures.

• Experience with infrared thermography, moisture meters, borescopes, drone surveys, or similar diagnostic tools.

 

As a Hybrid Firm, Walter P Moore combines the best of both worlds – blending work options to include in-office and home office environments. This allows us to offer more flexibility and work-life integration to our employees. Candidates applying for this position should have the ability to commute to or periodically travel to the affiliated office.

 

Walter P Moore is an equal employment opportunity employer, and provides equal employment opportunities (including offering competitive compensation and benefit packages) to all employees and applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws and encourage all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Overview

Walter P Moore is an international company of engineers, architects, innovators, and creative people who solve some of the world’s most complex structural and infrastructure challenges. Providing structural, diagnostics, civil, traffic, parking, transportation, enclosure, WPM technology and construction engineering services, we design solutions that are cost- and resource-efficient, forward-thinking, and help support and shape communities worldwide. Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, our 1000+ professionals work across 27 U.S. offices and 12 international locations.