Forensic Engineer, Fire and Explosion

Intact; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 101,800 - 124,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus based on salary

12% equity participation

Flexible work arrangements

Wellness benefits

Job summary

A leading insurance company is seeking two Forensic Engineers, one in Calgary and another in Edmonton, to enhance their claims management. The roles involve investigating claims, determining causes of damage, and producing comprehensive reports. Candidates should have a relevant engineering degree, 2 to 10 years of forensic experience, and strong analytical skills. The company offers a competitive salary between $101,800 and $124,400, along with various benefits including flexible work arrangements and equity participation.

Qualifications

• Understanding of heat transfer and fire propagation laws.
• 2 to 10 years of experience in forensic engineering.
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure with a provincial Engineering Association.
• CFI, CFEI, CFVI or WETT certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigate loss sites to determine causes and circumstances of claims.
• Document scenes and support opinions regarding damage causes.
• Produce detailed reports for claims.
• Testify in court as needed.
• Manage specimen storage related to investigations.

Skills

Knowledge of buildings and construction methods

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Knowledge of fire propagation laws

Ability to create detailed reports

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical or mechanical engineering

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking two Forensic Engineers, Fire and Explosion—one based in Calgary and one in Edmonton—for our Claims Department to support our growth. In an ongoing effort to better control claims management and improve the claims experience for policyholders, Intact is building a first‑rate in‑house team for technical investigation of the cause and origin of losses.

Through a process of investigation and research, you will have to understand and determine the cause of the damage while eliminating other possible causes. You will have to recreate the sequence of events that led to the loss and validate these steps with up‑to‑date scientific knowledge. By validating the hypotheses and testing the scenarios to be studied, you will have to apply the scientific method to the identification of the causes of losses. In addition, you will have to produce abridged and detailed reports for more serious damages. You will also be called to testify in court to share your expert opinion.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete assignments for our internal and external adjusters and file handlers, and work with our building appraisers.
• Meet with policyholders to fully understand the circumstances surrounding their claim; investigate loss sites to determine the cause and circumstances of fires, check for explosion, equipment electrical failure, malpractice, etc.
• Document the scene, and express and support your opinion as to the probable cause of the damage; in addition to recording your opinion in writing, you will also be called upon to contribute your technical expertise to help resolve disputes during claims.
• Participate in joint analysis of specimens related to the cause of claims.
• Record and manage the storage of the specimens related to your files.
• Carry out any other related tasks.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of buildings, construction methods, heat transfer and the laws governing fire propagation.
• Through a process of investigation and research, you will need to understand and identify the root cause of the damage and rule out other possible causes.
• Between 2 and 10 years of relevant experience as a forensic engineer in investigating the origin and causes of fires.
• A bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering or relevant applied sciences with at least five years of experience is required.
• Licensure with a provincial Engineering Association, or eligibility for licensure, is required.
• By validating assumptions and testing scenarios as required, you will apply the scientific method to identify the cause of losses.

Desired Skills

• In addition to the technical knowledge and physical skills required for the position, you will need to demonstrate good oral and written communication skills to explain the cause and origin of losses.
• You will be required to provide short but detailed reports or detailed ones for more significant losses.
• You will also be called upon to testify in court to present your expert opinion.
• Experience in insurance and as an expert before the courts would be a major asset.

Certification

• The candidate must hold or be able to obtain CFI, CFEI, CFVI or WETT certification.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $101,800 – $124,400 (based on a 35‑hour workweek). Annual bonus target based on the base salary, with a potential payout of up to double the target, subject to personal and company performance. 12% equity participation. Employee Share Purchase Plan with Intact matching 50% of net shares. Defined benefit pension plan offering guaranteed income for life. Flexible work arrangements and a hybrid model. Possibility to purchase up to 5 extra days off per year. Multiple wellness benefits, telemedicine, wellness account, etc.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity

We are an equal opportunity employer. At Intact, our value of respect is founded on seeing diversity as a strength. We strive to create an accessible workplace where employees feel valued, included and encouraged to share their unique perspectives. We encourage applications from individuals who are members of equity‑deserving groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, Black people, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. As part of Intact’s commitment to reconciliation, we acknowledge that we work, meet and travel across the land currently called Canada, originally inhabited by First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. We have policies to ensure equal access and participation for people with disabilities, including providing workplace adjustments. If we can provide a specific adjustment to make the recruitment process more accessible, please let us know. Learn more about our recruitment process and your candidate journey here. Please note that Intact does not provide sponsorship or other support for immigration‑related matters. Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada from the anticipated start date and throughout their employment and are solely responsible for maintaining their work eligibility. If you are an employee of Intact or belairdirect, please apply for this role on the Internal Career Site.