Project Associate ( Forensics )

RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) with company match

Life insurance

On-site exercise room

Professional development opportunities

Team events and celebrations

Job summary

RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC is seeking a candidate for our team in New York City. The role involves performing building surveys and documenting conditions across the NYC/NJ metropolitan area, requiring an Architecture degree and relevant experience of 1–5 years.

The ideal candidate will possess strong technical writing and organizational capabilities along with proficiency in AutoCAD. Join us at RAND, known for our supportive work environment and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 1–5 years of relevant experience in New York City.
• Interest in pursuing architectural licensure.
• Experience or strong interest in existing buildings and restoration.

Responsibilities

• Perform building surveys and investigations throughout NYC/NJ.
• Document conditions through photographs and measurements.
• Evaluate conditions and potential repair strategies.
• Assist with exploratory probes and construction-phase site visits.
• Support investigation programs and design scopes.

Skills

Technical writing

Organizational skills

Communication skills

AutoCAD proficiency

Microsoft Office proficiency

Fieldwork

Interest in forensics and restoration

Education

Architecture degree

Job description

Founded in 1987, RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC is an employee-owned 115+ person Manhattan-based firm that designs, specifies, and administers restoration, upgrade, and adaptive re-use programs on behalf of owners, managers, and co-op and condo boards.

We are currently seeking a [title] for our [Team] department. Candidate should be self-motivated, energetic, organized and a team player.

Life at RAND

As an employee-owned business, at RAND, we believe great work starts with great people—and we take care of ours.

Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support you both professionally and personally, including:

• Medical, dental, and company-sponsored vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match to invest in your future
• Long-term disability and life insurance
• Transit and parking benefits for easy commuting
• On-site exercise room and wellness perks like yoga classes
• Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities
• Employee referral incentives
• A RAND Certified Project Management Program
• A vibrant culture with team events, celebrations, and yes—great holiday parties

And we’re not the only ones who think RAND is a great place to work—

We’ve been named one of Crain’s New York Business Top 100 Places to Work in NYC 14 times (including 2025).

Come see why.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform building surveys and investigations throughout the NYC/NJ metropolitan area.
• Document conditions through photographs, measurements, sketches, and structured field notes.
• Evaluate observed conditions, probable causes, appropriate follow-up investigations, and potential repair strategies with senior architects and engineers.
• Develop a working understanding of buildings as integrated systems, including structure, envelope, roofing, interiors, drainage, and MEP systems.
• Assist with exploratory probes, testing, contractor coordination, and construction-phase site visits.
• Review drawings, prior reports, repair records, and other documentation in preparation for field assignments.
• Translate building conditions and technical recommendations into practical plans considering client priorities, regulatory requirements, budgets, sequencing, and timing.
• Participate in client and building-management discussions regarding project priorities, next steps, and implementation planning.
• Support investigation programs, repair strategies, capital projects, reports, design scopes, and construction documents from evaluation through implementation.
• Work across multiple technical disciplines and contribute field experience, investigation methods, and repair approaches to the firm’s technical knowledge library and standardized workflows.

Qualifications:

• Architecture degree and approximately 1–5 years of relevant experience in New York City.
• Interest in pursuing architectural licensure; candidates actively progressing toward RA licensure are preferred.
• Strong technical writing, organizational, and communication skills.
• Comfortable with frequent fieldwork, including roofs, facades, mechanical spaces, and active construction sites.
• Experience or strong interest in existing buildings, interiors, restoration, historic preservation, building envelope, forensics, roofing, facades, and construction, with curiosity about how building systems interact and an open-minded approach to improving existing buildings.
• AutoCAD and Microsoft Office proficiency; comfortable integrating smartphones, mobile apps, AI-assisted tools, and structured digital workflows into field documentation and project delivery.
• Ability to travel regularly among NYC/NJ project sites required; driver’s license strongly preferred.