Existing Building Repair & Forensics Engineer

Department:Forensics/Existing Building

Location:Golden, CO

Lerch Bates is seeking anExisting Building Repair & Forensics Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will evaluate existing buildings, investigate building performance issues, develop repair and rehabilitation solutions, and support projects from initial assessment through construction completion.

Working alongside experienced consultants, engineers, architects, and technical specialists, you will contribute to a wide variety of projects involving building enclosures, structural systems, roofing assemblies, waterproofing systems, exterior facades, and other critical building components. You will help clients understand the condition of their buildings, identify causes of deterioration or failure, and develop practical, cost-effective repair strategies that improve building performance and extend service life.

This position is ideal for engineers who enjoy a mix of field investigations, design, problem-solving, technical consulting, and project management. Whether evaluating water intrusion, facade deterioration, structural distress, or building envelope deficiencies, you'll play a key role in helping clients make informed decisions about repair, rehabilitation, and capital planning projects.

About Lerch Bates:

Lerch Bates (LB) is a global technical consulting firm focused on improving how buildings perform for owners, designers, and the people who use them every day. For more than 75 years we’ve partnered on some of the world’s most complex and high-profile projects. Today we provide Total Building Performance expertise that integrates Building Science and Building Flow into a unified delivery model.

Our work spans design, construction, investigation, repair, rehabilitation, management, and modernization with one consistent goal: helping clients make confident, well-informed decisions in an increasingly complex built environment.

We are 100% employee-owned through our ESOP. That means when the company succeeds, our employee-owners share in that success. It's more than a retirement benefit—it's an ownership mindset backed by the opportunity to build long-term financial value while helping shape the future of the company. 

What You’ll Do:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed in this position. They are not intended to prescribe or restrict the assignments that management may make.

Building Assessments & Investigations

• Conduct field investigations and condition assessments of existing buildings.
• Evaluate building enclosure systems, roofing systems, waterproofing assemblies, exterior facades, and structural components.
• Review drawings, specifications, historical documents, and construction records to understand existing conditions and identify areas of concern.
• Identify sources of water intrusion, air leakage, condensation, facade distress, structural deterioration, and other building performance issues.
• Document findings through field reports, technical assessments, photographs, and presentations.

Repair Design & Technical Consulting

• Assist with the development of repair, rehabilitation, and restoration recommendations for existing buildings.
• Prepare and review construction drawings, technical specifications, and bid documents.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, consultants, and technical staff throughout project development.
• Participate in design reviews and technical discussions related to repair strategies and project execution.
• Review submittals and shop drawings for conformance with project requirements and design intent.

Construction Administration & Quality Assurance

• Conduct site visits and construction observations during active repair and rehabilitation projects.
• Review construction progress for compliance with contract documents, industry standards, and project requirements.
• Prepare site observation reports and communicate findings to project teams and clients.
• Support quality assurance efforts during construction and assist in resolving field-related issues.

Project Management & Client Service

• Support the management of multiple projects simultaneously.
• Coordinate project schedules, deliverables, and communication with clients and project stakeholders.
• Prepare technical reports, recommendations, and client presentations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with owners, property managers, architects, contractors, and industry partners.
• Assist with project tracking, budgeting, and quality control activities.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain licensure within six months.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in engineering, architecture, construction, building science, restoration, rehabilitation, forensic engineering, or a related field.
• Knowledge of building design, construction methods, and building enclosure systems.
• Experience evaluating or working with roofing, waterproofing, facades, exterior walls, fenestration systems, or structural systems.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions, and communicate recommendations effectively.
• Experience reviewing drawings, specifications, construction documents, and shop drawings.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while contributing within a collaborative team environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Bluebeam.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, WUFI, THERM, or similar design and analysis software is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with building restoration, rehabilitation, repair design, forensics, or existing building consulting.
• Previous experience working for a contractor specializing in structural, waterproofing, roofing, or building enclosure projects.
• Experience with project budgeting and project financial management.
• Exposure to condition assessments, reserve studies, capital planning, or forensic investigations.
• Professional involvement with IIBEC, AIA, ASCE, SEI, or similar industry organizations.

Why Work with Lerch Bates?

• Competitive base salary, based on experience, qualifications, and location
• Annual performance-based bonus opportunity, with target incentive levels varying by position and based on individual and company performance.
• 100% Employee-Owned ESOP (company-funded retirement benefit that allows eligible employees to share in the company's long-term success)
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off (starting at 17 days annually)
• 10 paid holidays
• 401(k) with 6% employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance and wellness programs

Become an Employee-Owner

One of the biggest advantages of working at Lerch Bates is that we are 100% employee-owned through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Unlike many companies that offer only a salary and retirement plan, eligible employees receive company-funded ESOP shares at no cost to them as part of their long-term retirement benefits.

As Lerch Bates grows, employee-owners share in the company's success. For many employees, the ESOP becomes one of the most valuable financial benefits of their career by helping build meaningful long-term wealth in addition to their salary and traditional 401(k).

When you join Lerch Bates, you are not just building better buildings. You also have the opportunity to build your financial future alongside the company's success.

Core Values

Ownership • Community • Integrity • Respect • Optimism

Working Environment:

This position is performed in a combination of office, remote, client, and field environments. Regular travel to project sites is required and may include commercial buildings, occupied facilities, active construction sites, industrial locations, rooftops, and other environments where building evaluations, testing, or construction observations are performed. Work may occur indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Physical Demands:

This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, climb stairs and ladders, and navigate active construction sites and existing buildings. Employees may be required to access rooftops, traverse uneven terrain, work at elevated heights, and enter confined or restricted spaces as project conditions require. Frequent use of computers, keyboards, measuring equipment, and handheld devices is required.

Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of equipment and materials weighing up to 40 pounds may be required. Employees must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, high-visibility clothing, gloves, safety footwear, hearing protection, and fall protection when applicable.

Travel by automobile and occasional air travel may be required.

Mental Demands:

This position requires strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills. Employees must be able to interpret construction documents, building codes, technical specifications, engineering data, and field observations while exercising sound professional judgment.

The role requires managing multiple projects, balancing competing priorities, meeting deadlines, and adapting to changing project conditions. Effective written and verbal communication, technical report writing, client presentations, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and attention to detail are essential.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug test. The drug test includes screening for marijuana, regardless of state or local laws permitting its use. A conditional offer of employment will be rescinded if a candidate fails either the background check or the drug test. This requirement is mandated by federal regulations applicable to our government contracting obligations.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.