Associate Engineer

Associate Engineer - part-time - Dallas, TX

 At Haag, a Salas O’Brien company, we’ve been a trusted leader in forensic engineering and consulting since 1924, helping clients solve complex, high-stakes problems when it matters most. We’re known for technical excellence, integrity, and clear, defensible conclusions. We’re equally committed to building a career environment where talented engineers can do their best work, grow their expertise, and make a real impact.

In June2024, Haag merged with Salas O’Brien, expanding what’s possible for our team. Haag remains focused on forensic engineering, and we now offer the added strength of a broader, employee-owned organization. This brings deeper technical resources, expanded collaboration, and more opportunities to build your career across a wide range of disciplines and industries.

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We are engineered for impact, and we bring that same commitment to our people as we do to our projects. We live our values every day: Inspire, Achieve, and Connect, as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for energy, manufacturing and industrial process, data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more. Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to deliver outstanding client outcomes and build long-term careers.

Job Summary: We’re seeking a part-time Associate Engineer in the Dallas, TX area. In this role In this hybrid role, you will assist engineers in field engineering inspections and testing procedures as requested.  Such inspections can include but are not limited to weather-caused damage, foundations, equipment evaluations, structural detailing, inspection and detailing of in-situ collapse debris, fire and explosion scene inspections, vehicular accident scene evaluations, and so forth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Weather-related evaluations may include

Measuring roof areas

Inspecting roof coverings

Assisting engineers as needed to ensure safety

• Foundation inspections may include:

Measuring and diagraming buildings

Assisting during crawlspace inspections to ensure safety

Surveying building areas

Collecting soil samples

• Fire and explosion scene inspections may include:

Measuring and diagraming damaged buildings

Assisting in debris removal and inspection procedures

Collecting debris samples for analysis and laboratory examination

• Vehicular accident scene evaluations may include:

Diagraming and dimensioning accident scenes

Assisting during on-site inspections

• Equipment evaluations may include:

Identifying and listing the involved equipment models and manufacturers.

Defining equipment conditions

Locating replacement equipment, both new and reconditioned

Finding equipment repair specialists

• In-situ collapse debris detailing may include:

Diagraming and photographing collapsed structural elements

Locating positions of fallen structural elements

Preparing plat diagrams locating fallen components

• Field testing may include:

Setting up, calibrating, and operating various test equipment.

Monitoring data acquisition

• Aspects of all work may include:

Interviewing witnesses, property owners, and owner’s representatives

Preparing drawings and survey plots

Contacting equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

Coordinating shipments of equipment and engineering samples.

• Calibrating, maintaining, acquiring, and using electrical and mechanical instruments.

• Assisting with preparation of written reports. Good writing skills therefore are required.

• Good communication skills are required for contacts with clients, property owners, and others.

• Some travel will be required, including overnight stays, and personal vehicle use. For the retrieval of job samples, ownership of a light truck might be useful.  Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week.

ASSIST RESEARCH DEPARTMENT

• Aid in developing test program methodology, design, assembly, and procedures
• Procure materials and test equipment.
• Perform and document experimental testing procedures.
• Maintain test assembly storage.
• Calibrate test equipment and maintain equipment records.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree (BS) in engineering granted by a four-year college or university.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Mathematical Skills

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistics, algebra, calculus, differential equations, plane and solid geometry, trigonometry, and engineering economics.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations of only limited standardization.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, and schedule forms.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

None required at this time. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The vast majority of job assignments involve inspections under physically challenging circumstances and conditions.  It is essential that technical employees perform many physical tasks included but not limited to the following:

• Climb ladders, stairs, and roofs
• Lift and set ladders and scaffolds
• Work in hot, humid, arid, extremely cold, wet, icy, noisy, and otherwise difficult conditions
• Work while suited in protective gear of various types
• Walk considerable distances over oftentimes irregular terrain while carrying engineering equipment
• Tolerate the inconveniences and demands of travel
• Given that every technical employee must conduct inspections as well as read many documents, every technical employee’s vision must be correctable sufficient for automobile drivers license registration. Good peripheral vision and depth perception also are essential.

Location:

• Hybrid - Dallas, TX area. 

Compensation & Benefits:

• Competitive hourly rate.

This role is also eligible for benefits commonly offered to part-time employees.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Third-Party Agency Notice
We do not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiters or agencies. We only work with approved partners engaged directly by our Talent Acquisition team for specific searches. Unsolicited submissions will not be eligible for placement fees.