Founded in 2005, AEI Corporation (Advanced Engineering Investigations) is a worldwide leader in forensic engineering and consulting. Headquartered in Littleton, Colorado, the company’s team is made up of licensed engineers, fire investigators, and industry experts with extensive combined experience in forensic analysis and investigation, covering areas such as fires and explosions, electrical and mechanical failures, carbon monoxide and chemical incidents, materials forensics. AEI provides investigation support and expert testimony for our clients, including law firms, insurance companies, utilities, energy industry stakeholders, product manufacturers, and a variety of fortune 500 companies.
From the beginning, AEI’s mission has been to deliver objective, technically sound answers for clients facing complex engineering and standard of care questions. Our work spans the full lifecycle of the forensic investigation — from on-site examination and artifact collection to laboratory testing, analysis, technical report preparation, and expert testimony.
Position Summary:
AEI is seeking a motivated Technician to join our team at our Littleton, Colorado, office. The successful candidate will be eager to learn about forensic engineering and develop within the position. This individual should be dependable, hardworking, self-motivated, and capable of working independently while recognizing when assistance or direction is needed.
The Technician supports AEI’s engineers and other staff during laboratory testing and site examinations. Additional responsibilities include the proper, organized, and well-documented handling, storage, and tracking of evidence; shipping and receiving; and general maintenance of the company’s facilities and grounds.
Position Education, Experience & Traits:
· High School graduate
· Experienced in the proper use of construction tools and methodologies
· Experience with laboratory equipment is a plus
· Computer literate, Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Ability to travel – 5%
· Excellent driving record
· Highly organized
· Motivated, eager, hard worker
· Ability to work independently and proactively
· Honest and ethical
· Team player
· Enjoys field/outdoor work
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Laboratory and Site-Examination Support
- Assist with laboratory examinations, testing, and site examinations, including planning, preparation, equipment selection, setup, attendance, documentation, cleanup, and post-examination activities.
- Prepare laboratory and field workspaces and confirm that necessary tools, equipment, materials, supplies, and personal protective equipment are available.
- Assist engineers, investigators, consultants, and other staff with testing, evidence examinations, photography, measurements, sampling, and other project-related activities.
- Clean and restore examination areas, tools, and equipment following testing or examinations.
- Follow established examination protocols, safety procedures, and instructions provided by the responsible professional.
- Assist with the preparation, setup, operation, cleanup, and breakdown of company meetings, training sessions, laboratory demonstrations, client examinations, and other events.
Evidence Management and Chain of Custody
- Serve as the primary person responsible for receiving, logging, labeling, photographing, organizing, storing, locating, and releasing evidence.
- Maintain a complete and accurate inventory of all evidence in AEI’s custody, including its condition, storage location, associated project, and chain-of-custody history.
- Become proficient in and consistently use AEI’s evidence-management software and related documentation systems.
- Ensure that evidence is stored securely and appropriately based on its size, condition, material, potential hazards, and preservation requirements.
- Maintain complete and accurate chain-of-custody documentation whenever evidence is received, transferred, examined, relocated, released, shipped, or disposed of.
- Coordinate internal access to evidence and maintain appropriate records of all evidence removals, returns, and transfers.
- Conduct periodic physical inventories and reconcile stored evidence against electronic and written records.
- Promptly investigate and report discrepancies involving evidence records, labeling, location, condition, or chain of custody.
- Coordinate the authorized return, transfer, or disposal of evidence and ensure that required client approvals and documentation are obtained before action is taken.
- Identify and comply with any special handling, transportation, storage, or disposal requirements applicable to hazardous, regulated, oversized, or unusual evidence.
- Maintain the security, organization, cleanliness, and accessibility of all evidence-storage areas.
- Protect confidential, proprietary, and case-related information encountered while handling evidence or supporting examinations.
Evidence-Storage Billing
- Maintain accurate evidence-storage records needed for client billing, including applicable dates, storage locations, quantities, sizes, and project information.
- Coordinate with administrative and accounting staff to ensure that evidence-storage fees and related charges are billed accurately and promptly.
- Review evidence-storage reports periodically and communicate additions, removals, transfers, or billing discrepancies to the appropriate staff.
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
- Organize, label, inventory, and maintain laboratory and field equipment, tools, materials, fittings, consumable supplies, and personal protective equipment.
- Develop a working knowledge of company tools and equipment, including their intended uses, safe operation, limitations, and storage locations.
- Maintain an accurate equipment check-out system and track who has possession of company tools and equipment, their expected return dates, and their condition when returned.
- Inspect equipment before and after use and promptly report, tag, remove from service, or arrange repair of damaged, defective, or unsafe equipment.
- Maintain calibration, inspection, certification, service, and repair records for equipment requiring periodic maintenance or verification.
- Coordinate calibration and preventive maintenance to help ensure safe operation and accurate, reliable results.
- Monitor inventory levels of disposable laboratory and field supplies and order replacements before supplies are depleted.
- Order approved equipment, tools, materials, fittings, and supplies as requested.
- Receive, verify, label, record, and properly store purchased items.
- Assist with evaluating replacement needs and researching equipment or supply options when requested.
Shipping and Receiving
- Serve as the primary resource for shipping and receiving evidence, field equipment, tools, testing materials, supplies, and other company items.
- Prepare items for shipment using appropriate packaging, labeling, documentation, tracking, insurance, and handling procedures.
- Confirm that evidence shipments comply with chain-of-custody requirements and any applicable carrier, hazardous material, or special-handling requirements.
- Inspect incoming shipments for damage, verify contents against shipping documents, and promptly report shortages, damage, or discrepancies.
- Maintain shipment records, tracking information, delivery confirmations, and related project documentation.
- Coordinate shipping schedules with project staff, clients, vendors, carriers, and administrative personnel as needed.
Facility and Grounds Maintenance
- Coordinate and perform routine maintenance of AEI’s laboratory, warehouse, evidence-storage areas, offices, building exterior, grounds, and company parking lot.
- Maintain clean, safe, orderly, and functional work, storage, and common areas.
- Perform or coordinate periodic cleaning of facilities, laboratory spaces, tools, equipment, work surfaces, and storage areas.
- Complete routine inspections to identify maintenance, housekeeping, safety, security, or repair needs.
- Perform minor maintenance and repairs within the employee’s training and abilities and coordinate qualified vendors for work requiring specialized expertise.
- Assist with snow and ice removal, debris removal, seasonal maintenance, and other grounds-related tasks.
- Maintain clear aisles, exits, emergency-equipment access, and safe storage practices.
- Monitor facility supplies and coordinate replenishment as needed.
- Promptly report building, utility, security, environmental, or safety concerns to management.
Company Vehicle Maintenance
- Coordinate routine maintenance, inspection, registration, cleaning, and repair of the company truck and any other assigned company vehicles.
- Maintain accurate records of vehicle services, repairs, mileage, inspections, and maintenance schedules.
- Ensure that company vehicles contain required safety supplies, emergency equipment, and commonly used field materials.
- Inspect vehicles and secured loads before use and promptly report mechanical, safety, or damage concerns.
- Keep company vehicles clean, organized, fueled, and ready for project use.
Safety and General Responsibilities
- Follow AEI’s safety procedures and properly use required personal protective equipment.
- Maintain familiarity with the location and proper use of emergency equipment, including first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers, eyewash stations, spill-response materials, and emergency exits.
- Promptly report injuries, spills, damaged evidence, equipment failures, unsafe conditions, and other incidents.
- Maintain required safety, equipment-operation, shipping, evidence-handling, and other job-related training.
- Keep accurate, timely, and organized records of completed work, purchases, maintenance, inspections, inventories, shipments, and project-related activities.
- Communicate effectively with engineers, investigators, administrative staff, vendors, clients, and other project participants.
- Prioritize competing responsibilities, respond to time-sensitive project needs, and seek guidance when work is outside the employee’s training, authority, or ability to complete safely.
- Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
The physical requirements listed below are representative of those necessary to perform the essential functions of the Technician position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
· Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods in laboratory, office, warehouse, indoor, and outdoor environments.
· Ability to sit for extended periods while using a computer, preparing documentation, reviewing records, or performing administrative work.
· Ability to frequently bend, reach, twist, turn, stoop, kneel, crouch, squat, push, pull, and maintain balance.
· Ability to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, platforms, roofs, slopes, and other elevated or uneven surfaces.
· Ability to safely enter, exit, and work in confined, restricted, elevated, or otherwise difficult-to-access spaces.
· Ability to frequently lift, carry, position, and transport objects or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
· Ability to occasionally lift, carry, position, or transport objects or equipment weighing up to 75 pounds, independently or with appropriate assistance or lifting equipment.
· Ability to push or pull carts, pallet jacks, evidence containers, equipment cases, and other materials.
· Ability to load and unload vehicles, shipments, tools, equipment, evidence, and testing materials.
· Ability to safely operate hand tools, power tools, laboratory equipment, material-handling equipment, and grounds-maintenance equipment.
· Ability to perform physical tasks such as digging, scraping, cutting, sawing, drilling, grinding, sweeping, shoveling, lifting, climbing, and moving debris or materials.
· Ability to safely collect, package, label, seal, transport, store, and retrieve evidence of varying sizes, shapes, weights, and conditions.
· Ability to reach above shoulder level and work with arms extended for limited periods.
· Ability to grasp, grip, hold, manipulate, and control tools, equipment, fasteners, evidence containers, and small objects.
· Sufficient manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to operate tools, cameras, computers, measuring devices, laboratory equipment, and evidence-tracking systems.
· Sufficient strength, stamina, mobility, and coordination to safely perform laboratory, field, warehouse, shipping, receiving, and facility-maintenance duties.
· Sufficient visual acuity, with or without correction, to inspect sites, evidence, equipment, labels, measurements, photographs, documents, and other relevant materials.
· Ability to distinguish colors, markings, labels, surface conditions, and other visual details relevant to evidence handling and examination.
· Ability to work in areas with limited lighting and to use supplemental lighting when necessary.
· Sufficient hearing, with or without correction, to communicate with coworkers, recognize alarms and warnings, and remain aware of equipment and environmental hazards.
· Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication while working in laboratory, field, and office environments.
· Ability to safely navigate active job sites, fire or loss scenes, laboratories, warehouses, construction areas, industrial facilities, roofs, ladders, scaffolding, and areas containing debris.
· Ability to walk and maintain balance on uneven, unstable, wet, muddy, icy, rocky, steep, or debris-covered surfaces.
· Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, and direct sunlight.
· Ability to tolerate exposure to dust, dirt, mud, smoke residue, soot, odors, noise, vibration, chemicals, fuels, oils, damaged materials, and other conditions commonly encountered at incident scenes, laboratories, and industrial locations.
· Ability to work in environments that may be wet, dirty, dusty, noisy, poorly ventilated, or subject to temperature extremes.
· Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, which may include safety glasses, goggles, face shields, gloves, protective clothing, coveralls, hard hats, hearing protection, safety footwear, fall-protection equipment, and high-visibility apparel.
· Ability to obtain any required medical clearance, complete fit testing, and properly wear respiratory protection in accordance with AEI’s respiratory-protection program.
· Ability to wear personal protective equipment and respiratory protection for extended periods, as work conditions require.
· Ability to follow safety procedures and promptly respond to alarms, warnings, changing site conditions, and emergency instructions.
· Ability to safely work near moving equipment, vehicles, machinery, sharp objects, broken materials, and other potential hazards.
· Ability to safely drive a company or personal vehicle to project sites, incident scenes, laboratories, vendors, and shipping facilities under varying traffic, road, terrain, and weather conditions.
· Ability to enter and exit vehicles repeatedly and remain seated while driving for extended periods.
· Ability to travel locally and, when required, out of town or overnight.
· Ability to work extended or irregular hours when project demands, evidence examinations, emergency responses, shipping schedules, or facility needs require.
· Ability to perform outdoor facility and grounds-maintenance tasks, which may include sweeping, shoveling snow, removing debris, moving materials, and using basic maintenance equipment.
· Ability to safely perform the position’s essential duties in proximity to biological materials, fire debris, damaged structures, hazardous substances, or other potentially contaminated materials when appropriate controls and protective equipment are provided.
· Ability to maintain physical control of evidence and equipment while preserving chain of custody and preventing damage, contamination, loss, or unauthorized access.
· Ability to perform repetitive motions involving the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, back, and legs during evidence processing, equipment use, packaging, documentation, and maintenance activities.
· Ability to transition repeatedly among standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, crouching, climbing, and lifting throughout the workday.
· Ability to work independently in laboratory, warehouse, field, and outdoor settings while maintaining awareness of personal safety and recognizing when assistance is required.
· Physical demands and working conditions may vary by assignment. Employees are expected to use appropriate assistance, equipment, and established safety procedures when performing tasks that cannot be completed safely by one person. AEI will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable law.
Compensation
Competitive base salary of $60k - $80k plus potential quarterly bonuses based on personal and company performance.
Benefit Overview
· Medical, dental, and vision insurance
· Long-term disability insurance
· Life insurance
· Potential quarterly performance-based bonuses
· 401(k) program with Safe Harbor Match
· Paid time off
· Annual training/professional development
· Licensing and professional membership fees
· Health Savings Account (HSA), including company contribution
Pay: $28.85 - $38.46 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
