ABOUT THE FIRM 

Secretariat professionals are trusted in the highest-stakes legal, risk, and regulatory matters around the world. 

When you join Secretariat, you become part of a rapidly growing elite team of bright minds and passionate problem-solvers. Your skills and expertise will be utilized on day one – working with the world’s most renowned law firms, leading corporations, and influential institutions to answer complex questions that shape critical financial, economic, and strategic business decisions. 

Our globally integrated teams are united by the ambition, energy, and commitment they bring to every challenge. We inspire and empower an open, collaborative culture that embraces ongoing professional development, recognition, diversity, and – most importantly – you. 

Make your impact at Secretariat. 

As part of our expanding Global Engineering and Scientific consulting team, you will work at the forefront of today’s most complex engineering challenges. You will be engaged in analyzing failures of a myriad of products from a variety of industries from automotive, construction, consumer products, consumer electronics and medical devices to name a few.   Secretariat leverages our diverse technical expertise, and industry knowledge of a variety of structures and products to provide clients with world-class value to identify solutions that drive performance and safety. 

This position is available in our Naperville office.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Plan and conduct technical investigations involving batteries and other engineered products.
• Design and coordinate laboratory testing and failure analysis, including battery disassembly, imaging, materials characterization, and electrochemical testing as appropriate to the investigation.
• Interpret test results and other evidence, evaluate potential failure mechanisms, and identify additional information or testing needed to support technical conclusions.
• Prepare technical reports and present findings to clients, attorneys, and technical audiences.
• Evaluate technical reports, test data, and other evidence, identifying relevant assumptions, limitations, and questions requiring further analysis.
• Manage project tasks, schedules, and budgets while collaborating with specialists across engineering disciplines.
• Develop relationships with clients and colleagues, guide junior staff, and contribute to the growth of the practice.
• Travel as needed for inspections, testing, meetings, and other project work.

 QUALIFICATIONS  

• Ph.D. in chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, physics, or a related technical field.
• Hands-on experience testing or characterizing batteries, battery materials, or battery systems.
• Professional experience in research and development, product evaluation, technical investigations, or failure analysis.
• Familiarity with relevant testing and characterization methods, which may include electrochemical cycling, impedance measurements, CT imaging, microscopy, or spectroscopy.
• Strong analytical judgment and the ability to work independently, manage priorities, and advance projects with incomplete information.
• Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to explain complex analyses to readers outside the candidate’s specialty.
• Interest in working across a range of engineering matters and learning new technical subjects.
• Experience managing projects or guiding the work of other scientists and engineers.

Experience in consulting, litigation support, intellectual property matters, or expert report preparation is a plus. Professional licensure is also a plus.