Sean McGrath

PE

Senior Managing Engineer

Biography

Sean McGrath is a Senior Managing Engineer at YA Group. He has experience in structural forensic engineering and specializes in conducting structural evaluations, building‑envelope assessments, roofing inspections, building code reviews, and damage analyses for commercial, residential, agricultural, and industrial properties. Sean is skilled in determining the cause and extent of damage related to weather events, construction defects, vehicle impacts, explosions, and fires.

Sean has extensive experience in structural design, construction practices, and failure analysis, enabling him to identify issues with clarity and technical precision. He has conducted complex evaluations using field inspections, material assessments, and analytical methodologies to develop accurate and defensible engineering conclusions. Sean’s background also includes hands‑on work in construction and municipal engineering, which strengthens his ability to bridge technical findings with practical, real‑world context.

In addition to his forensic engineering expertise, Sean has developed strong capabilities in interpreting building codes, managing large‑loss insurance claims, and preparing detailed technical reports for clients. His work includes building‑envelope consulting, roofing system evaluations, and structural analysis across multiple property types.

Credentials

  • PE | Professional Engineer
  • FAA Certified Drone Pilot
  • OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety
  • EVS/R Roof Specialist

Representative Consulting Assignments

  • Commercial (Mid‑Rise Condominium) | Hurricane Damage | Assessed structural and enclosure damage from extreme wind and storm surge
  • Commercial (High‑Rise Condominium) | Hurricane Damage | Performed window‑deflection testing and enclosure assessments
  • Institutional (University) | Hail Damage | Assessed low‑slope membrane roofs and rooftop components
  • Residential (Apartments) | Wind & Hail Damage | Evaluated damage to steep‑sloped shingle roofing across numerous buildings
  • esidential (Apartments) | Tornado Damage | Inspected multistory buildings with roof uplift and structural distress; provided repair recommendations
  • Industrial (Warehouse/Manufacturing) | Tornado Damage | Evaluated cladding impacts; provided code‑based repair guidance
  • Residential & Commercial | Explosion Damage | Oversaw inspection and reporting of structural impacts from blast event
  • Commercial (Hotel) | Fire Damage | Determined façade and window damage from multiple fire events
  • Commercial (Retail) | Envelope Damage | Identified code implications for replacement of damaged building components
  • Commercial (Historic Masonry) | Facade Failure | Analyzed partial stucco‑façade collapse
  • Commercial (High‑Rise) | Water Intrusion | Investigated masonry deterioration and envelope seepage
  • Commercial (Strip Mall) | Drainage Failure | Analyzed storm‑drain malfunction and resulting foundation settlement
  • Industrial (Concrete Dome) | Structural Failure | Performed structural analysis of monolithic storage dome failure
  • Industrial (Grain Elevator) | Structural Assessment | Evaluated condition of historic concrete grain facility for repair planning
  • Industrial (Warehouse) | Structural Collapse | Completed cause‑and‑origin analysis of roof collapse
  • Residential (Historic) | Adjacent Construction Damage | Evaluated distress caused by improper excavation shoring
  • Industrial/Infrastructure | Structural Stability | Performed stability analysis for temporary roof‑deck removal and replacement

Professional Experience

  • 2026 - Current | Senior Managing Engineer | YA Group
  • 2025 - 2026 | Senior Associate | Thornton Tomasetti
  • 2021 - 2024 | Senior Forensic Engineer | EFI Global, Inc.
  • 2017 - 2021 | Forensic Engineer | EFI Global, Inc.
  • 2014 - 2017 | Structural EIT | HBK Engineering, LLC

Area of Practice

  • Builder's Risk 
  • Building Envelope
  • Structural Analysis
  • Construction Defect Reviews 
  • Failure Analysis
  • Fire Origin & Cause
  • Repair and Rehabilitation Design
  • Slip and Fall Evaluations

Publications and Presentations

  • “Navigating Steep Slope Roof Repair Assessments,” ASCE 10th Congress on Forensic Engineering, 2024
  • “Repair Recommendations After a Forensic Investigation,” ASCE 9th Congress on Forensic Engineering, 2022
  • “Structural Assessment of Hurricane Damage: The Aftermath of a CAT 5 Hurricane in the British Virgin Islands,” SEAOI Young Engineers Symposium, 2019

Education

  • Ohio University - Master of Science - Structural Engineering - Athens - Ohio
  • University of Iowa - Bachelor of Science - Civil (Structural) Engineering - Iowa City - Iowa

Training Courses

  • Level 1 Rope Access (Authorized Person)
  • Confined Space Certified
  • Suspended Scaffold User
  • Aerial Lift Trained

Affiliations

  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
  • International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)
  • Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI)

Licenses

  • 91394 - Florida - Professional Engineer
  • P24862 - Iowa - Professional Engineer
  • 062.070561 - Illinois - Professional Engineer
  • PE12500222 - Indiana - Professional Engineer
  • 6201310550 - Michigan - Professional Engineer
  • 56549 - Minnesota - Professional Engineer
  • PE-2025026631 - Missouri - Professional Engineer
  • PE-27826 - North Dakota - Professional Engineer
  • E-17503 - Nebraska - Professional Engineer
  • PE.92178 - Ohio - Professional Engineer
  • 14226 - South Dakota - Professional Engineer
  • 46547-6 - Wisconsin - Professional Engineer