Technical consulting is a service provided by expert staff in a particular area of science or engineering. The most common use of technical consulting is on scientific or engineering projects. Technical consulting firms employ engineers, scientists, skilled technicians and scientific project managers. All technical consultants have a least a bachelor degree in science or engineering. The vast majority also have a master’s degree or a doctorate in a specific area of expertise.

A technical consulting firm would normally be called in for projects that require a great deal of expertise for a short period of time. Large projects such as bridge building or the international space station routinely hire specialized consultants to address one specific need. A microbiologist might be required on a bridge building project to ensure that the materials used will not harm the native organisms over the next 20 years. These type of very specialized skills are required for a short period, but must be high caliber and reliable.

When selecting a technical consultant, there are several key items that should be your top priorities. Create a clearly defined project requirement and a firm time estimate. List the areas of expertise that are required and detail the minimum acceptable education credentials.

Obtain at least three quotations for technical consulting services. Be sure to ask for the resume of the potential candidate for evaluation purposes. Verify the references before making a hiring decision. Focus the reference checking discussion on the details of the project the consultant worked on, what they were required to do and their ability to complete the task successfully.

For large, multi-stage projects, make a list of the technical consultants that you will require and the estimated time line. Contact potential firms well in advance to allow sufficient time for the selection process. When the appropriate candidate is located, confirm the consulting schedule matches the required time frame. The demand for highly skilled technical consulting tends to be cyclical. Plan ahead to ensure that the resources you require are available when you need them.

If you are considering becoming a technical consultant, there are several skill sets that are critical to your success. A good technical consultant is customer service-focused, has excellent communication and listening skills, is an excellent problem solver and is driven to learn more. The most important skill of a technical consultant is the ability to focus on the clients requirements, endeavor to understand them and to ensure that every one of these needs is met.