Dr. Pilette is a professional engineer who specializes in Structural and Forensic Engineering since 1991. He completed his Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Ottawa in 1985, followed by a Masters Degree completed in 1987. He then enroled at McGill University where he completed a Doctorate Degree in 1991. During his graduate studies, Claude focused his area of expertise on structural modelling and behaviour, and reconstruction of failures. He designed and conducted large scale experiments, where structures were loaded to failure. The behaviour of the structures under extreme loading conditions were predicted using analytical tools developed in the course of his graduate studies.

From 1991 to 1997, Dr. Pilette joined a federal government agency where he conducted investigations of structural related failures at nuclear power plants in Canada. From 1997 to 2009, Claude joined several consulting firms where he expanded his experience of reconstruction of structural failures to fire investigation and accident reconstruction. Dr. Pilette completed hundreds of forensic investigations related to building damage, fire incidents, and accidents involving personal injuries. His clientele included insurance companies, legal firms and government agencies.

In 2009, Dr. Pilette formed Pilette Forensic Engineering, a company specializing in engineering investigations for those requiring forensic assessment of failures and incidents resulting in personal injuries. Pilette Forensic Engineering's area of expertise covers building failures and personal injury accident reconstruction. Dr. Pilette's clientele includes primarily insurance companies and legal firms.

Dr. Pilette has testified in Ontario and Quebec Superior Courts on several occasions, providing expert testimony to the courts on the findings of his forensic engineering work.