Criminalist I

The City of San Diego; California (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of San Diego is seeking a Criminalist I to join the forensic team. The selected candidate will perform chemical, biological, and physical analyses on narcotics, firearms, and related items involved in police investigations.

You will prepare evidence for court and may testify as an expert witness. The role requires a bachelor's degree and relevant forensic coursework or equivalent experience, with clear citizenship or work authorization in the United States.

Qualifications

• Citizenship: US citizen or legal right to work in the United States.
• Education/Experience: One of two options: 1) Bachelor's in Criminalistics, Forensic Science, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Digital Forensics, or Computer Forensics; 2) Bachelor's in Computer Science or closely related science AND one year of full-time professional Criminalistics experience in areas such as Blood Alcohol Analysis, Computer Forensics, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Digital Forensics, Firearms Identification, Forensic Biology, Narcotic Analysis, Toxicological Analysis, Trace Evidence Analysis; plus 8 semester/12 quarter units in general chemistry and 3 semester/4 quarter units in organic chemistry/biochemistry.
• Foreign degrees accepted if evaluated as equivalent.
• Master's Degree in Criminalistics/Forensic Science may substitute for at most one year of required experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform chemical, biological and physical analyses on narcotics, firearms, organic material and other substances involved in police investigations.
• Prepare evidence for presentation in court and testify as expert witnesses.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Criminalistics/Forensic Science

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science with forensics experience

Job description

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT:

• Criminalist II

JOB INFORMATION

See NOTE(S) below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities.

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO THE FOLLOWING RELATED RECRUITMENT:

• Criminalist II

Criminalist I positions perform chemical, biological and physical analyses on narcotics, firearms, organic material and other substances involved in police investigations; prepare evidence for presentation in court; testify as expert witnesses; and perform other duties as assigned.

Notes

• Employees in job classifications represented by Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases:
• 3.5% effective 7/1/27
• 2% effective 7/1/28
• 2% effective 1/1/29
• Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS).

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

You MUST meet the following requirements on the date you apply, unless otherwise indicated.

CITIZENSHIP: You MUST be a United States citizen or have the current legal right to work in the United States.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You MUST meet ONE of the following options: COURSEWORK: Completion of the following college-level coursework:

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university in Criminalistics, Forensic Science, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Digital Forensics, or Computer Forensics.
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university in Computer Science or a closely related physical or biological science AND one-year of full-time professional Criminalistics experience in ONE or more of the following areas:
• Blood Alcohol Analysis
• Computer Forensics
• Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Digital Forensics
• Firearms Identification
• Forensic Biology
• Narcotic Analysis
• Toxicological Analysis
• Trace Evidence Analysis
• 8 semester/12 quarter college-level units in general chemistry.
• 3 semester/4 quarter college-level units in organic chemistry or biochemistry.

Notes

• Foreign degrees are acceptable if they have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from accredited institutions in the United States.
• A Master's Degree in Criminalistics or Forensic Science may be substituted for a MAXIMUM of ONE year of the required experience. However, a Master's Degree in Criminalistics or Forensic Science without a qualifying Bachelor's Degree is NOT qualifying.
• Experience performing comparative analysis of handwriting or latent prints ONLY is NOT considered qualifying.
• Additional qualifying experience may NOT be used to substitute for lack of the required education.
• City of San Diego employees using Out-of-Class Assignment (OCA) experience to qualify MUST submit written documentation signed by their appointing authority or payroll specialist, detailing the work performed, dates, and total number of qualifying OCA hours. OCA experience without the required documentation will NOT be considered.

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of hire.