District Attorney Investigator

Orange County; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Educational reimbursement up to $10,0

OCERS retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

Orange County District Attorney's Office is seeking results-oriented investigators to conduct high-profile investigations in collaboration with attorneys and law enforcement partners. The role focuses on pursuing felonies and serious misdemeanors and requires detailed knowledge of evidence rules, procedures, and investigative techniques.

The ideal candidate will have a valid CA POST certificate, POST academy completion, and proven experience handling victims and witnesses.

Qualifications

• Possess a valid California P.O.S.T. certificate.
• Graduated from a POST-certified peace officer academy.
• Extensive investigative experience with victims and witnesses.

Responsibilities

• Perform challenging investigations leading to arrest and prosecution of felonies and serious misdemeanors.
• Collaborate with District Attorney attorneys and local, state, and federal law enforcement.
• Prepare reports, warrants, and testify in court.

Skills

P.O.S.T. certificate

Investigation skills

Interpersonal skills

Team collaboration

Education

California POST basic peace officer academy

Job description

DISTRICT ATTORNEY INVESTIGATOR

This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future regular and limited term vacancies in the Orange County District Attorney's Office. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Online applications will be accepted until Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PST) with the first round of consideration beginning the week of August 10, 2026.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

The Office of the Orange County District Attorney Public Administrator, (OCDA-PA) represents the People of the State of California in criminal and civil proceedings in the Superior Court of California and appellate courts of the state. The mission of the OCDA is to enhance public safety and welfare and to protect and respect crime victims and to create security in the community through the vigorous enforcement of criminal and civil laws in a just, honest, efficient and ethical manner.

THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office – Bureau of Investigation supports the prosecutorial and law enforcement endeavors of the District Attorney. It provides a wide range of policing services tasked with suppressing crime and ensuring all criminal cases filed in Orange County are thoroughly investigated.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Office of the District Attorney is seeking results-oriented investigators to collaborate with attorneys in the vigorous enforcement of criminal and civil laws. A District Attorney Investigator performs challenging investigative work resulting in the apprehension and prosecution of persons suspected of committing felony and serious misdemeanor crimes. The department is seeking individuals who are:

• Self-motivated
• Effective communicators
• Team players able to successfully partner with District Attorney legal staff as well as local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING

• Detailed understanding of the Criminal Justice System including courtroom testimony.
• Thorough knowledge of rules of evidence, courtroom procedure, investigation techniques, methods, and procedures, and the role of a District Attorney Investigator.
• Ability to apply forward thinking and creative thought with high ethical standards.
• Exceptional judgment and common sense.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills.
• Approachability, flexibility, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm, innovation and/or creativity in a law-enforcement investigator assignment.
• Superior interviewing, interrogation, and listening skills.
• Superior report writing skills.
• Experience in writing search warrants.
• Extensive experience in dealing with victims and witnesses of crime.
• Demonstrated past performance working with Deputy District Attorney collaborating in an investigation and prosecution.

Special Qualifications

• Possess a valid state of California P.O.S.T. certificate (basic, intermediate, advanced, supervisory or management).
• Graduated from a state of California P.O.S.T. certified peace officer regular basic course academy
• Modular format (reserve) training will not be considered

PLEASE NOTE

All applicants who have filed an application must scan, upload, and attach their California P.O.S.T. certificate(s) (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Supervisory, or Management) to the application. Failure to immediately attach your certificates will result in an incomplete application, which may not be accepted.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL and ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed in the announcement for any questions or to request an accommodation during the testing/selection process.

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION

• In addition to the monthly starting pay, candidates receive P.O.S.T. pay commensurate with the level of P.O.S.T. certificate the candidate possesses.
• Additional compensation up to 70 cents ($0.70) per hour may be available for candidates selected to work in positions requiring bilingual skills.
• Educational incentive pay of ($115.38) biweekly is available to employees who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher from a college or university accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, International Association of Universities, or National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

RETIREMENT RECIPROCITY

Current employed members of accepted reciprocal systems who were in those retirement systems prior to January 1, 2013, and who have not retired from those systems, may be eligible for previous OCERS formula of 3% at age 55 for safety members.

• Membership in the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS). For more information, please call [phone] or visit www.ocers.org

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The County offers a competitive benefits package which includes a choice of several health plans, annual leave (includes paid vacation) and paid holidays. Additionally, the County provides a retirement plan, which has reciprocity with the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Participation in a deferred compensation plan is available. The County also offers up to $10,000 annual Educational and Professional Reimbursement.

For specific information regarding Medical and Dental benefits for Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs' (AOCDS) members, please call [phone].

• Highly competitive salary
• Option of participating in the 457b Deferred Compensation Plan. For more information, please visit www.countyoforangedcplan.com
• Annual Leave (paid-time off accrual)

ORANGE COUNTY AMENITIES

• 24 Parks and Trails: OC Parks & Trails
• 17 Beaches/Harbors: OC Beaches
• 7 Historical Sites: OC Historic Sites

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The Office of the District Attorney Human Resources screens all applications to identify the qualified candidates. After screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition. After all the test procedures have been completed, the District Attorney's Human Resources will establish an eligible list of qualified candidates.

The recruitment procedure will consist of the following steps. Each step will require a few weeks to complete.

Written Exercise | (Weighted 50%)

Candidates will be completing a written exercise. A panel of subject matter experts will evaluate the written exercise on writing skills, clarity and preciseness of writing, content, grammar, sentence structure, and format. This assessment will be done as a blind rating. Only the most qualified candidates will be referred to the next step. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Structured Oral Interview Assessment | (Weighted 50%)

Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate's qualifications for the job. Only the most qualified candidates will be referred to the next step. All candidates will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, District Attorney Human Resources will establish an eligible list of candidates. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Background Requirements

Candidates under consideration for hire by the Office of the District Attorney-Public Administrator will be required to successfully pass an extensive and thorough background investigation, including Live Scan fingerprinting, medical, and psychological testing to the satisfaction of the District Attorney.

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct e-mail address is included in our application and use only one e-mail account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

If you have questions related to this recruitment, please contact Lori Wrightat [phone] or [e-mail]

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.