FORENSIC SCIENTIST III - LATENT PRINTS

Arizona Department of Administration; Lake Havasu City (AZ); On-site; USD 79,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid holidays

Def erred compensation and retirement

Job summary

The Arizona Department of Public Safety invites applications for a Forensic Scientist III specializing in Latent Prints. This experienced role performs latent print analysis using advanced chemical, microscopic, chromatographic and comparative techniques, prepares technical reports, and provides expert court testimony.

The position supports training and methodology improvements and handles complex casework under supervision.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in biology, chemistry, or closely related physical or natural sciences with either a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in chemistry or a minimum of twenty (20) semester hours of chemistry with completed coursework in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a forensic scientist in a recognized crime laboratory; demonstrated competency in at least one forensic discipline; and court or professional presentation experience applicable to forensics.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence.
• Prepares technical reports; provides expert testimony in court; provides technical advice and guidance to and trains other forensic scientists.
• Recommends revisions to analytical methodology and purchase of scientific equipment; serves as an experienced casework analyst on complex cases.

Skills

Forensic science

Court testimony

Analytical skills

Technical report writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology or chemistry

Tools

Chemistry/biochemical techniques

Job description

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Department of Public Safety’s mission is to provide public safety to the state of Arizona. Visit our website at www.azdps.gov

FORENSIC SCIENTIST III - LATENT PRINTS

Salary: $93,292.78 Annually

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is seeking experienced and motivated individuals to join our team as a Forensic Scientistspecializing in the Latent Prints discipline. Utilizes chemical, microscopic, chromatographic, and comparative techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify and evaluate physical evidence which may include: controlled dangerous substances; blood, urine, and other biological specimens; firearms; questioned documents; latent prints; trace evidence; and other items of evidentiary value. Prepares technical reports; provides expert testimony in court; provides technical advice and guidance to and trains other forensic scientists; recommends revisions to analytical methodology and purchase of scientific equipment; serves as an experienced casework analyst working complex cases within the discipline and performs related tasks as required. Supervision is received from a Supervising Forensic Scientist.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eighteen-month eligibility list to fill statewidecurrent and future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in biology, chemistry, or closely related physical or natural sciences with either a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in chemistry or a minimum of twenty (20) semester hours of chemistry with completed coursework in molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry; a minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a forensic scientist in a recognized crime laboratory; demonstrated competency in at least one forensic discipline; and court or professional presentation experience applicable to forensics. Additional forensic scientist experience, beyond the required seven (7) years, may substitute for semester hours of chemistry (one (1) year additional forensic scientist experience equals ten (10) chemistry semester hours). Up to three (3) years of the required experience may be substituted with professional experience obtained in a clinical or research laboratory, provided the experience involved analytical or technical laboratory work applicable to forensic laboratory testing and reporting. Progression to the next classification in the Forensic Scientist series requires an overall performance rating of at least "Standard" in the last 12 months.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Applicants must complete an examination process. A polygraph and background investigation are required for successful applicants. DPS supports a drug-free work environment through pre-employment drug testing. If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package to benefit-eligible employees in cooperation with the State of Arizona.

• Accrued vacation pay and sick days
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Deferred compensation plan
• Top-ranked retirement plans
• Affordable medical, dental, vision, life, and short & long-term disability insurance plans
• Employee Assistance, Peer and Family Support Programs
• Bus Cards (Subsidized partially by the State)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

Retirement

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us:

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling [phone]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

Advertised: 08 Sep 2026 US Mountain Standard Time
Applications close: 30 Sep 2026 US Mountain Standard Time