Forensic Specialist

Job Description:

Forensic Specialist

Description

Description

Do you have the desire to make a meaningful impact with the work you do? Come work for a city consistently ranked as one of America’s safest with top-rated educational institutions, financial strength, and master planned communities.

The Irvine Police Department seeks a Forensic Specialist to perform advanced crime scene investigations involving the identification, collection, and preservation of physical evidence.

Starting pay is commensurate with experience.

Entry-level Forensic Specialists will start at $36.06 per hour.

The Forensic Specialist is a flexibly staffed position and may be filled at either the Forensic Specialist I or II level at the discretion of the of the department, based upon the experience of the candidate.

Forensic Specialist I Salary:

$32.89-51.69 Hourly

Forensic Specialist II Salary:

$37.57-59.04 Hourly

All applicants must be able to pass the Public Safety background check process, including a psychological exam.

The Crime Scene Investigation Unit operates 365 days a year and requires working various hours, overtime, rotating shifts and working holidays and weekends. Pursuant to the current MOU, this position periodically requires employees to be on call during off-duty hours, including weekends and holidays.

Your Impact

• Locates, collects, protects, preserves and analyzes materials and substances as evidence at crime scenes and other locations using a variety of specialized equipment and techniques.
• Develops and lifts latent prints; prepares and enters latent prints into CAL-ID computer system; compares latent prints.
• Collects and classifies other types of impression evidence.
• Performs basic physical examination and collection of weapons such as firearms and sharp objects.
• Records or visualizes physical or trace evidence through photographic techniques such as macro, micro, infrared, ultraviolet and alternate light sources.
• Prepares castings of tire, shoe, tool and other types of impressions.
• Performs basic analysis of blood and other types of biological evidence.
• Documents crime scenes with photographs, video recordings, diagrams, and reports; searches criminal and court records and files.
• Takes various types of photographs of evidence, recovered property, and suspects, victims, arrestees, and other persons; may prepare chemicals for latent print development; develops prints; downloads and prints digital photographs.
• Prepares evidence for courtroom presentation.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of records, reports and files including those regarding the detection, protection, collection and preservation of evidence at crime scenes.
• Interviews victims and witnesses at crime scenes; may interview and process arrestees to gather evidence.
• May take aerial photographs.

Additional Essential Duties and Responsibilities for Forensic Specialist II:

• Experience conducting independent latent print comparisons.
• Experience working with another police department/government agency.

Best Fit

• Exemplary analytical skills.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Completion of a forensic academy or other crime scene investigation program.

Minimum Qualifications - Forensic Specialist I

• Completion of an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology or related field with courses pertaining to Forensic Science or Crime Scene Investigation and three (3) years paid work experience in law enforcement supplemented by specialized training in Crime Scene Investigation, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Must possess a valid California driver license.
• A certificate of completion from a crime scene investigation program or forensic academy is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications - Forensic Specialist II

• Completion of an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Criminology or related field with courses pertaining to Forensic Science or Crime Scene Investigation.
• Four (4) years of paid experience working for a law enforcement agency independently processing major and minor crime scenes and conducting independent latent print comparisons.
• Proof of latent print certification or the successful completion of a latent print comparison training program is required.
• Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities to independently process major crime scenes and conduct independent latent print comparisons.
• Must possess a valid California driver license.
• A certificate of completion from a crime scene investigation program or forensic academy is preferred.

The City
Irvine is recognized as one of America's Best Places to Live, according to Money Magazine. The City of Irvine has the distinction of being one of the safest cities in the United States with a population of more than 100,000, based upon FBI statistics on violent crime .

Your Team
The Public Safety Department is a full-service public safety agency that provides several special program areas including Emergency Management, Crime Prevention, Youth Services, K-9s, Traffic Enforcement, Investigations, Crime Scene Investigation, and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). Irvine is committed to a full community-oriented policing concept that interfaces closely with all segments of the community.

The Process
The selection process may include an examination and background investigation prior to appointment. All applicants must be able to pass the Public Safety background check process. This includes, but is not limited to, the review of legal documents, police and driving records, credit profile, motor vehicle insurance, vehicle operation, prior employment records, and performance reviews. Information about the public safety background process may be found at our Police Department Employment page. This recruitment may establish an eligibility list to fill future positions in similar and/or lower classifications within the organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to inform Human Resources at least two business days prior to the first phase of the selection process if you have a disability that may require an accommodation.



Closing Date/Time: 4/12/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$68,411.20 - $122,803.20 Annually