The County of San Mateo Sheriff's Office Forensic Laboratory, which is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board in both Testing and Calibration, is seeking to fill a Criminalist I/II position within the Firearm & Toolmark Unit, which includes participation in crime scene examination.

The Forensic Laboratory is located in San Mateo, California and was newly constructed in March 2003. It is managed by a civilian Laboratory Director who is currently supported by three Supervising Criminalists, 25 forensic scientists and interns, two administrative support staff, and two Property Officers. The Criminalist will report to a Supervising Criminalist. To learn more about the department, visit: https://www.smcsheriff.com/multi-jurisdictional-division/forensic-laboratory.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have a minimum of a bachelor's degree with a major in criminalistics, chemistry, or a related physical science.
• Have work experience in an accredited laboratory.
• Be dedicated to staying abreast of changes within the discipline.
• Foster an environment of teamwork and cooperation.
• Have experience with examining firearms for functionality, test firing firearms, performing NIBIN acquisitions and correlations, serial number restoration, writing reports, and testifying in court. 
• Have experience as a Firearms Examiner with experience in the microscopic examination of bullets, cartridge cases, and toolmarks; be able to perform routine and more difficult case assignments, both in the Laboratory and in the field, as needed.
• Have experience examining crime scenes and collecting evidence. 
• Have the ability to provide sound technical advice and be capable of training individuals as needed.
• Be an active member in the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE).

Duties may include but are not limited to, the following: 

• Perform comparative analysis on evidence such as bullets, cartridge cases, and toolmarks.
• Prepare evidence for presentation at court and appear as an expert witness to testify on the results of laboratory examinations.
• Engage in crime scene examination and collection of physical evidence at a major crime scene.
• Take photographs and photomicrographs.
• Participate in public relations activities such as conducting tours of the Laboratory and speaking to various interested groups.
• Care for and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Perform serial number restorations.
• Perform distance determinations.
• Search the NIBIN database.
• Ensure proper quality assurance and quality control measures are utilized, such as documentation of equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Reviewing the casework of other examiners.
• Review policies, methods, and procedures, propose new or modified analytical procedures to be used in analysis.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Criminalist I: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a major in criminalistics, chemistry or a related physical science.
 
Criminalist II:  Three years of experience in the practice of criminalistics, which has included experience in collecting, analyzing and evaluating physiological fluids, controlled substances and other physical evidence gathered from crime scenes.

Other Requirements:

• Participate in the Laboratory's on-call, crime scene rotation schedule.
• Pass a detailed background investigation and pre-employment medical exam prior to appointment.

• Current forensic methods and techniques used in the analysis and evalua­tion of physical evidence likely to be used in a court case.
• Principles of organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and physiology.
• Various types of equipment found in a forensic laboratory.
• Courtroom procedures and testimony.
• Recent developments, literature and sources of information relative to criminalistics and toxicology.
• Principles of photography.

• Perform physical and chemical tests commonly used in the analysis of physical evidence.
• Use a wide variety of equipment including ultraviolet and infrared spectrophotometers, gas chromatograph, density and refractive index apparatus and various types of microscopes and cameras.
• Understand and carry out detailed, highly technical oral and written instructions.
• Communicate verbally.
• Write clear, concise reports and correspondence.