ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 14185-P 

JOB TITLE:              Firearms Examiner              

DEPARTMENT:      Sheriff's Department

The largest Sheriff’s Department in Texas and the third most populous county in America, is searching for a Firearms Examiner.

HOURS:                     8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.   - Monday - Friday

                                    Must be Available for After-Duty Hour Call Out / Or Shift Assignment

SALARY:                  $58,427.00 Annual Starting Salary

                                   Based on 26 Pay Periods

BENEFITS: Excellent retirement plan, deferred compensation, fully paid health, dental and vision coverage for employee. Two weeks’ vacation initially, increasing to five weeks. Sick leave accruing at 3 hours biweekly, maxing out at 480 hours. Eleven paid holidays per year. Opportunity for compensatory time and paid overtime, as grant funding allows. The laboratory has individual work spaces and comparison microscopes for each examiner.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited institution with a major in a natural or physical science, e.g. Forensic Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, etc. Must have successfully completed a training program equivalent to the Association of Firearms and Tool Mark Examiner’s Training program; along with successfully completing competency testing OR Completion of the National Firearms Examiner’s Academy along with appropriate competency testing will also meet the training requirement. Candidate must have also completed at a minimum a period of one (1) year of supervised case work and possess the ability to thoroughly and accurately examine complex case work specimens under minimal supervision and direction. Candidate must be court qualified. Candidate must be able to provide copies of training records and associated competency and proficiency test results. Experience in an ASCLD/LAB crime laboratory is highly preferred.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Responsible for forensic examination and comparison of firearm and firearm-related evidence, i.e.; Serial number restoration, distance approximation and forensic examination of tool mark evidence. Prepares detailed technical reports outlining the results of examinations along with the supporting documentation; provides clear and concise courtroom testimony as an expert witness related to examination procedures and results. Remains abreast of advances in examination techniques and changes within the firearms industry; familiar with the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) and properly enters and images specimens into the system; reviews and evaluates the correlation results; provides support to remote sites and other agencies entering specimens into the system. Responds to crime scenes to provide technical assistance as directed by the Crime Scene Unit Supervisor.

EMPLOYMENT IS CONTINGENT ON PASSING A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

POSITION IS SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

HARRIS COUNTY HAS AN EMPLOYMENT AT WILL POLICY.

CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled    APPLY TO:   1310 Prairie St. Suite 170, Houston, TX 77002

UPON RECEIVING A CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, ALL APPLICANTS ARE SCREENED FOR THE PRESENCE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS.