Professional Trace Evidence Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $70,000.00 - $74,000.00 Annually
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 16899
Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Division: Trace Evidence
Opening Date: 07/08/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants: 150
Position Description
About Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences:
Mission
The Mission of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is to provide medical examiner and crime laboratory services of the highest quality in an unbiased manner with uncompromised integrity.
Vision
To provide consistent, quality death investigation and laboratory analysis for the benefit of the entire community.
*
To create a technological strongpoint for legal agencies to facilitate justice in criminal and civil proceedings.
*
To establish an academic environment for training in the field of Forensic Science.
Trace Evidence Chemist Overview:
The Trace Evidence Chemist receives, inventories, processes, analyzes, and reports on forensic trace evidence, primarily gunshot residue and fire debris evidence, and provides expert testimony in court; operates and maintains laboratory instruments; rigorously follows all safety and quality assurance / quality control procedures, and ensures the laboratory remains in compliance with accreditation standards.
Duties & Responsibilities:

• Receives, inventories, and processes forensic gunshot residue and fire debris evidence; prepares written reports supported by analytical findings; testifies in court procedures regarding analyses performed
• Performs and documents routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and minor repair of associated instrumentation.
• Operates SEM-EDS and GC-MS instrumentation
• Performs safety and quality assurance / quality control duties including serving as a QM liaison; controls and maintains supplies in accordance with laboratory procedures; performs routine laboratory upkeep duties such as discarding biohazard trash, organizing laboratory work and storage areas, and maintaining laboratory cleanliness

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email
This position is subject to a criminal history check.
Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED AS ATTATCHMENT
Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in a physical or natural science from an accredited university
• Must have minimum of 16 semester credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level chemistry coursework above general coursework from an accredited university and 3 semester credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level statistics course

Licensure:

• Licensure by the Texas Forensic Science Commission required within 1 year of employment
• American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) certification required within 3 years of employment
• Maintain a valid Texas Driver's License and maintain ability to safely operate a motor vehicle

Additional Requirements:

• Must pass criminal background check and drug / alcohol screening (prior to and during employment)
• As a public servant, this employee is expected to adequately prepare for court testimony in accordance with Department policies and procedures. Subpoenas and court orders related to cases worked by the employee shall be followed, even post-employment. The duty to adequately communicate with attorneys and prepare for testimony, which includes a review of the applicable case records, is still expected post-employment

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Familiarity with accreditation standards and requirements of the ANSI - ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) program ISO 17025
• Familiarity with laboratory safety protocols and hazardous materials handling
• Strong written and oral communication skills with effective organization and time management skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, prioritizing and handling multiple tasks simultaneously
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office
  NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences
Education/Memberships:

• Membership in a professional forensic organization such as American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) or American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE)

Experience:

• Experience in testing and analysis of gunshot residue and/or fire debris evidence

General Information
Position Type, Salary, and Typical Hours of Work:

• Full time | Regular
• 40 hours per week
• Monday - Friday, in office
• Weekends and evening shifts may be necessary
• Must be available to work during severe weather events or other emergencies if needed

Work Environment:

• Office / laboratory setting

Physical Demands:

• Possible exposure to dangerous chemicals
• May come in contact with blood and/or blood borne pathogens
• Requires physical strength to lift up to 50 pounds in the routine performance of duties

Work Location:

• Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences
  1861 Old Spanish Trail
  Houston, TX 77054

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
01
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• None of the above

02
If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Physical Science
• Natural Science
• Other Related Field
• Unrelated Field
• N/A; No Degree

03
Have you successfully completed a minimum of 16 semester credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level chemistry coursework above general coursework from an accredited university?

• Yes
• No

04
Have you successfully completed 3 semester credit hours (or equivalent) in college-level statistics course?

• Yes
• No

05
Do you possess the ability to obtain the American Board of Criminalists (ABC) certification within three (3) years of employment?

• Yes
• No

06
Do you possess the ability to obtain the Texas Forensic Science Commission licensure within one (1) year of employment?

• Yes
• No

07
Please describe your educational background (i.e. diploma, degree, certifications, etc.) including the level of education completed, area of study, and completed major and minor programs.
08
How would you rate your communication skills, both written and oral?

• High: Confident/Competent
• Medium: Some areas of strength
• Low: Limited skills
• I do not possess this skill

09
Do you have hands-on experience using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS)?

• Yes
• No

10
If you selected 'Yes' in regard to the previous question, please explain your verifiable experience using GC-MS. Please clearly indicate if your experience using GC-MS is through coursework, a research project or internship, or part of a full-time job. Also indicate if your use was supervised or independent. If you do not have this experience, please type 'N/A' in the field.
11
Do you have hands-on experience using a Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometer (SEM-EDS)?

• Yes
• No

12
If you selected 'Yes' in regard to the previous question, please explain your verifiable experience using SEM-EDS. Please clearly indicate if your experience using SEM-EDS is through coursework, a research project or internship, or part of a full-time job. Also indicate if your use was supervised or independent. If you do not have this experience, please type 'N/A' in the field.
13
Do you have experience in testing and analysis of gunshot residue and/or fire debris evidence?

• Yes
• No

14
If you selected 'Yes' in regard to the previous question, please explain your verifiable experience in testing and analysis of gunshot residue and/or fire debris evidence. Please clearly indicate if your experience in the analysis of gunshot residue and/or fire debris evidence is through coursework/training or if you have casework experience in an accredited forensic science laboratory. If you do not have this experience, please type 'N/A' in the field.
15
Are you are member of a professional forensic organization such as American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) or American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE)?

• Yes, American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
• Yes, American Society of Trace Evidence Examiners (ASTEE)
• No, I am not a member.

16
Which of the following describes your level of proficiency using a personal computer and common office software such as MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Please select your level of proficiency based on the following descriptions:Advanced:A person with this level of skills is able to produce very large, complex formal documents that require a table of contents, footnotes, endnotes, bookmarks, and other special elements; a wide range of graphic effects, and use advanced techniques for analyzing and manipulating data. Has full mastery of Macro commands and skills to tie the objects together into a cohesive system by using Macros and Visual Basic for Applications code. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.Intermediate:A person with this level of skills is able to customize toolbars, import and insert graphs, embed Excel data, and elaborate reports. Understands the concepts of databases and is able to work with charts and to use the list management capabilities of Excel. Able to use complex query techniques, create efficient forms and reports, and create Macros to automate these forms. Makes interactive presentations by using hyperlinks and action buttons.Basic:A person with this level of skills is able to use basic formatting, editing, printing functions, and understands the document page setup. Has the ability to enter and correct data, modify a workbook, format a worksheet, and use printing functions. Understands the different database concepts and structures and is familiar with data validation and is able to create a simple presentation in PowerPoint, run it, and print it.Entry Level:A person with this level of skills has the ability to open, create, save and modify documents in Word, send and receive email in Outlook and create spreadsheets in Excel. Format documents for printing, comfortable using the printer menu to previ