Working Title: Forensic Scientist 3 (Firearms and Toolmarks Section)
Job Class: Forensic Scientist 3
Agency: Public Safety Dept
Job ID : 89536
Location : St. Paul or Bemidji
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers and DPS employees eligible to bid. Eligible bidders (permanent, classified employees in the same job classification) should apply through self-service and confirm their bid by emailing Madison.Markgraf@state.mn.us by 11:59 PM 10/16/2025.
Date Posted : 10/10/2025
Closing Date : 10/30/2025
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Public Safety Dept / Public Safety-MAPE
Division/Unit : BCA Lab / BCA LAB I&M 2
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : Yes - Up to 25% of the time
Salary Range: $38.55 - $57.35 / hourly; $80,492 - $119,746 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Professional
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position is telework eligible. The number of telework days per week will depend on the agreed upon schedule but will not exceed two days per week.
This announcement will be used to fill a Forensic Scientist 3 position in the Firearms and Toolmarks Unit of the Impression and Materials Section of the BCA Forensic Science Services, in either our headquarters in St. Paul or in our regional laboratory in Bemidji.
This full-time Forensic Scientist 3 position serves as a Technical Leader that oversees the technical aspects of the Firearms and Toolmarks Unit which is a part of the Impressions ad Materials Section of the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Services. These activities will be conducted in adherence to the agency policies and procedures in a manner that embodies the mission, vision and values of the MN BCA. As a Technical Leader, this individual will coordinate and participate in the training/continuing education, validations, quality assurance activities and other responsibilities as developed and prioritized based on operation needs, to ensure the delivery of accurate and reliable results to the agency stakeholders. This individual will perform advanced/complex level work in the comparative analysis of firearms and toolmarks related to criminal evidence. This entails evaluation, examination, analysis, and verification of firearms and ammunition component comparisons. This position also includes expert witness testimony directly related to casework and/or to the foundational reliability of the discipline. Work of this class leading lower-level Forensic Scientists by assigning, reviewing and coordinating their work, but does not involve supervisory duties or responsibilities. This person will document performance and provide feedback to Supervisors that contribute to the development of performance enhancement plans and formal performance evaluations. This position may be eligible to participate in the crime scene processing training series for inclusion in the Crime Scene Response Program.
The Department of Public Safety is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DPS does not participate in E-Verify.
Minimum Qualifications
A bachelor's degree* in a physical or life science such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, forensic science or equivalent.
Two years full-time experience as a Forensic Scientist 2 in the Firearms and Toolmarks Section at the BCA Forensic Science Services or equivalent position and length at another ISO/IEC 17025 accredited forensic science laboratory.
Experience testifying in a court of law as an expert witness in forensic Firearm and Toolmarks analysis.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to work cooperatively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities.
*NOTE: Applicants that do not currently work in a BCA Lab must attach unofficial college transcripts with a resume to their application. You can attach a resume and a second attachment @type with your transcripts using the cover letter attachment @type or combine the documents as a single attachment. Please upload documents in either PDF or docx format.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree or Ph.D. in a physical or life science such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, forensic science or equivalent.
Demonstrated leadership skills.
Demonstrated knowledge and ability to follow laboratory quality assurance procedures, best laboratory practices, validation methods and the use of statistics to analyze data.
Experience with a variety of section specific techniques, instrumentation, and specialized computer software.
Association of Firearms and Toolmarks Examiners (AFTE) certification.
Operational knowledge of the ANAB Forensic Laboratory Accreditation Program.
Experience with standard computer software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets).
Physical Requirements
Requires occasionally moving and transporting 50 pound items and frequently moving and transporting objects such as heavy tools and heavy file boxes. This job may require positioning self to move to a significant degree across rough terrain or may involve maintaining a stationary position for extended periods.
Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Department of Public Safety that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment, which includes successful completion of the following background components:
Criminal History
Reference check
Driver's license history
Fingerprints (MNJIS/CJIS)
Psychological evaluation
Education verification
Drug screen
Cannabis screen
The Department of Public Safety is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DPS does not participate in E-Verify.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
