Forensic Scientist Job Description Template

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Example of a forensic scientist job description

A forensic scientist tests physical evidence retrieved from a crime scene to determine characteristics and gain information. They use various techniques, including microscopic study and forensic toxicology, to evaluate trace evidence. Forensic scientists support crime scene investigations and work closely with law enforcement and crime scene investigators.

The job overview

We are seeking a forensic scientist to work within our growing organization. You will collaborate with scientists and investigators to analyze physical evidence using multiple techniques. You will need to work efficiently, communicate well with teams, follow strict procedures, and create comprehensive and detailed reports on the evidence in your possession. 

Responsibilities

Forensic scientists with our organization assume multiple responsibilities: 

  • Rigorously follow all departmental procedures
  • Perform routine laboratory equipment maintenance
  • Perform and document daily temperature checks of temperature-dependent forensic laboratory equipment
  • Complete required day-to-day control documentation
  • Process all evidence in a timely manner, adhering to deadlines
  • Use multiple testing techniques, including microscopic study, ballistics, and analysis of bodily fluids
  • Write detailed reports about testing findings
  • Collaborate with coworkers and team members, including forensic science technicians, police officers, biologists, and police departments

Job qualifications and skill sets

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills and qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in chemistry, forensic science, the natural sciences, biochemistry, or a related field
  • Minimum three years of experience performing similar work in a laboratory setting
  • Experience analyzing evidence for criminal cases
  • Broad knowledge of the laboratory tests and laboratory analysis best practices
  • Experience delivering courtroom testimony as an expert witness
  • Rigorous attention to detail
  • Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Strong oral and written communication skills

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  • $50 hourly
    Matthew S.
    • 4.9
    • (20 jobs)
    Birmingham, ENGLAND
    Featured Skill Forensic Science
    Six Sigma
    Project Risk Management
    Object-Oriented Programming
    Data Analysis
    Data Interpretation
    Algorithm Development
    Spreadsheet Software
    Artificial Intelligence
    Machine Learning
    SQL
    Data Science Consultation
    Optimization Modeling
    Technical Report
    Python
    Systems Engineering
    I am an Artificial Intelligence Practitioner, Machine Learning Engineer, and Data Scientist with more than 25 years of experience in Systems, Software, and Hardware Engineering across the UK’s automotive and aerospace sectors. My career began with a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering and developed through two decades of freelance engineering roles with organisations including Lotus Engineering, Jaguar Cars, Land Rover, Bentley Motors, Rolls‑Royce plc, MG, Ford, Bosch Engineering, and Caterpillar. This breadth of exposure shaped my professional identity: analytical, structured, and grounded in real‑world engineering rigour. My final roles in industry—Senior Analysis Engineer for ADAS/Autonomous Vehicles, Lead Application Engineer for hybrid and electrified commercial vehicles, and Software Subject Matter Expert for advanced control systems—placed me at the intersection of safety‑critical systems, complex data, and multidisciplinary engineering. These roles demanded clarity of thought, precision in communication, and the ability to translate technical complexity into actionable insight for senior stakeholders. They also reinforced my commitment to structured problem solving, a discipline strengthened by my training as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. In 2019, my work with autonomous vehicle systems sparked a deep interest in Artificial Intelligence. During the pandemic, I returned to higher education and completed two self‑funded MSc degrees in Artificial Intelligence and Applied Artificial Intelligence. This period was both academically and professionally transformative. Through a university initiative supporting SMEs during lockdown, I gained hands‑on experience solving real analytical and operational problems while developing my AI practice in an environment where learning, clarity, and experimentation were encouraged. Since then, I have worked as a freelance AI Practitioner, Data Scientist, and Machine Learning Engineer, supporting clients with model development, data analysis, workflow optimisation, and technical content creation. I also developed a full Python GUI application using PySide6/PyQt6 and matplotlib for forensic evidence handling in legal contexts. This project strengthened my coding discipline, documentation standards, and appreciation for accuracy in high‑stakes environments. It also demonstrated my ability to design and deliver engineered software artefacts that combine usability, analytical depth, and technical robustness. Alongside my AI work, I founded Process Clarity, a diagnostic‑led consultancy built on engineered calm, structured thinking, and premium artefact design. Process Clarity is rooted in the belief that organisations make better decisions when complexity is translated into clarity. My work focuses on diagnosing systems, mapping workflows, identifying hidden failure modes, and presenting insights in a way that feels safe, precise, and actionable for clients. This identity—architect, diagnostician, clarity‑engineer—reflects the way I naturally approach technical and analytical challenges. My background in Lean Six Sigma is deeply embedded in my engineering practice. I have applied DMAIC, FMEA, Failure Mode Avoidance, statistical analysis, and structured problem‑solving techniques across both engineering and AI projects. This gives me a unique ability to bridge traditional engineering disciplines with modern data‑driven methods. I understand not only how systems behave, but why they fail, how to measure them, and how to communicate findings in a way that supports confident decision‑making. I bring strong technical writing and communication skills developed through years of reporting to senior engineers, programme leaders, and executives. I have written specifications, analysis reports, diagnostic summaries, technical guides, and AI documentation. My writing style is clear, structured, and precise, with an emphasis on removing ambiguity and presenting information in a way that supports understanding across diverse audiences. I also enjoy mentoring and explaining complex ideas to less experienced colleagues, which further strengthens my ability to refine and clarify technical content. Today, I combine engineering discipline, AI expertise, and diagnostic clarity to deliver work that is both technically rigorous and elegantly communicated. Whether analysing a system, developing a model, or designing a diagnostic artefact, I approach every task with the same principles: engineered clarity, structured reasoning, and a commitment to accuracy. This blend of experience allows me to operate confidently across engineering, analytics, and organisational problem‑solving domains, bringing a rare combination of depth, breadth, and clarity to every engagement. I use a modern form of Lean Six Sigma that blends systems engineering with real‑world data insight.
  • $175 hourly
    Ron S.
    • 4.7
    • (35 jobs)
    Grand Rapids, MI
    Featured Skill Forensic Science
    Delphi
    Node.js
    PostgreSQL
    Python
    React
    TypeScript
    JavaScript
    MySQL
    Linux
    AWS Lambda
    Socket Programming
    Reverse Engineering
    Scripting
    Swift
    API Development
    I am a US-based Computer Scientist, Technical Architect, and AI Solutions Engineer with 30 years of experience. I am certified as Expert Vetted on UpWork (top <1% of all users), with 5-star rating, rave reviews, and 100% success score. ➤ Career Highlights I've worked with startups, Fortune 500 companies (Ford), and government agencies (CDC), and have held executive roles (CTO, CEO) at two successful startups doing millions in revenue with products reaching tens of millions of users worldwide. I also author and maintain open source libraries downloaded 25+ million times per month, used in production at GitHub and Microsoft. GitHub uses them in their core infrastructure and is one of my financial sponsors (more info below). ➤ What I Do I design and build software systems that scale — from architecture blueprints and database infrastructure to full production applications (backend, infrascruture, frontend, and more). My recent focus has been on AI-powered platforms, including LLM integration, AI agent development, multi-agent orchestration, and tool-calling pipelines using OpenAI, Claude, and open source models. ➤ AI & Agentic Development I build production AI systems — not wrappers around ChatGPT. Recent work includes multi-agent orchestration with tool-calling loops, MCP server development for document analysis, LLM-powered scoring and recommendation engines, and AI-assisted codebase analysis across 170k+ line codebases. I work daily inside Claude Code, OpenAI, and OpenRouter APIs. ➤ Why Technical Architecture Matters Most technical projects fail because they have a poor architecture blueprint — or none at all. Most developers aren't architects, and without the right foundation, even projects that make it to launch grind to a halt within months as technical debt makes it impossible to build further. I create full "bone structures" on the code, database, and server levels that establish patterns developers can build on confidently. By mapping out growth tracks early, we ensure the system can scale without endless rewrites. This is the difference between another great idea that stalls and a multi-million user success story. ➤ Open Source I wrote and maintain multiple open source libraries used worldwide, collectively downloaded over 25 million times per month. Highlights include the TypeScript compiler tools (~3M/month), node-html-parser (~20M/month), and node-html-markdown (~1.4M/month). GitHub itself financially sponsors this work, which is part of their core infrastructure. ➤ Working with Me I partner with startups, established companies, and enterprise teams who need expert-level architecture, AI integration, or full-stack development. I often deliver 2-4x faster than typical senior developers — clients regularly find the final cost beats offshore alternatives, because it's done right the first time and delivered faster. ➤ UpWork Stats ⁍ Expert Vetted (top <1%) + Top Rated Plus ⁍ $400k+ completed, 5-star rating ⁍ Rave reviews (most clients leave multiple reviews per project) ⁍ Almost all clients form long-term partnerships ➤ More Info ⁍ UpWork Reviews: See below ⁍ GitHub: nonara (pinned projects are all maintained by me) ➤ Keywords TypeScript, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, React, PostgreSQL, MySQL, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Electron, C#, .NET, Swift, Prisma, Redis, GraphQL, REST API, Next.js, FastAPI, Flask, Terraform, Pulumi, Shopify, AI Agent Development, LLM Integration, OpenAI API, Claude API, MCP Server, Model Context Protocol, Multi-Agent Systems, Tool-Calling Pipeline, RAG, Prompt Engineering, Context Engineering, Claude Code SDK, SWE-Agent, AI Agent SDK, Multi-Agent Orchestration, Web Scraping, Playwright, Browser Automation, Browser Extension Development, Chrome Extension, Cross-browser Extension, Solutions Architecture, Database Optimization, Infrastructure as Code, DevOps, CI/CD, Full-Stack Development, Technical Leadership, Code Rescue, ANTLR, CEF, Chromium Embedded Framework, ts-patch, TypeScript Compiler Plugin, TypeScript AST, TypeScript Compiler, Compiler Design, Language Server Protocol, LSP, Parser Development, BrowserView, Embedded Browser, Desktop Application, node-html-parser, node-html-markdown, V8 Engine, PostgreSQL V8, Custom Protocol, Reverse Engineering, Packet Analysis, WireShark Plugin, ArtNet, DMX, pcap, Database Forensic Recovery, IPv6 Scraping, Shopify App, Remix, Angular, PHP, Bash, OAuth, Auth0, SSO, JWT, WebRTC, SocketIO, Monorepo, Webpack, Vite, WordPress, n8n, Node-RED, Twilio, Stripe, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, React Native, Firebase, pgvector, Embeddings, Vector Database, SaaS Architecture, Multi-tenant
  • $35 hourly
    Franciny S.
    • 3.5
    • (4 jobs)
    Bauru, SP
    Featured Skill Forensic Science
    Data Science
    MySQL
    SQL
    PHP
    C++
    C
    JavaScript
    Rust
    Java
    Python
    Cyber Threat Intelligence
    Cryptography
    System Security
    Cybersecurity Management
    Advanced Cybersecurity and Cryptography Specialist Profile With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of offensive security, my expertise transcends traditional cybersecurity boundaries, delving deeply into applied cryptography, cybersecurity engineering, and advanced data science. I am a Cybersecurity Specialist, Ethical Hacker, and Data Scientist, with a proven track record in delivering high-impact security solutions for critical sectors such as banking, blockchain, mobile, and military-grade environments. Applied Cryptography: Quantum Defense and Zero-Knowledge Proofs My specialization in cryptography extends beyond classical paradigms, encompassing the emerging frontiers of Quantum Cryptography and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). I possess proficiency in the analysis and implementation of quantum-resistant algorithms, such as Lattice-based Cryptography (e.g., CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium), Hash-based Signatures (e.g., SPHINCS+), and Code-based Cryptography (e.g., McEliece), ensuring data and communication security in a post-quantum future. My experience includes evaluating cryptographic primitives for compliance with emerging NIST PQC standards. Furthermore, I am a specialist in Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP), focusing on protocols like zk-SNARKs and zk-STARKs. I develop and audit ZKP implementations to ensure privacy and scalability in decentralized applications and authentication systems, enabling information verification without revealing underlying data. My work spans from underlying theory to optimizing arithmetic circuits and mitigating vulnerabilities in ZKP implementations. My previous experience at Kryptus, where I worked on the development of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and conducted advanced Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) analyses, such as Differential Power Analysis (DPA) and Electromagnetic Fault Injection (EMFI), and Fault Injection on military-grade systems, solidifies my ability to protect critical assets against the most sophisticated threats. I ensure compliance with rigorous standards such as FIPS 140-2, Common Criteria, and NIST. Cybersecurity: Code Review, Pentesting, and Vulnerability Analysis I have led Red Team operations, Secure Code Reviews, and in-depth technical pentests across a wide range of attack surfaces, including web applications, RESTful APIs, mobile apps (Android/iOS), smart contracts, and cloud infrastructures. My approach integrates white-box and hybrid testing methodologies, combining SAST (Static Application Security Testing), DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing), and IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing) with exploit chaining, cryptographic audits, and real-time adversarial modeling. I have a proven track record in securing platforms for financial institutions like Banco Bradesco, Alelo, and major online gaming companies like Blaze. My work in smart contract auditing and blockchain security includes vulnerability analysis in Solidity-based protocols, CI/CD pipelines for dApps, and node-level attack simulations (Sybil, Eclipse, Reentrancy, Front-running). I utilize tools such as MythX, Slither, Oyente, and custom fuzzers for EVM and non-EVM environments. Digital Forensics and Incident Response In the field of Digital Forensics, I possess extensive experience in post-incident forensic analysis and malware analysis using static and dynamic tools. My ability to reconstruct events, identify the root cause of breaches, and extract Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) is fundamental for effective incident response. I am proficient in investigating system compromises, data recovery, and presenting detailed forensic reports to support litigation or regulatory compliance. Data Science and Threat Intelligence As a mathematician and data scientist, I apply Monte Carlo simulations, probabilistic modeling, and AI ecosystems to detect and classify fraudulent behaviors at scale. I have developed Machine Learning pipelines to predict attack patterns, model digital threats, and map OSINT-derived fraud campaigns in real-time. Other Key Competencies: • Mobile SDK Hardening: anti-Frida, anti-hooking, secure enclave usage. • Token Abuse Detection: JWT and OAuth2. • Browser and API Fuzzing: Burp Suite, Postman, nuclei, ffuf. • OSINT, Threat Hunting, and Social Media Abuse Investigations. • Implementation of Zero Trust Architectures, WAFs, SIEM, IAM, DLP. With a relentless focus on excellence, I deliver detailed vulnerability reports, Proofs of Concept (PoCs), and actionable remediation plans, aligned with the most rigorous industry standards, including OWASP, MITRE ATT&CK, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS.
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