District Attorney's Inspector (Open and Promotional)

Full Job Description

A career incentive of up to 7.5% of base pay is available for an Advanced POST Certificate.

Do you want to take your criminal justice career to the next level? Do you want to do a deep dive into some of the most challenging and rewarding investigations?

Do you want to work with other justice professionals who are dedicated, motivated, and at the top of their game? If so, come join our team!

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office is seeking qualified candidates for the position of District Attorney's Inspector.

To learn more about the District’s Attorney’s Office please visit: https://da.smcgov.org. District Attorney's Inspectors conduct a wide variety of specialized investigations under general supervision.

Duties include investigating all types of crime under the District Attorney's jurisdiction that may include, but are not limited to:

• Political corruption
• Homicide
• Officer involved critical incidents
• High tech crimes
• Parental child abductions
• Real estate fraud
• Insurance fraud
• Environmental crimes
• Consumer fraud

District Attorney’s Inspectors also assist other law enforcement agencies with their major investigations, interview victims, suspects and witnesses, make arrests, write search warrant affidavits, serve search warrants, analyze testimony, prepare reports, conduct searches for wanted persons, and appear as a witness in criminal and civil cases.

There are two District Attorney's Inspector Units within the District Attorney's Office, the General Criminal Operations Division and the Special Operations Division.

Placement of the new hire into one of the divisions will be determined upon hire.

Candidates who have worked for another public agency will have an excellent opportunity to enhance their retirement benefits with the County's own retirement system, the San Mateo County Employee's Retirement Association (SamCERA).

For additional information regarding SamCERA and reciprocity, please visit: https://www.samcera.org.

Career Incentive: Employees holding permanent status may be eligible to receive an incentive equating to 2.5% of base pay in addition to all other compensation for possession of the Intermediate Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Certificate, or an incentive equating up to 7.5% of base pay for the Advanced POST Certificate.

The maximum allowable certification differential is 7.5%. Note: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future regular, unclassified, limited term, or extra-help.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

Possession of a Basic Certificate in Law Enforcement issued by the State of California, Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Two years of experience in criminal investigations with a governmental law enforcement agency.

Knowledge of:

• Modern techniques and practices of criminal investigation.
• The extent of authority of the District Attorney's Office.
• Modus operandi and criminal laboratory techniques and ballistics.
• Photographic techniques and fingerprints.
• Care and use of small firearms.
• Rules of evidence and court procedures.
• The Penal, Civil and Welfare and Institutions Codes.
• Techniques of identifying, preserving, and presenting evidence.
• Laws of arrest, search and seizure, service of legal process, and the legal rights of citizens.

Skill/Ability to:

• Conduct criminal investigations.
• Gather, analyze, correlate, and evaluate observed facts and evidence.
• Make recommendations and decisions based on logical conclusions.
• Question witnesses and suspects effectively.
• Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action as necessary.
• Act independently and use initiative, while clearly updating and communicating with Bureau supervisors and manager(s).

Additional Information

Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply.

Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, extra-help, or limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%).

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

All examinations will be given in person in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense. IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online.

If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

The supplemental questionnaire, that is part of the County of San Mateo Employment Application form, must be completed.

A resume or reference to a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and the supplemental questionnaire.

Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINEFinal Filing Date: April 13, 2026, by 11:59 PMApplication Screening: April 15-20, 2026Combined Panel and Departmental Interviews: April 27-28, 2026 San Mateo County San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay.

With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.

The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Chet Overstreet (03192026) (District Attorney's Inspector - H035)