---

Job description

FSNI is an Executive Agency within the Department of Justice, employing approximately 175 staff, and providing a wide range of scientific services and expertise to assist in the investigation of crime and the presentation of scientific evidence in court. The Agency is an independent organisation providing a service to its main customers, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, the NI State Pathologist as well as a number of other customers in NI and further afield. The Agency provides a full range of forensic science services through its operational casework sections, each of which consists of a number of teams which focus on a particular forensic science discipline. FSNI enjoys an international reputation for its breadth of expertise and experience. FSNI’s primary purpose is the provision of effective scientific advice to support the delivery of justice. The casework in FSNI is distributed between a number of Reporting teams and one, the Road Traffic Collision (RTC) Unit, is responsible for the scientific investigation of fatal and serious road traffic collisions in Northern Ireland. The Unit currently employs four full-time Reporting Officers and one Laboratory Assistant with a view to increase the number of Reporting Officers to eight. The Unit provides a full out-of-hours on-call service to deal with serious road traffic collisions and urgent work. Therefore, the post-holder will be expected to drive to live collision scenes throughout Northern Ireland, often during unsociable hours, at weekends and bank holidays etc. Collision scenes can be distressing and very often the person/s fatally injured will be present during the examination. Therefore, resilience is required when dealing with such scenes. The scene examination and follow-up vehicle/component examination may also be physically demanding. Following the examinations, the post-holder will provide a collision reconstruction report in the form of a witness statement and will regularly provide expert opinion evidence at coroners, criminal and civil courts, generally under cross examination.

Responsibilities

• Examining live collision scenes, often during unsociable hours, to include the road topography, vehicle rest positions, signage and road surface condition coupled with the detection and recording of all...
• ...relevant collision marks and debris and conducting scene tests using specialist equipment which you will be required to transport to collision scenes and other locations.
• Often the person/s fatally injured, will be present at the scene and resilience is required when dealing with such scenes.
• You will work as part of a team at the scene to include a Senior Investigating Officer, police photographer, crime scene surveyor and Road Policing Officer.
• This role is physically demanding, and the successful candidate must be able to lift scene equipment and navigate challenging terrain based on the resting location of collision vehicles/...
• ...Liaison with the Senior Investigation Officer to establish lines of inquiry and advising them on the scientific/engineering aspects of the investigation.
• The examination of collision vehicles and the examination in the laboratory of recovered components to ascertain if these are relevant to the collision reconstruction. Vehicle and component examination may be physically demanding.
• The calculation of vehicle speeds using a variety of methods. The application of computer software to assist in the process of accident reconstruction and modelling. The downloading and interpretation of digital data from collision vehicles.
• The reporting of collision investigations in the form of a witness statement and the provision of expert opinion evidence to the courts, generally under cross-examination.
• Effective management of workload, competing priorities and urgent work whilst meeting time pressures. The supervision of the examination work of support staff and line management duties where applicable.
• Leads/Supports the delivery of projects delivering changes to products and services within RTC and wider agency initiatives.
• The flying of an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to capture aerial images of collision scenes and vehicles in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority rules.
• Fulfil legal and professional obligations expected of an expert witness and FSNI officer in line with the code of ethics. Ensuring all relevant standards (e.g. ISO/IEC 17025) are adhered to in relation to casework.
• Ensuring all policies and procedures in relation to Health and Safety, Equality, Diversity and Welfare are adhered to.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants will be required to demonstrate in their application form, by the closing date, that they meet the following criteria:
• An honours level degree qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Forensic Road Collision Investigation or a related engineering or science discipline,..
• ...where the degree course of study included a substantial element of Mechanical Engineering or mechanics.
• Related engineering or science discipline: Should a candidate feel their degree subject is closely related to Mechanical Engineering or Physics they should list all of the modules studied during the degree...
• ...(including those with no relation), and also briefly set out details of each of the relevant modules.
• The onus is on you to provide the panel with details of modules studied and along with the content of modules so that a well-informed decision can be made.
• Substantial element is defined as at least 60% study of Mechanical Engineering or mechanics in any year
• AND, The ability to communicate clearly at all levels, using a variety of media, with content,...
• ...style and language suited to the audience and the ability to explain technical/specialist matters and scientific findings in a way that can be understood by fellow professionals, administrators and the general public;
• AND, Have a full valid driving licence with permanent access to a vehicle for travel to road traffic collision scenes throughout Northern Ireland.

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, candidates who have listed a grade of 2:1 in Eligibility Criterion 1 will proceed to interview.

Further Information

Location: Seapark, FSNI, 151 Belfast Road, Carrickfergus, BT38 8PL. NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date 4th September 2026 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit