ME Investigator I

ME Investigator I

Salary

$64,417.60 - $72,000.00 Annually

Location

Austin, TX

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

26-10682

Department

Medical Examiner

Opening Date

05/11/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Medical Examiner Investigator Chief, performs investigation of deaths occurring in Travis County, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Travis County Medical Examiners Office. As to Travis County cases, locates the legal next of kin and arranges for the necessary notifications. For cases originating outside Travis County, locates necessary medical records and information, and may make contact with out-of-county law enforcement to obtain necessary background information.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the first in a series of five investigator-related job classifications within the Medical Examiner job family. Incumbents perform moderately complex duties while performing death investigations. Duties require a moderate degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the Medical Examiner Investigator II in that incumbents typically have less experience, and typically specialize in conducting less complex death investigations. This classification requires a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Investigates the physical and medical aspects of natural and unnatural deaths by responding to scenes or taking reports over the telephone, which will provide the Medical Examiner with a basis on which to determine the cause and manner of death.
• Receives notification of deaths and establishes whether death is within the jurisdiction of the Medical Examiners office using standardized guidelines.
• Performs death scene investigations by attending the scene, interviewing and cooperating with various law enforcement and government agencies, family and friends of the decedent. Photographs the scene, collects evidence, accompanies the decedent back to the morgue, aides in moving the decedent, and follows up with the capture of medical and personal history of the decedent.
• Compiles initial reports, supplemental reports, documenting the physical and medical aspects observed at the death site and on the body of decedent.
• Secures and takes inventory of property and clothing found on the decedent. Assists in the identification of deceased through non-medical and medical means. Personally assures notification of death to decedents next-of-kin through interaction with families, victim services or via teletype through police agencies. Photographs, documents, and makes disposition of decedent clothing and property.
• Communicates death investigation findings to pathologists.
• Prepares detailed reports for pathologists prior to autopsy.
• Takes liver temperatures.
• On occasion, may drive body-transport vehicle to transport decedents from scene or hospital to morgue.
• Releases case information in compliance with department policy. Gathers and reviews medical history/records of decedents for case file.
• Operates cadaver lift, as required.
• Provides building security for the medical examiners office after normal business hours.
• May maintain vehicles.
• Performs preventative maintenance on all investigative equipment and safety apparel.
• Attends investigator training.
• Provides courtroom testimony as needed.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelors degree in nursing, a biological science, criminal justice or a related field AND one (1) year of directly related, experience in medical or criminal or death investigation, or a medically-affiliated experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

ABMDI Registry Level Certification within two (2) years of date of hire

Valid Texas Drivers License.

Preferred:

ABMDI Registry Level Certification or eligible for such upon date of hire.

Bilingual in English and Spanish

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Investigative techniques.
• Medical terminology.
• Operation of digital camera.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Good skills in English composition and spelling, basic skills in arithmetic.
• Article 49.25 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Safe practices in field investigations.
• Safe practices in a morgue environment.

Skill in:

• Investigating deaths and processing death scenes.
• Working with law enforcement and other related parties.
• Dealing with distraught, upset or violent family members.
• Writing, recording and compiling material for accurate reports.
• Use and care of equipment.
• Effective verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Deal with death-related environment daily and unpleasant odors associated with autopsies.
• Write concise findings related to death investigations.
• Work in morgue environment with daily contact with decedents, including those in a decomposed state.
• Work independently.
• Work on a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and produce timely and tangible results.
• Exercise sound judgment and make sound decisions.
• Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift up to 75-100 pounds and to maneuver cadavers unassisted in excess of 200 pounds. Requires visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination, and manual dexterity necessary to operate laboratory equipment and basic office equipment and computer. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. At times requires driving and exposure to outdoor conditions. Subject to various biological/infectious, chemical, mechanical, electrical, explosive and radiation hazards in indoors/outdoors work, and exposure to fumes, noxious odors and toxic wastes. Exposure to computer monitors. Daily contact with biohazardous materials. Exposure to high job demand stress. Must possess sufficient physical strength and emotional stability to work under adverse conditions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 10 pm-8 am Monday-Friday. Shift differential for night shift

Works some holidays, Works some weekends, Works all nights

Location: 7723 Springdale Road, Austin TX 78724

Department: Medical Examiner

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: TCMEHiring@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employees fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers Compensation

The county provides all employees workers compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Employer Travis County

Address 700 Lavaca Street

Austin, Texas, 78701

Website https://www.traviscountytx.gov/human-resources/jobs