Fire Apparatus Engineer

Orange-County-Fire-Authority; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Fire Authority is seeking a Fire Apparatus Engineer on a promotional basis for current OCFA firefighters. The role requires completion of probation as a Firefighter and at least two years of full-time experience with OCFA or a partner agency.

Applicants must meet certification requirements (OCFA Engineer Development Series or Driver Operator 1A/1B), hold a valid California driver license with firefighter endorsement, and remain EMT.

Qualifications

• Must have completed probation as a Firefighter and at least 2 years of full-time career Firefighter experience with OCFA or a qualifying agency.
• Must maintain EMT status and hold a valid California driver license with firefighter endorsement or a valid unrestricted Class A/B license.

Responsibilities

• Operate fire apparatus in suppression of fires and respond to emergencies.
• Perform minor repairs on fire vehicles and equipment; follow OCFA SOPs and prepare for written/oral exams as required.

Skills

EMT

Emergency response

Education

OCFA Fire Apparatus Engineer Development Series (Class 1-4)

Driver Operator 1A and 1B (CA DMV)

Job description

Salary

Salary: The salary indicated for this position corresponds with a 56 hour average duty week.

This promotional opportunity is open to current qualified Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) non-probationary firefighter unit members. ONLY applications from current, qualified OCFA Firefighters will be considered.

Operate fire apparatus in the suppression of structural, aircraft, wildland, and other types of fires and in response to various emergency situations; and maintains and makes minor repairs on fire vehicles, equipment, and facilities. For a detailed list of duties, see the classification specification at www.ocfa.org.

Experience

At time of application, applicants must have completed probation as a Firefighter and possess at least two (2) years of experience as a full-time career Firefighter with the OCFA or a fire agency for which the OCFA assumed fire protection responsibility. Qualifying experience as a Firefighter begins at time of hire as either a Firefighter Trainee or Firefighter.

Certifications

In order to be eligible to participate in the promotional recruitment and selection process, applicants must have completed the formalized OCFA Fire Apparatus Engineer Development Series (Class 1 - 4)OR applicants must have completed Driver Operator 1A and 1B at the time of application. A copy of your Fire Apparatus Engineer Development Series (Class 1 – 4) certificates or California State Driver Operator 1A and 1B certificates must be attached to the electronic application at time of application or delivered to Human Resources no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Failure to submit proof of documentation by October 7, 2026, will result in disqualification from this Fire Apparatus Engineer recruitment and selection process.

Licenses

All applicants must possess a valid California Class C Driver License with a firefighter endorsement and a valid DL546 on file with the DMVOR a valid, unrestricted Class A or B Driver License. When assigned to the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Program, possession of a valid California Class A Commercial Driver License. Possession of a valid California Class A Commercial Driver License, subjects the incumbent to the provisions of the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, which includes DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing while employed in this classification. This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program, which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbent's Driver License record and status. A copy of your qualifying driver license must be attached to the electronic application or delivered to Human Resources no later than Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon). A permit will not be accepted. Failure to submit proof of documentation by the deadline on October 7, 2026, will result in disqualification from the Fire Apparatus Engineer recruitment and selection process.

Knowledge & Ability

These requirements are detailed in the classification specification which is available for review at www.ocfa.org.

Special Requirement

Must maintain the status of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Written Exam

The written exam is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026. The written exam will cover firefighting essentials; emergency vehicle operation; water supplies; fire stream practices; fire suppression equipment; knowledge and use of equipment and pumping apparatus; aerial apparatus; apparatus maintenance/testing procedures; fire protection systems; hydraulics principles and calculations; defensive and Code 3 driving procedures; and OCFA General Orders and Standard Operating Procedures.

FAE Study and Reference Material

• IFSTA Essentials, 5th edition, Chapter 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 15
• IFSTA Pumping Apparatus, 2nd edition, Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15
• IFSTA Aerial Apparatus, 1st edition, Chapters 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10
• OCFA Driver Handbook
• California Commercial DMV Driver's Handbook (2019 – 2021)
• OCFA SOPs related to the FAE position
• Field Hydraulics Reference Sheet (FHRS) and OCFA Standard Hydraulics
• OCFA Fire Vehicle Apparatus Notebook
• OCFA Programmed Hydraulics Text
• OCFA Defensive Driving
• OCFA Code 3 Driving
• OCFA FAE Development Series (Development Class 1, 2, 3 and 4)

Click this link for additional references and study material: FAE Study and Reference Material

Oral Interviews

The oral interviews are scheduled Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20, 2026.

Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy

Candidates who achieve 80% or greater on the written exam and oral interview will be placed on the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy eligibility list in ranked order. Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy 44 is scheduled Monday - Thursday, January 11, 2027 – March 4, 2027. Placement into the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy will be in ranked order and is determined by department need and logistics. Candidates not placed in the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy 44 will remain on the Fire Academy Eligibility list for up to one (1) year.

Weights for Selection Components

• Written Exam (10%) - The minimum passing score is 80%. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% or higher.
• Oral Interview (10%) - The minimum passing score is 80%. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% or higher.
• Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy (80%) - The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy consists of written examinations and manipulative skills evaluations. Candidates must pass the overall written examinations and manipulative skills evaluations each with a minimum score of 80%.
  • The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy written examinations cumulative score is worth 30% of the overall promotional testing score. A score below 80% constitutes a failure. There are no written examination retests. A minimum 80% on overall cumulative written examinations is required to successfully complete the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.
  • The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy manipulative skills evaluation cumulative score is worth 50% of the overall promotional testing score. One manipulative skills retest will be allowed at the midterm and one manipulative skills retest allowed at the final. Retests must score above the 80% on overall cumulative manipulative skills evaluation is required to successfully complete the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

If, during the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy, it is determined that based on current examinations and evaluations scores that a candidate will be unable to attain the required minimum, overall, 80% in either written examinations or manipulative skills evaluations may result in dismissal from the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

Failure to perform manipulative skills, required documentation, and apparatus checks, or failure to complete all required check sheets may result in dismissal from the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

Eligibility List

The Fire Apparatus Engineer promotional eligibility list will be established in rank order and promotions will occur in rank order. The promotional eligibility list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all the names on the list are exhausted. The eligibility list may be extended by mutual agreement of all parties.

Tentative Schedule of Events

• Recruitment Closes: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon)
• Last Day to Submit Required Driver Certifications: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon)
• Last Day to Submit Qualifying Driver’s License: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 12:00 PM (noon)
• Written Exam: Thursday, October 29, 2026 (A-shift)
• Oral Interviews: November 16, 2026 – November 20, 2026
• FAE Academy 44: January 11, 2027 – March 4, 2027
• FAE Academy 45: March 22, 2027 – May 13, 2027

Should the above schedule change, Human Resources will notify affected candidates by email.

Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodation

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation should contact Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst II, at (714) 573 - 6828 or [e-mail] at least 72 hours prior to the need for the accommodation.

Questions

All questions regarding this recruitment should be addressed to Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst II, at (714) 573 - 6828 or via email at [e-mail].

Note

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without prior notice.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Orange County Fire Authority is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.