FORESTRY FIRE PILOT

State of California; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 89,000 - 117,000; Full time

Job summary

CAL FIRE in California is seeking a Forestry Fire Pilot to operate helicopters for wildfire response from Alma Helitack Base in Los Gatos.

The role requires extensive PIC helicopter time, mountain flying, and adherence to strict safety and aviation standards.

Qualifications

• Must possess FAA Commercial rotorcraft-helicopter rating or FAA Airline Transport Pilot rotorcraft rating.
• Must possess a valid FAA Class II Airman's Medical Certificate.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Must log at least 2,000 hours of pilot-in-command time in helicopters with required sub-conditions.

Responsibilities

• Pilot a helicopter in single-pilot operation under hazardous conditions.
• Operate in varied terrain and weather during day or night with external loads when required.

Skills

Mountain PIC time

Turbine PIC time

Low level PIC missions

Sling-load PIC time

PIC hours in past year

Job description

Job Posting: Forestry Fire Pilot

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

JC-527899 - Forestry Fire Pilot FORESTRY FIRE PILOT

$7,948.00 - $10,488.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 9/9/2026

Job Description and Duties

For questions related to the duties of the positions, please contact Battalion Chief Sean Ketchum by phone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

These positions will be located at the Alma Helitack Base in Los Gatos, CA.

Eligibility Information

1. Candidates with SROA/Surplus eligibility will be given priority, if any. If none, then;
2. Candidate must have taken and passed the examination for this classification and be active on a current certified eligibility list; or,
3. Candidate must be eligible to transfer; or,
4. Candidate must be eligible to reinstate.

To obtain list eligibility, candidates must take and pass an examination for this classification of interest. The examination for this classification is currently posted and can be accessed by following the link below: Forestry Fire Pilot

Applicants that successfully complete and pass the examination will be placed on an eligibility list. Obtaining list eligibility does not guarantee employment. Those interested in obtaining employment as a list eligible candidate must apply to the job control of the position in which you are interested and compete through the state recruitment process. The score and rank you achieve on your examination will not be considered during the rating portion of the hiring process; evaluation will be based on separate, predetermined criteria that evaluate your knowledge, specialized skills, and abilities in relation to specific program needs.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

May be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays.

The incumbent to the position will pilot a helicopter in single pilot operation under hazardous conditions, during day or night, such as: mountainous terrain, turbulent air, reduced visibility, confined areas, over water, with external loads (including Heli torch and other airborne pyrotechnical devices), to and from unimproved landing sites, at high altitudes, in high temperatures, in toxic smoke, with high gross weights at or near the performance limits of the aircraft, in close proximity to uncontrolled fire line, and in close proximity with other aircraft such as with other firefighting helicopters, air tankers, lead planes, news media helicopters, as well as general aviation and military aircraft.

Required Pilot-In-Command (PIC) Flight Hours

1. At least 500 hours of mountain pilot-in-command helicopter flight time, routinely making landings in mountainous terrain above 4,000 feet MSL.
2. At least 500 hours of turbine helicopter time as pilot-in-command.
3. Two hundred and fifty hours as pilot-in-command of helicopters performing low level missions in fire control, map survey, powerline patrol, search and rescue, and spray or seeding operations over mountain or forested or comparable military operations.
4. At least 100 hours as pilot-in-command in helicopters carrying sling loads.
5. At least 50 hours as pilot-in-command in helicopters in the past year.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• FORESTRY FIRE PILOT

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

• Job Code #: JC-527899
• Position #(s): 542-116-1046-VAR
• Working Title: Forestry Fire Pilot
• Classification: FORESTRY FIRE PILOT $7,948.00 - $10,488.00 New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
• # of Positions: Multiple
• Work Location: Santa Clara County
• Telework: In Office
• Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
• Facility: Santa Clara Unit

Department Information

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California’s fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 14,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.

When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!

Department Website: https://www.fire.ca.gov/

Special Requirements

• Incumbent must possess a valid Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA issued Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating.
• Incumbent must possess a valid and current Class II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner.
• Incumbent must possess a valid driver's license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Applicants must have logged at least 2,000 hours of pilot-in-command time flying helicopters. Of these, candidates must have all of the required flight hours in qualifying conditions or assignments as listed in the class specifications.

CAL FIRE pilots must have the ability to work any required shift and remain on duty 24 hours a day with regulated maximum flight time and mandated uninterrupted sleep cycles per 24-hour period.

Desirable Qualifications

Forest-firefighting experience with helicopters is desirable. Possession of interagency carding to fly agency (CAL FIRE) aircraft is desired.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$7948 - $10488 Base Salary (paid every month)

$2701 - $3564 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)

$130,489 – $172,188 Annual Compensation

Employees in the classification are eligible for Pay Differential 506 and shall receive incentives based on their helicopter pilot qualifications and/or CAL FIRE helicopter program responsibilities. These incentives shall be cumulative, depending on the qualifications and program responsibilities of the employee, the total of which shall not exceed 15% of base pay.

RATE

10% of base salary - S-70i Firehawk Helicopter and Night Flying Qualified

2.5% of base salary - Unit Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Flight Examiner

2.5% of base salary - Helicopter Instructor Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Maintenance Test Pilot

2.5% of base salary - Chief Pilot

This differential shall be considered compensation for the purposes of retirement contributions.

In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials, more information on which can be found on the Pay Differentials Library website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.fire.ca.gov/

Human Resources Contact:

Michi McKillip

[phone]

Hiring Unit Contact:

Sean Ketchum

[phone]

[e-mail]

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator

[phone]

[e-mail]

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Bargaining Unit 8 Considerations

The Bargaining Unit 8 Memorandum of Understanding regarding Voluntary In-Class Transfer Policy (Inter-Unit) (Section 9.2) will be followed. The unit may require two (2) years of service in the employee's current assignment starting on the date of appointment before becoming eligible for inter-unit transfer.

Additional Information

Please include the position number 542-116-1046-VAR on your STD 678.

Candidate may be selected by resume review.

Applicants are highly encouraged to complete a Recruitment Questionnaire, located at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLYSH8V

Sign up for CAL FIRE exam notifications here.

General information on CAL FIRE career opportunities can be found here.

How To Get A State Job

Individuals must pass an open examination before applying for most job vacancies with the State of California.

Use the "exam/assessment search" function on the CalCareers website at www.jobs.ca.gov to search for the examination you are interested in applying for. If the exam is currently being offered, you will need to follow the directions in the exam bulletin on how to apply for and take the exam. Not all examinations are offered continuously or at the time a job vacancy occurs.

Successful examination candidates are placed on an eligibility list. Candidates should refer to their examination results for specific list eligibility expiration dates and to re-take the exam when necessary. Once list eligibility has been established, you can search and apply for current vacancies in the classification to which you have established eligibility.

Candidates must also meet the minimum qualifications of the classification to be appointed into the classification they are applying for. Minimum qualifications can be found in the class specifications listed on the exam bulletin or on the CalCareers website. Application packages should include documentation and relevant experience that shows you have the required education and/or experience to meet the minimum qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.