Prescribed Fire Specialist (Burn Boss)

Burnbot; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

BurnBot is seeking a Prescribed Fire Specialist (Burn Boss) to lead prescribed fire projects within the Fire Program. This role serves as the primary Burn Boss on projects and interfaces with clients to translate end-state needs into comprehensive burn plans, field execution, and project close-out.

The position is field-based with strategic administrative duties, requires extensive travel up to 70%, and works under the Fire Program Director. Salary ranges from $140,000 to $150,000 per year.

Qualifications

• Willingness to travel up to 70% for field projects.
• Valid driver's license; insured to drive company vehicles.
• Minimally qualified as RXB2 (RXB2).
• 10+ years in forestry, fuels, or wildland fire operations.
• Experience supervising fire crews in operational settings.
• Experience with public agencies and regulatory bodies.
• Strong knowledge of prescribed and wildfire operations and safety.
• Ability to manage reporting, documentation, and planning.
• Physical ability to perform demanding field work (up to 50 lbs).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Burn Boss for BurnBot projects under the Fire Program.
• Ensure safety, quality, productivity, and professional standards.
• Provide guidance and corrective action for resources on prescribed fire ops.
• Maintain safety performance oversight across operations.
• Ensure compliance with burn plans, project plans, and regulatory requirements.
• Support job walks, pre-bid visits, and scope development.
• Perform administrative tasks with clients and budgets.

Skills

Travel readiness

Driver's license

RXB2 qualification

Forestry experience

Crew supervision

Regulatory knowledge

Reporting & planning

Physical stamina

Education

Bachelors in Forestry or related field

Job description

• Location340 Shaw Rd, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, United States
• Base Pay$140,000.00 - $150,000.00 / Year
• Employee TypeExempt (FT)

Description

About BurnBot

BurnBot provides systematic fuels treatment services to prevent destructive wildfires. We're firefighters, scientists, engineers, prescribed fire practitioners, ecologists, and community members who are answering the call to scale fuel treatment capacity. Our modern fuel treatment system recognizes and supports conservation efforts with a clean, smoke-free process. We need technology to amplify our workforces with targeted use of synthetic fire to treat fuel loads 10x faster than previously possible.

The Role

BurnBot is seeking a Prescribed Fire Specialist (Burn Boss) to perform operational leadership of prescribed fire projects within the Fire Program. The function of the role is to serve as the primary Burn Boss for BurnBot. The role will help interface with clients to understand end-state need, provide comprehensive planning of all prescribed fire operations, serve as the Burn Boss on projects, and ensure close out after the projects are completed. This role mixes non-supervisory operational oversight of BurnBot Fire Modules with responsibility for field-based project operational oversight as well as performing client-focused tasks.

Administrative tasks include ensuring all applicable permits are secured, liability insurance claim funds are applied for, burn plans are in place and compliant with local standards, burns are staffed to burn plan standards, resources are consistent with burn plan standards as well as qualified to applicable levels, and mop up/patrol requirements are met. The PFS will help to coordinate Module mobilizations as well as their own in coordination with Fire Operations Specialists and other Fire Program overhead.

This duration of this role will be three months, with the option to extend based upon funding availability and need.

Field based tasks will include:

• Planning for and/or execution of prescribed fire (broadcast burning, pile burning, air curtain burning, RX2/PFV burning, etc)
• Conducting or coordinating Defensible Space Inspections

• Performs job walks and field verification for proposal building
• In coordination with organizational stakeholders, ensure all projects comply with OSHA, environmental regulations, and fire requirements
• Maintains day-to-day relationship touchpoints at the site and project level
• Maintains project artifacts including scope documentation, maps/GIS inputs, schedules, and acceptance checklists
• Other duties as assigned

Administrative Tasks:

• Customer management including developing and maintaining relationships with current and potential clients.
• Help to develop proposal budgets, project implementation schedules, and scopes of work.

The PFS splits time approximately 30/70% between administrative responsibilities and field engagement. This role serves directly under the Fire Program Director.

This is an exempt role with a salary of $140,000 to $150,000 per year. Placement within the range depends on experience, certifications, and skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Burn Boss for projects under the Fire Program
• Ensure consistent execution of company standards related to safety, quality, productivity, and professionalism
• Provide guidance, direction, and corrective action as needed to resources assigned to prescribed fire operations
• Maintain oversight of safety performance across all assigned operations
• Ensure compliance with burn plans, project plans, safety policies, and regulatory requirements
• Reinforce stop-work authority and risk management expectations at all levels
• Participate in job walks, pre‑bid site visits, and scope development
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Ability to travel extensively (up to 70%)
• Valid driver's license and ability to be insured under company policy (this role requires driving company vehicles and trailers to remote job sites)
• Minimally qualified as an NWCG Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2)
• 10+ years of experience in forestry, fuels mitigation, vegetation management, or wildland fire operations in the public or private sector
• Demonstrated experience supervising fire crews in the operational environment
• Experience working with public agencies and regulatory bodies
• Strong working knowledge of prescribed fire operations, wildfire operations, and field safety standards
• Proven ability to manage reporting, documentation, and operational planning
• Physical ability to perform demanding field work (lifting up to 50 lbs, uneven terrain, long days outdoors)

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in wildland firefighting and prescribed burning
• Experience operating farm, forestry, or other heavy equipment, trucks and large trailers
• Experience supporting proposal development and estimating
• Bachelor’s Degree in Forestry, Fire Science, Natural Resources, or related field

Physical requirements and working conditions

This position is performed primarily outdoors at active fuels treatment and prescribed fire sites. Essential functions include: walking, standing, bending, kneeling, and climbing on uneven, steep, or unimproved terrain for extended periods; working full shifts in variable and adverse conditions, including heat, cold, wind, dust, and smoke; operating, carrying, and maintaining hand and power tools, including chainsaws; lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation, and occasionally more with assistance; wearing required personal protective equipment for the duration of the shift, including fire-resistant clothing, hard hat, hearing and eye protection, gloves, and safety footwear; maintaining situational awareness and communicating clearly by radio in high-noise environments; and traveling by vehicle and by air to remote sites, including overnight and multi-day assignments.

BurnBot provides reasonable accommodation to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. To request an accommodation, contact [e-mail] or [phone] x 1010.

BurnBot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship or immigration status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, military or veteran status, status as a protected or honorably discharged veteran, reproductive health decisionmaking, primary language, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, request for family care or medical leave, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local law, or any combination of these characteristics.

Employment is contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check and a pre-employment drug screen, conducted after a conditional offer of employment and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law, including fair chance laws under which qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records are considered for employment.

If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at [phone] x 1010 or [e-mail].