Forestry Fire Pilot

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.

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/

Job Description And Duties For questions related to the duties of the positions, please contact Battalion Chief Sean Ketchum by phone at (408) 472-1613 or by email at sean.ketchum@fire.ca.gov .

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

Eligibility Information T o be considered for this position, candidates must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

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

To obtain list eligibility, candidates must take and pass an examination for the 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 .

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.

Application Submission Requirements In order to advance through the selection process and be considered for this position, a complete application package must be submitted. A package is considered complete only if all items listed in the Required Application Package Documents section (below) are included, complete, accurate, legible, and all directions are followed.

Please Note: Electronic Logbook Requirement By failing to submit a logbook in the required electronic format, the application package may be considered incomplete, candidate will be considered no longer interested in the position, and these candidates will not move forward in the hiring process.

Application Instructions Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 9/9/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring

Attn: Forestry Fire Pilot Hiring

135 Ridgway Avenue

Santa Rosa , CA 95401

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

CAL FIRE Northern Region Hiring

Attn: Forestry Fire Pilot Hiring

135 Ridgway Avenue

Santa Rosa , CA 95401

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Other - Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299). Access the form by following this link: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/D817B8E27D8049C3BC35297686467FB9
• Other - Completed and signed Forestry Fire Pilot Supplemental Questionnaire. Access the form by following this link: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/96C1E719BB754F549B6776D66D33B0CF
• Other - Copy of the front and back of your valid driver’s license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Other - Copy of your valid Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Commercial Airman’s Certificate with Rotorcraft - Helicopter rating or valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with Rotorcraft - Helicopter rating.
• Other - Copy of your valid Class II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized Medical Examiner.
• Other - Updated copy of your Official Flight Record indicating at least 50 hours in the past twelve (12) months flying helicopters as Pilot in Command.
• Other - Electronic copy of your pilot logbook demonstrating you meet the minimum qualifications of the Forestry Fire Pilot classification.
• Other - If applicable, please include a copy of your most current pilot card issued by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), United States Department of the Interior (DOI), or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.