Rotary-Wing Pilot Program Manager

***APPLY BY: Until Filled***

Are you a senior rotary-wing aviation professional ready to lead the helicopter side of one of the most significant aerial firefighting programs in the country, at a moment when CAL FIRE is actively modernizing its rotary-wing fleet with the Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk?

As Rotary-Wing Pilot Program Manager with CAL FIRE, you'll step into a senior aviation program leadership role at the top of CAL FIRE's helicopter operations. This position is built for an experienced aviation professional who understands rotary-wing operations, helicopter pilot training and qualification, and program leadership at a senior level, and who's ready to lead the pilot program behind one of the largest state-run rotary-wing aerial firefighting operations in the country.

This role is ideal for a senior aviation leader who can balance technical rotary-wing expertise with program management, pilot development, and operational partnership. You'll oversee the rotary-wing pilot program across CAL FIRE aviation, guide pilot training and qualification standards for the Firehawk and Huey fleets, coordinate helicopter crew certification and currency requirements, support rotary-wing operations doctrine and standards development, contribute to fleet modernization strategy as CAL FIRE continues the transition from the legacy Huey fleet to the Firehawk, and serve as the senior rotary-wing voice in how the program evolves.

This position is located at McClellan Airport in Sacramento County and is a permanent, full-time senior aviation program leadership role. This is an "Until Filled" recruitment, which means applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis without an artificial closing date. Expect the operational tempo of a busy fire aviation program during California's fire seasons, with the strategic responsibility that comes with leading a rotary-wing program in the middle of a historic fleet transition.

This isn't a general aviation management role. Rotary-wing program leadership at CAL FIRE right now sits at the intersection of legacy operations, active modernization, and mission-critical aerial firefighting delivery. This is a chance to lead that work at a rank and scope where openings are genuinely rare.

Why CAL FIRE?

• State benefits including health, dental, vision, and retirement
• Permanent, full-time senior aviation program leadership career opportunity
• Statewide rotary-wing program leadership in one of the largest state-run helicopter aerial firefighting operations in the country
• Direct leadership during CAL FIRE's Firehawk fleet modernization, one of the most significant fire aviation transitions in the country
• Rare senior aviation program leadership opening at the state level
• Mission driven team culture focused on service, readiness, and the pilots and aircrews who protect California from the air

About Sacramento County and McClellan Airport

Sacramento County is home to CAL FIRE's Aviation Management Program at McClellan Airport, one of the most recognizable fire aviation bases in the country. The location gives senior aviation professionals a strong mix of urban convenience, aviation community, and proximity to some of California's best outdoor escapes.

With a lower cost of living than the Bay Area or Southern California, easy access to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada, the Northern California coast, and the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, Sacramento County is a strong fit for senior aviation program leaders who want mission-critical work and a quality of life that isn't dominated by commute time.

Popular cities and communities include:

• Sacramento
• Folsom
• Elk Grove
• Roseville (Placer County, adjacent)
• Davis (Yolo County, adjacent)