Forestry Fire Pilot Job Santa Clara area,California USA,Transportation

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 or by email at

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

Eligibility Information

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 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

At least 500 hours of mountain pilot-in-command helicopter flight time, routinely making landings in mountainous terrain above 4,000 feet MSL.

At least 500 hours of turbine helicopter time as pilot-in-command.

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.

At least 100 hours as pilot-in-command in helicopters carrying sling loads.

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): -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…