FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER
State of California
Job Posting: FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER
$5,551.00 - $6,856.00 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: 3/13/2026
Job Description and Duties
Under general supervision, operates fire apparatus and equipment during wildland and structural firefighting operations; leads an assigned crew in the performance of firefighting duties; maintains and makes minor repairs on vehicles, equipment, and the fire stations; performs fire prevention tasks, and other related work.
Drives and operates fire apparatus in connection with extinguishing wildland, structural, and other fires, and in fire prevention and rescue work; leads a crew; performs maintenance and simple repairs on equipment; makes reports on the operation of equipment; uses maps; operates two-way radio as necessary; may act as fire captain relief; assists in training crews to fight fire efficiently and safely; checks, cleans, and polishes trucks; does general facility maintenance and repair work; assists in building roads, trails, telephone lines, and minor structures; as a learner, may operate other heavy equipment to assist when required; makes fire law inspections; investigates fire causes; prepares and presents fire prevention programs to the public; keeps records and prepares reports. Performs work outside with potential exposure to environmental elements (e.g., extreme weather, poison oak).
Note: Fire Center and Fuels Reduction Crews positions exist within the units. Duties for Fuels Reduction Crews positions include: Operation of various prescribed fire ignition tools, fuels reduction tools and Prescribed Fire Crew equipment. Assist in planning fuels reduction projects and complete projects while providing leadership to crew members. Provide training in the use of tools specific to prescribed fire, fuels reduction and vegetation management to Prescribed Fire Technicians. Coordinate administrative duties in the absence of the Prescribed Fire Captain.
Working Conditions
Willingness to live and work in remote areas and on weekends and holidays, to remain on duty 24 hours a day, as required, distant visual acuity (Snellen) of not less than 20/100 without corrective lenses in each eye, separately corrected to not less than 20/40 in one eye with corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity (Snellen) of at least 20/40 in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, color vision adequate to successfully perform the job as measured by the Ishihara Pseudo - Chromatic Plate Test or for persons failing the Ishihara, the Farnsworth D - 15 Arrangement Test, hearing adequacy within speech frequencies (uncorrected), full use of both hands and both feet, physical strength and agility, weight in proportion to height, no more than a mild reaction to poison oak.
Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.Additional Documents
Position Details
Department Information
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 opportunites. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!
Special Requirements
- The Cal-JAC CPAT Card of Completion, issued by the Cal-JAC CPAT program to candidates who pass the Cal-JAC-administered CPAT, is the sole CPAT card accepted by CAL FIRE as evidence of successful completion of pre-employment physical ability assessment.
- Applicants selected for positions are placed in an apprenticeship program. Permanent appointments are conditional upon successful completion of the training program.
- Possession of a valid driver's license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Applicants must pass medical clearances under the Respiratory Protection Program.
The Bargaining Unit 8 (BU8) Memorandum of Understanding regarding Voluntary In-Class Reassignment Policy (Inter-Unit) (Section 9.2) will be followed. Reassignments may require a two-year commitment and the completion of the JAC program.
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: 3/13/2026Who May 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
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
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). This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/D817B8E27D8049C3BC35297686467FB9
- Other - Current FAE Work Location Form. This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/7830631C359D49E4836ED9FBDEB54BE9
- Other - California Fire Fighter 1 Certification (IFSAC/Pro Board)
- Other - CAL FIRE Company Officer Academy (COA) Certificate
- Other - CAL FIRE Fire Fighter Academy (FFA) Certificate
- Other - CPR
- Other - Public Safety First Aid
- Other - Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Other - Paramedic
- Other - Driver's License of the appropriate class
- Other - California Joint Apprenticeship Committee Candidate Physical Ability Test (Cal-JAC CPAT) card
- Other - Honorable Military Discharge Paperwork (DD 214 / Member-4 or NGB-22)
Benefits
This classification is eligible for the following pay:
In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
Contact Information
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
FAE Hotline
(707) 576-2963
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
(916) 767-8359
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.ca.gov
Special Filing Instructions
*You only need to submit ONE application package to be considered for Permanent and Limited Term positions statewide.
DO NOT INCLUDE OTHER CLASSIFICATIONS ON YOUR APPLICATION.
All interested applicants must complete and submit the following documents:
(1) State Application (Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) (Rev. 12/2021)
(2) Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299)
(3) Current FAE Work Location Form
And a copy of each applicable document listed below. For items 7-11, you must submit a copy of both the front and back. Do not submit anything except what is listed. See the link below for more information about the acceptable documents:
(4) California Fire Fighter 1 Certification (IFSAC/Pro Board)
(5) CAL FIRE Company Officer Academy (COA) Certificate
(6) CAL FIRE Fire Fighter Academy (FFA) Certificate
(7) CPR
(8) Public Safety First Aid
(9) Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
(10) Paramedic
(11) Driver's License of the appropriate class
(12) California Joint Apprenticeship Committee Candidate Physical Ability Test (Cal-JAC CPAT) card
(13) Honorable Military Discharge Paperwork (DD 214 / Member-4 or NGB-22)
Acceptable Documents:
https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/BF147896DED446F9B142FEF464A0E9AD
If you do not have one of the required documents listed above, please indicate this in the "Bypass" section when asked to upload that document.
*BU8 In-Class reassignments shall follow the BU8 Section 9.2 to be considered. BU8 In-Class reassignments need not submit an application in accordance with this advertisement.
To obtain an Examination / Employment Application Form STD 678, go to the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website:
Additional Information
Electronic submission of application packages through your CalCareers account is recommended.
If you submit an electronic application package and need to amend any documents submitted, please only submit the corrected document(s) by mail and not the entire application package by the final filing date.
Application package (items identified above or Items #1 - #13) must be submitted or postmarked no later than the final filing date to be considered.
As stated on the application, your original signature certifies that the information entered on your application is true and complete to the best of your knowledge under penalty of perjury. For this reason, application packages will be accepted only by mail, dropped off in person, and electronically through your CalCareers account, and not by FAX or email.
Failure to complete and sign any portion of the required application package may result in disqualification from the hiring process.
SELECTION PROCESS
CAL FIRE will create a qualified applicant pool to fill vacancies for 2026.
Hires may be made in the following counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, The City and County of San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba.
It is anticipated that job offers for Fire Apparatus Engineer positions may be made beginning the week of May 26, 2026.
Job offers will only be made to candidates who have provided a copy of the appropriate driver’s license and CPAT card.
Hire dates will be as early as June 8, 2026. Job offers may be withdrawn if you do not possess the appropriate driver's license, have a valid CPAT, and/or complete the medical clearance process by June 1, 2026.
Please note: there is no longer a "three decline rule" relating to the number of times that an applicant can decline a job offer. Declining a job offer will not affect a candidates list status.
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.