Fire Apparatus Engineer

Irvine - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 63668 - 85072

Posted on: 30+ days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Department:

Operations

Job Summary

DESCRIPTION

SALARY: The salary indicated for this position corresponds with a 56 hour average duty week.

This promotional opportunity is open to current qualified Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) non-probationary firefighter unit members. ONLY applications from current qualified OCFA Firefighters will be considered.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Operate fire apparatus in the suppression of structural aircraft wildland and other types of fires and in response to various emergency situations; and maintains and makes minor repairs on fire vehicles equipment and facilities. For a detailed list of duties see the classification specification at .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE

At time of application applicants must have completed probation as a Firefighter and possess at least two (2) years of experience as a full-time career Firefighter with the OCFA or a fire agency for which the OCFA assumed fire protection responsibility. Qualifying experience as a Firefighter begins at time of hire as either a Firefighter Trainee or Firefighter.

CERTIFICATIONS

In order to be eligible to participate in the promotional recruitment and selection process applicants must have completed the formalized OCFA Fire Apparatus Engineer Development Series (Class 1 - 4) OR applicants must have completed Driver Operator 1A and 1B at the time of application.

A copy of your Fire Apparatus Engineer Development Series (Class 1 4) certificates or California State Driver Operator 1A and 1B certificates must be attached to the electronic application at time of application or delivered to Human Resources no later than 12:00 PM (noon) on Wednesday October 15 2025. Failure to submit proof of documentation by October 15 2025 will result in disqualification from this Fire Apparatus Engineer recruitment and selection process.

LICENSE

All applicants must possess a valid California Class C Driver License with a firefighter endorsement and a valid DL546 on file with the DMV OR a valid unrestricted Class A or B Driver License.

When assigned to the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Program possession of a valid California Class A Commercial Driver License. Possession of a valid California Class A Commercial Driver License subjects the incumbent to the provisions of the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations which includes DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing while employed in this classification.

This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbents Driver License record and status.

A copy of your qualifying driver license must be attached to the electronic application or delivered to Human Resources no later than Wednesday October 15 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon). A permit will not be accepted. Failure to submit proof of documentation by the deadline on October 15 2025 will result in disqualification from the Fire Apparatus Engineer recruitment and selection process.

KNOWLEDGE & ABILITY

These requirements are detailed in the classification specification which is available for review at .

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

Must maintain the status of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Should you have further questions or need additional information please feel free to reach out to Battalion Chief Levi Medina or Fire Captain Jason Kramer.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Human Resources will screen all applications for minimum qualifications.

ONLINE APPLICATION

An applicant must submit during the application filing period an online application and attach any supplemental information as required in the job announcement which may include submitting responses to a supplemental questionnaire and PDF copies of certificates. To apply for this position please visit and submit your online application and all relevant supplemental documentation. Human Resources will screen all applications for minimum qualifications.

DEVELOPMENT CLASSES

Please visit FAE Development Series for information or to view additional course offerings.

WRITTEN EXAM

The written exam is scheduled for Wednesday November 5 2025. The written exam will cover firefighting essentials; emergency vehicle operation; water supplies; fire stream practices; fire suppression equipment; knowledge and use of equipment and pumping apparatus; aerial apparatus; apparatus maintenance/testing procedures; fire protection systems; hydraulics principles and calculations; defensive and Code 3 driving procedures; and OCFA General Orders and Standard Operating Procedures.

FAE Study and Reference Material

IFSTA Essentials 5th edition Chapterand 15
IFSTA Pumping Apparatus 2nd edition Chaptersand 15
IFSTA Aerial Apparatus 1st edition Chapters 2 4 5 6 7 9 and 10
OCFA Driver Handbook
California Commercial DMV Drivers Handbook (2017 - 2018)
OCFA SOPs related to the FAE position
Field Hydraulics Reference Sheet (FHRS) and OCFA Standard Hydraulics
OCFA Fire Vehicle Apparatus Notebook
OCFA Programmed Hydraulics Text
OCFA Defensive Driving
OCFA Code 3 Driving
OCFA FAE Development Series (Development Class 1 2 3 and 4)

Click this link for additional references and study material: FAE Study and Reference Material

ORAL INTERVIEWS

The oral interviews are scheduled Monday December 1 - Friday December 5 2025.

FIRE APPARATUS ENGINEER ACADEMY

Candidates who achieve 80% or greater on the written exam and oral interview will be placed on the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy eligibility list in ranked order. Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy 42 is scheduled Monday - Thursday January 12 2026 March 5 2026. Placement into the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy will be in ranked order and is determined by department need and logistics. Candidates not placed in the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy 42 will remain on the Fire Academy Eligibility list for up to one (1) year.

WEIGHTS FOR SELECTION COMPONENTS

Written Exam (10%) - The minimum passing score is 80%. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% or higher.
Oral Interview (10%) - The minimum passing score is 80%. Candidates must achieve a minimum passing score of 80% or higher.
Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy (80%) - The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy consists of written examinations and manipulative skills evaluations. Candidates must pass the overall written examinations and manipulative skills evaluations each with a minimum score of 80%.
- The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy written examinations cumulative score is worth 30% of the overall promotional testing score. A score below 80% constitutes a failure. There are no written examination retests. A minimum 80% on overall cumulative written examinations is required to successfully complete the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.
- The Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy manipulative skills evaluation cumulative score is worth 50% of the overall promotional testing score. One manipulative skills retest will be allowed at the midterm and one manipulative skills retest allowed at the final. Retests must score above the 80% on overall cumulative manipulative skills evaluation is required to successfully complete the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

If during the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy it is determined that based on current examinations and evaluations scores that a candidate will be unable to attain the required minimum overall 80% in either written examinations or manipulative skills evaluations may result in dismissal from the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

Failure to perform manipulative skills required documentation and apparatus checks or failure to complete all required check sheets may result in dismissal from the Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

The Fire Apparatus Engineer promotional eligibility list will be established in rank order and promotions will occur in rank order. The promotional eligibility list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all the names on the list are exhausted. The eligibility list may be extended by mutual agreement of all parties.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Recruitment Closes: Wednesday October 15 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon)
Last Day to Submit Required Driver Certifications: Wednesday October 15 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon)
Last Day to Submit Qualifying Driver License: Wednesday October 15 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon)
Written Exam: Wednesday November 5 2025 (C shift)
Oral Interviews: December 1 2025 December 5 2025
FAE Academy 42: January 12 2026 March 5 2026
FAE Academy 43: March 16 2026 May 7 2026

Should the above schedule change Human Resources will notify affected candidates by email.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ACCOMMODATION

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation should contact Julie Kwak Human Resources Analyst II at (714) 573 - 6828 or at least 72 hours prior to the need for the accommodation.

QUESTIONS

All questions regarding this recruitment should be addressed to Julie Kwak Human Resources Analyst II at (714) 573 - 6828 or via email at .

NOTE

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without prior notice.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Orange County Fire Authority is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

DESCRIPTIONSALARY: The salary indicated for this position corresponds with a 56 hour average duty week.This promotional opportunity is open to current qualified Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) non-probationary firefighter unit members. ONLY applications from current qualified OCFA Firefighters w...