Aerial Firefighting Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

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This Wildland Firefighter (Aviation) position is with the US Wildland Fire Service, GW-0456-11 working in the following location(s):

• Casper, Wyoming
• Cody, Wyoming
• Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction, Colorado $87,491 - $113,745

Casper, Wyoming and Cody, Wyoming $83,639 - $108,738

In order to qualify for this position you must possess the Minimum Qualification requirements listed below.

Only experience and education obtained by 08/06/2026 will be considered.

Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience. Please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience.
Minimum Qualification GW-11

For the GW-11 level:

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-09 level, or higher, in the Federal service, or equivalent, which includes all of the following: Examples of specialized experience include: Managing or supporting an interagency Air Attack or aerial supervision program; coordinating incident airspace and directing tactical aircraft operations during wildland fire incidents; applying Crew Resource Management (CRM) and aviation safety practices to mitigate risks during aerial operations; conducting or developing Air Attack training, evaluations, or refresher programs; reviewing aviation safety reports (such as SAFECOMs) and recommending corrective actions; collaborating with federal, tribal, state, local, and contractor partners on aviation operations; and providing technical guidance regarding aircraft capabilities, aerial supervision standards, or aviation policy.

OR

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS/GW-10 level, or higher, outside of the Federal service; Examples of specialized experience include: Managing or supporting an Air Attack or aerial supervision program; coordinating incident airspace and directing tactical aircraft operations during wildland fire incidents; applying Crew Resource Management (CRM) and aviation safety practices to mitigate risks during aerial operations; conducting or developing Air Attack training, evaluations, or refresher programs; reviewing aviation safety reports (such as SAFECOMs) and recommending corrective actions; collaborating with federal, tribal, state, local, and contractor partners on aviation operations; and providing technical guidance regarding aircraft capabilities, aerial supervision standards, or aviation policy.

Applicants must have documented prior primary firefighting experience, with substantial service defined as either:

• At least one full fire season working in a primary wildland firefighting role (e.g., Engine Crew, Fire Effects Crew, Prescribed Fire/Fuels Crew, Hand Crew, Helitack Crew, Hotshot Crew, Smokejumper, Wildland Fire Modules or Fire Suppression Crews, etc.) with a federal, state, tribal, local, or private-sector organization; - OR -

• At least 14-days of on-the-ground fireline experience (cumulative or consecutive).

Prior primary wildland fire experience must be clearly documented in your resume. Note: an IQCS Master Record or equivalent document will not be used to determine or calculate prior primary wildland fire experience eligibility for this requirement.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

*Applicants must meet all minimum qualification requirements for the position of interest by the closing date of the Job Announcement.

Secondary Firefighter Retirement Coverage - Applicants for this secondary administrative fire fighter position under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 8336 (c) (CSRS) and 5 U.S.C. 8412 (d), must possess knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of wildland firefighting as demonstrated by direct wildland firefighting experience. In order to receive credit, you must provide a written description of your experience in wildland firefighting. Education without hands-on wildland firefighting experience does not meet this requirement. Periods of wildland firefighting experience, gained through militia and rural fire departments, can also be credited. Wildland fire is defined as any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Two distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire and prescribed fires as follows: Wildfire: Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. Prescribed Fires: Planned ignitions. This description includes only fire line experience on a Prescribed Fire; it does not include experience in the planning stages. Prescribed fire experience must be supplemented by fire suppression experience in order to be creditable as previous wildland firefighting experience.

Physical Demands: Air Attack work has significant physical demands with the requirement for a high degree of focus during tactical flight operations. The work requires long, and irregular hours and frequent travel is required for training and fire assignments. Air Attack flight assignments require considerable time spent in cramped spaces, turbulent atmospheric conditions, high noise levels while receiving or sending multiple radio transmissions and performing other aircrew tasks which require significant physical demands. Other assignments are sedentary in nature.
Working Conditions: Air Attack in-flight work is performed enroute, over, and returning from fire assignments or other emergencies. Risks and discomforts involved are those of air travel compounded by required flight in dense smoke, turbulent air, over mountainous terrain, and in high-density air traffic (with and without radar control). Considerable emergency travel on short notice is common and considerable time is spent away from home base. Other assignments are performed in an office or classroom environment which involves minimal risk or discomfort and requires normal safety precautions.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: There is not an option to qualify for the 0456 series utilizing education at this grade level.

See Qualifications Section.