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Aerial Firefighting Jobs in Florida (NOW HIRING)

Largo

Firefighter/Paramedic and Firefighter/EMT

Largo, FL · On-site

$27.31/hr

May be assigned as driver of aerial tower, fire engine, rescue truck and related fire equipment and ... Participates in company drills; attends instruction sessions in such subjects as firefighting ...

Bay County

Firefighter/Paramedic

Panama City, FL

$69K - $116K/yr

Knowledge of the operation, maintenance and uses of modern firefighting/EMS apparatus and equipment including rescue, ambulance, aerial and pumping apparatus. Ability to get along with co-workers.

Metrea Management LLC

Director Of Quality

Tampa, FL · On-site

... aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.  Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability--designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers ...

Bay County, FL

Firefighter/Paramedic

FL · On-site

$69K - $116K/yr

Knowledge of the operation, maintenance and uses of modern firefighting/EMS apparatus and equipment including rescue, ambulance, aerial and pumping apparatus. * Ability to get along with co-workers.

Metrea Management LLC

Project Scheduler

Tampa, FL · On-site

... aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.  Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability--designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers ...

Metrea Management LLC

Buyer 3

Tampa, FL · On-site

... aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.  Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability--designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers ...

Bay County, FL

Reserve Firefighter - Bay County

FL · On-site

Knowledge of the operation, maintenance and uses of modern firefighting apparatus and equipment including aerial and pumping apparatus. * Must have good interpersonal and communication skills to deal ...

City of Lauderhill

$76K/yr

... from aerial apparatus where applicable; ventilates burning buildings to remove smoke and gases ... Attends training sessions in firefighting methods, equipment operation, rescue procedures ...

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All JobsAerial Firefighting JobsAerial Firefighting Jobs in Florida

Aerial Firefighting information

See Florida salary details

$21.3K

$44.5K

$74.7K

How much do aerial firefighting jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerial firefighting in Florida is $44,543.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34,000.00 and $51,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Aerial Firefighting vs Helicopter Pilot?

AspectAerial FirefightingHelicopter Pilot
Required CertificationsCommercial Pilot License, Firefighting-specific trainingCommercial Pilot License, often with helicopter ratings
Work EnvironmentFire zones, remote areas, often during emergenciesVarious, including transport, surveillance, and firefighting support
Employer & Industry UsageFire departments, government agencies, firefighting contractorsAirlines, charter companies, government agencies, firefighting services

While both roles involve piloting helicopters, aerial firefighting focuses on using aircraft to combat wildfires, requiring specialized firefighting training. Helicopter pilots may work in diverse sectors, including transportation and surveillance, with less emphasis on firefighting-specific skills. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the industry.

What Are Aerial Firefighting Jobs?

Aerial firefighting jobs involve flying a plane or helicopter to extinguish wildfires, protect property, and save lives. Pilots fly as part of a crew and drop water or other fire retardants to contain the fire and minimize damage. Some aerial firefighters are “smokejumpers,” which means they parachute or rappel into wildfire areas to combat their spread. As an aerial firefighter, your responsibilities involve preserving woodlands and deserts while protecting the safety of residents and your crew, so these jobs are not for the faint of heart. You must be physically fit and able to endure stressful situations and harsh conditions for extended periods. Additionally, both roles require specialized training.

What is aerial firefighting?

Aerial firefighting is the use of aircraft to combat wildfires from the air. Specialized planes and helicopters drop water or fire retardant chemicals directly onto fires or in strategic locations to slow their spread. These aircraft can also be used for reconnaissance, mapping, and transporting firefighters or equipment to hard-to-reach areas. Aerial firefighting is often coordinated with ground crews to maximize effectiveness and ensure safety. This method is essential in managing large, fast-moving, or remote wildfires.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Aerial Firefighting, and why are they important?

To thrive in aerial firefighting, you need advanced piloting skills, knowledge of fire behavior, and completion of specialized firefighting and aviation training. Experience with aircraft like helicopters or fixed-wing air tankers, FAA certifications, and proficiency in using GPS navigation and radio communication systems are typically required. Outstanding teamwork, decision-making under pressure, and situational awareness are crucial soft skills for this high-risk environment. These abilities are essential to ensure safety, effective wildfire suppression, and coordination with ground crews during complex emergency missions.

What are some of the biggest challenges faced by aerial firefighting crews during wildfire season?

Aerial firefighting crews often contend with unpredictable weather conditions, rapidly changing fire behavior, and challenging terrain that can make flying and water drops both risky and complex. Coordinating with ground teams is essential, as is maintaining constant communication to ensure safety and maximize effectiveness. Additionally, long hours and high-stress situations require strong teamwork and adaptability, making both physical fitness and mental resilience key components of success in this role.
More about Aerial Firefighting jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida? The most popular types of Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida are:
What are popular job titles related to Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida? For Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida look for? The top searched job categories for Aerial Firefighting jobs in Florida are:
Aerial Firefighting jobs near you
Infographic showing various Aerial Firefighting job openings in Florida as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,543 per year, or $21.4 per hour.

Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Metrea Management LLC

Tampa, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas—including airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special mission aviation, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation.


Wherever we operate, we build vertically integrated full stacks of capability—designing, building, and operating turnkey solutions that let customers scale capacity while benefiting from continuous cycles of innovation. With operators and engineers under one roof, we close the gap be-tween lab and field—what we call connecting design with effect.


Metrea’s solutions are built for elegance: effective, efficient, and evolving. This approach enables our partners to do more with less and achieve outsized, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.


Headquartered in Washington, DC, Metrea has facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond.


Position Summary

The Strategic Sourcing Specialist is a senior individual contributor responsible for developing and executing enterprise-level sourcing strategies, structuring complex supplier agreements, and driving long-term value through disciplined contract frameworks. This role serves as the primary architect of supplier engagement models—leading the creation and negotiation of Statements of Work (SOWs), Long-Term Agreements (LTAs), and Master Service Agreements (MSAs) that de-fine performance, pricing, and operational expectations across critical supply chain categories.

Operating at the intersection of commercial strategy, technical requirements, and supplier capa-bility, this role partners closely with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and executive leadership to align sourcing strategies with business objectives, enhance supplier capabilities, and streamline the supply base. The Strategic Sourcing Manager is accountable for shaping supplier relation-ships that deliver sustained cost efficiency, performance reliability, and long-term operational readiness across the enterprise.


What You’ll Do

Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership

  • Develop and execute sourcing strategies for critical aerospace systems, repair services, and technical categories aligned to enterprise objectives and fleet sustainment needs.
  • Define supplier segmentation strategies (strategic, preferred, transactional) and align engagement models accordingly.
  • Lead cross-functional sourcing initiatives that balance cost, performance, risk, and long-term sustainability.
  • Identify and develop strategic supplier partnerships to expand capabilities and reduce single-source dependencies.


Contracting, SOW Development & Negotiation

  • Lead the development and negotiation of complex Statements of Work (SOWs), Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs).
  • Structure agreements to include:
    • Clearly defined scopes of work (repair, engineering, services)
    • Performance-based SLAs and KPIs
    • Pricing models (fixed, variable, cost transparency, volume incentives)
    • Obsolescence and sustainment provisions
    • Risk allocation, escalation paths, and governance frameworks
  • Drive negotiations to optimize total value, including cost, turnaround time (TAT), quality, and supplier responsiveness.
  • Ensure alignment with Metrea Terms & Conditions and regulatory requirements (FAR/DFARS where applicable).


Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

  • Establish and govern supplier performance frameworks, including KPIs, scorecards, and reporting cadences.
  • Lead supplier business reviews (QBRs, executive reviews) focused on performance, cost reduction, and risk mitigation.
  • Drive corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives with underperforming suppliers.
  • Function as an interface between Metrea and key suppliers.
  • Supply Chain Risk & Sustainability
    • Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including:
      • Obsolescence and DMSMS
      • Capacity constraints
      • Financial and geopolitical risks
    • Develop supplier strategies that support long-term fleet sustainment and operational readiness.
    • Lead initiatives to improve repair capability, reduce lead times, and enhance supply chain resilience.
    • Assist with managing and maintaining the enterprise Approved Supplier List.
    • Assist with vetting and onboarding new suppliers.

    Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence
    • Partner with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to translate technical requirements into executable sourcing strategies and contract structures.
    • Provide strategic guidance to Procurement teams on supplier selection, negotiation strategies, and contract execution.
    • Support enterprise initiatives related to supplier standardization, contract frameworks, and sourcing governance.
    • Influence senior-level stakeholders through data-driven insights and structured sourcing recommendations.

    Market Intelligence & Supplier Development
    • Conduct market analysis to identify emerging suppliers, capabilities, and industry trends.
    • Conduct market research to identify new suppliers for both goods and services globally.
    • Engage suppliers through site visits, trade shows, and strategic reviews to assess capabilities and strengthen relationships.
    • Identify opportunities for new repair sources, alternate suppliers, cost-saving and continuous improvement initiatives.
      Experience: 7+ years of Procurement or Strategic Sourcing experience and a history of negotiating vendor pricing.
    • Demonstrated experience developing and negotiating complex SOWs, MSAs, and supplier agreements.
      What You’ll Bring
    • Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, operations, or other is re-quired. MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Proven ability to structure supplier relationships that drive measurable improvements in cost, performance, and reliability.

Strong understanding of aerospace supply chains, repair environments, and regulatory requirements (FAA/EASA).

Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs, SLAs, and formal business review processes.

Computer Skills: Microsoft Office Suite.


Additional Eligibility Qualifications
  • Seasoned commercial awareness.
  • Experience interacting with and counselling senior business leaders.
  • Demonstrated ERP/MRP Proficiency through managing vendor records and running re-ports to evaluate and demand drivers and spend.


Physical Demands

This is a largely sedentary role; however, some physical abilities may be required.


Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value, Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes—Entre-preneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the con-stant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.


Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift flu-idly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.


Benefits

Comprehensive medical plan options HSA/FSA accounts

Dental and vision coverage


6% employer 401(k) match

Fully paid parental leave for all new parents Generous PTO

Life and disability insurance

Long-term and Short-term disability coverage AD&D Coverage

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub


Work Authorization / Security Clearance

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Role may require adherence to export control regulations (ITAR/EAR).


AAP / EEO Statement

This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without re-gard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.


Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00

a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and busi-ness needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.


Work Location

Tampa FL


Work Environment

This job operates in a clerical office setting. This role routinely involves standard office equip-ment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.


Travel

Up to 30% Travel as required

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