Air Tanker Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $164,533.20 - $221,730.72 Annually
Location : Los Angeles County, CA
Job Type: Full time
Job Number: 30215B-FR
Department: FIRE
Opening Date: 05/22/2026
Position/Program Information
FIRE DEPARTMENT
TYPE OF RECRUITMENT
OPEN COMPETITIVE - FIRE EMERGENCY
APPLICATION FILING PERIOD:
Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. (PT)
This examination will remain open until the needs of the department are met and is subject to close without notice.
EXAM NUMBER:
30215B-FR
The LA County Board of Supervisors has unanimously , including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, that have devastated communities across the County. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to assist the County in mobilizing resources and support needed to help our residents recover and rebuild. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.
County of Los Angeles Fire Department is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Chief, Air Operations, Fire Service vacancy related to this unprecedented natural disaster.
Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.
Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.
Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Chief, Air Operations, Fire Service.
DEFINITION:
Has immediate charge of the aerial fire fighting program of the Fire Department.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
The single position allocable to this level reports to a Deputy Fire Chief and is distinguished by its overall administrative and technical responsibility for aviation operations including the related mechanical services to airplanes and helicopters in the Fire Department. The position requires knowledge of the principles of management and supervision.
Essential Job Functions

• Plans, directs, and supervises the Department's aerial fire fighting program.
• Coordinates the Department's air operations with that of other cooperating agencies.
• Pilots aircraft in fire fighting operations.
• Directs air tanker activities.
• Directs, supervises, and trains flight and ground support personnel.
• Ensures the proper movement, use, and servicing of all helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, equipment and supplies used in aerial fire fighting.
• Develops new or revises existing aerial fire fighting techniques and equipment.
• Prepares new or revised specifications for airborne fire fighting equipment.
• Advises departmental personnel on aircraft capabilities and limitations.
• Prepares new or revises existing departmental manuals and directives relating to the Department's air operations.
• Represents the Department at meetings and technical symposiums concerning the use of aircraft to combat fire.

Requirements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Three years' experience as a helicopter pilot in fire suppression operations.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS:

• A Commercial Pilot's certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating*, and
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.
*Applicants for this examination must attach a copy of the required certificate at the time of filing (preferred). If you are unable to attach the required documents at the time of filing, you must email to within fifteen (15) calendar days from the application submission. Please ensure to indicate the examination title and number on the subject of your email. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class IV - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.
Additional Information
EXAMINATION CONTENT:
Before the end of your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add , as well as , and to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.
You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.
Plan to submit your online application well in advance before the posting closes as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:
The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly show that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Please fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely and correctly to receive full credit for any related education, training, and job experience. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your actual job title, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, total number of hours worked (full or part time). Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for this job. Your application will be rejected if it is incomplete. We may reject your application at any time during the selection process.
AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Any Shift - Appointees must be willing to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
BACKGROUND CHECK:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.
COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES:
For applicants who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County. Refer to their website for more information:
NO SHARING OF USER ID, EMAIL AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.
ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The County of Los Angeles Fire Department is committed to promoting Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst various groups of people. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.
Department Contact Name: Fire Examination Section
Department Contact Phone: (213) 466-5500
Department Contact Email:
Analyst Contact Phone: (213) 466-5500
Analyst Contact Email:
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Employment Information
Any language contained in the job posting supersedes any language contained below.
This document is intended to provide general information about the recruitment process of the County of Los Angeles. Applicants with questions about a specific job posting should contact the exam analyst listed on the posting.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Non-Discrimination Statement:
The County of Los Angeles is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to non-discrimination in the County workforce, regardless of age (40 and over); ancestry; color; ethnicity; religious creed; protected family or medical leave status; disability; marital status; medical condition; genetic information; military and veteran status; national origin; race ; sex; gender; sexual orientation; or any other characteristic protected by State or federal law. For more information, please visit:
Testing Accommodations for Applicants:
The County of Los Angeles complies with all federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please contact the testing accommodation coordinator listed on the job posting. Hearing impaired applicants with telephone teletype equipment may leave messages by calling the teletype phone number on the job posting. For more information on accommodations, please visit:
Fair Chance:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except as otherwise permissible under applicable laws, you will not be asked to provide information about conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and will also consider potential mitigating factors, which may include, but is not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).
Employment Eligibility:
Final appointment is contingent upon verification of U.S. citizenship or the right to work in the United States.
Career PathFinder:
Resources to help current and prospective employees plan a career with Los Angeles County are available. To explore career paths to and from nearly all job titles, please visit our interactive Career PathFinder application at
Veteran's Credit:
Pursuant to the County Charter and County policy, in all open competitive examinations (i.e., examinations open to everyone), the County of Los Angeles will add a credit of 10 percent of the total credits specified for such examination to the final passing score of an honorably discharged veteran, as well as the spouse of a deceased or disabled veteran, who served in the Armed Forces of the United States under specific conditions.
For more information on veteran's credit, please visit:
Revised September 2025
For detailed information, please click
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Candidate Communication Acknowledgement:Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that you provide a valid email address. DO NOT select "off" under Email Preferences within your profile or click "unsubscribe" on our notices if you would like the County of Los Angeles to notify you regarding your application status, and other import