ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Civilian Rescue Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Aspinity

Senior Firmware Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Join us to make an impact Recently, the United States Air National Guard 131st Rescue Squadron successfully employed Somewear's unique ATAK integration to coordinate and monitor a civilian rescue ...

U.S. Marine Corps

LIFEGUARD NF2

Twentynine Palms, CA · On-site

$14.75 - $18.75/hr

Performs rescue work, promptly renders emergency first aid, and calls for medical assistance as ... Civilian Service • People with passion for doing work that matters • Quality of Work Life ...

U.S. Marine Corps

LIFEGUARD NF2

Twentynine Palms, CA · On-site

$20.28/hr

Performs rescue work, promptly renders emergency first aid, and calls for medical assistance as ... Civilian Service • People with passion for doing work that matters • Quality of Work Life ...

U.S. Marine Corps

FIREFIGHTER

Barstow, CA · On-site +1

$42K - $61K/yr

You will serve as driver/operator of fire(pumper) apparatus, aerial ladder truck, heavy rescue ... This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian ...

U.S. Marine Corps

FIREFIGHTER

Barstow, CA · On-site

You will serve as driver/operator of fire(pumper) apparatus, aerial ladder truck, heavy rescue ... This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian ...

U.S. Marine Corps

FIREFIGHTER

Barstow, CA · On-site

You will serve as driver/operator of fire(pumper) apparatus, aerial ladder truck, heavy rescue ... This age restriction does not apply to those who have previously served in a Federal civilian ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCivilian Rescue JobsCivilian Rescue Jobs in California

Civilian Rescue information

See California salary details

$30.1K

$43.6K

$52.3K

How much do civilian rescue jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for civilian rescue in California is $43,584.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $40,000.00 and $47,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the biggest challenges faced by civilian rescue professionals in the field?

Civilian Rescue professionals often encounter unpredictable and high-stress environments, which can involve hazardous conditions, rapidly changing situations, and the need to make quick decisions. Working long or irregular hours, such as nights or weekends, is common, especially during emergencies or disasters. Team coordination and clear communication are critical, as rescues frequently involve collaborating with other emergency services. Adapting to emotionally challenging scenarios and maintaining focus under pressure are essential skills for success and personal well-being in this field.

How to get into civilian search and rescue?

To become a civilian search and rescue worker, individuals typically need to complete relevant training such as first aid, CPR, and technical rescue courses, often through organizations like FEMA or local emergency services. Certification in wilderness or urban search and rescue, along with physical fitness and the ability to work in challenging environments, is also important.

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

To excel in Civilian Rescue, individuals typically need emergency response training, physical fitness, and knowledge of first aid or CPR, often backed by certifications such as EMT or lifeguard credentials. Familiarity with rescue equipment, communication radios, and emergency management systems is also commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, composure under pressure, and the ability to work well in teams are vital soft skills. These competencies are crucial for ensuring rapid and effective assistance in urgent, often life-threatening situations, ensuring public safety and positive outcomes.

What is a civilian rescue?

A Civilian Rescue job involves responding to emergencies to save individuals from dangerous situations, such as natural disasters, accidents, or other crises. Rescuers may work for government agencies, non-profits, or private organizations, using specialized training and equipment to provide life-saving assistance. Duties often include conducting search and rescue operations, administering first aid, and ensuring public safety. Strong physical fitness, problem-solving skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential for this role.

What are popular job titles related to Civilian Rescue jobs in California?

For Civilian Rescue jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Civilian Rescue jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Civilian Rescue jobs in California are:

Civilian Rescue jobs near you
Infographic showing various Civilian Rescue job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 42% In-person, and 58% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,584 per year, or $21 per hour.

Senior Firmware Engineer

Aspinity

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Senior Firmware Engineer

Somewear's software platform and satellite‑powered hardware enable commercial and government teams to maintain situational awareness during high‑pressure operations — in any environment. Somewear serves a wide range of customers including helicopter paramedics, backcountry explorers, wildland firefighters, and operators within the US Department of Defense. Our purpose is to build best‑in‑class solutions that keep people in touch, informed, and safe anywhere in the world.

We're looking for a Firmware Engineer to help push the boundaries of off‑grid communication. Working from our San Francisco or Chicago offices, you will work at the intersection of custom hardware, satellite modems, LTE, Bluetooth, mesh networking, and sensors — writing software that directly powers life‑saving missions in the most demanding environments on earth.

Join us to make an impact

Recently, the United States Air National Guard 131st Rescue Squadron successfully employed Somewear's unique ATAK integration to coordinate and monitor a civilian rescue operation 1,200 miles off the U.S. Pacific coast. The consistent communications and situational awareness across rescue personnel, medical personnel, aircrafts, and the operations center led to an efficient rescue mission that took half of the expected time to complete.

What you'll do
  • Write production‑quality embedded software in C, C++, and Rust targeting Zephyr RTOS on resource‑constrained hardware
  • Own features end‑to‑end — from technical design through implementation, validation, and field deployment
  • Implement and maintain device drivers for peripherals including GPS/GNSS, cellular modems, satellite transceivers, IMUs, and power management ICs
  • Support board bring‑up and hardware validation alongside electrical engineers, including schematic review and signal integrity debugging
  • Develop and maintain communication protocol stacks across satellite, LTE, Bluetooth, and mesh radio links
  • Optimize firmware for power consumption, memory footprint, and real‑time performance in battery‑operated, thermally constrained deployments
  • Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines, automated test frameworks, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test infrastructure
  • Contribute to secure boot, OTA update mechanisms, and firmware integrity validation
  • Collaborate closely with mobile engineers to evolve application‑layer protocols and data synchronization strategies
  • Participate in code reviews, establish engineering standards, and help define best practices for the embedded team
Required Experience
  • 5+ years of professional firmware development on constrained embedded systems (ARM Cortex‑M series or equivalent)
  • Proficiency in C and C++; familiarity with Rust or motivation to learn it
  • Hands‑on experience with RTOS environments (Zephyr, FreeRTOS, ThreadX, or similar)
  • Strong working knowledge of serial communication protocols: UART, SPI, I²C, USB
  • Experience with wireless protocols — Bluetooth LE, 802.15.4/Zigbee/Thread, or proprietary mesh
  • Comfort debugging at the hardware level using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG/SWD debuggers, and power analyzers
  • A genuine passion for reliability and safety in mission‑critical systems
Nice to Have
  • Experience with satellite communication modems (Iridium, Orbcomm, Globalstar, or similar)
  • Familiarity with cellular modem integration (LTE‑M, NB‑IoT, Cat‑1)
  • Exposure to mesh networking protocols (Bluetooth mesh, LoRa mesh, or custom RF mesh)
  • Experience with GNSS/GPS receiver integration and multi‑constellation positioning
  • Background in defense, aerospace, first responder technology, or other safety‑critical domains
  • Knowledge of secure firmware practices: secure boot, code signing, encrypted OTA
  • Experience with HIL testing, pytest‑based firmware test frameworks, or similar automated validation tooling
  • Contributions to open‑source embedded projects
What you'll love about Somewear
  • A competitive and equitable compensation plan — full‑time, salaried with equity
  • Health, dental, and vision benefits
  • Focus Days: No meetings every Monday so you can do your best work
  • Unlimited PTO and flexible parental leave
  • Write firmware that directly impacts mission‑critical operations and saves lives
  • Work with an ambitious team solving genuinely hard technical problems
  • Direct access to senior leadership and meaningful influence on engineering culture
  • An authentic investment in you as a human being and your career as a professional

Note: U.S. Persons ONLY. Please only apply if you meet this requirement.

Hybrid from either San Francisco, CA or Chicago, IL

#J-18808-Ljbffr
Aspinity logo

About Aspinity

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Semiconductor and electronic component manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Pittsburgh, PA, US

Year founded

2012

Social media

Twitter

View All Aspinity Jobs

Apply