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Wildfire Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overwatch Imaging

Systems and Test Analyst

Hood River, OR · On-site

$75K - $100K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... wildfire mapping and disaster response to law enforcement, border security, maritime domain ... alongside pilots, engineers, and customers to make our airborne products safe, reliable, and ...

State of North Carolina

Assistant County Ranger

Rockingham, NC · On-site

$14 - $16.25/hr

Knowledge of forest management, wildfire suppression or use of GPS/GIS software * Excellent written ... All Law Enforcement positions, aviation safety-sensitive positions, and positions requiring a Pilot ...

Treeswift Inc

Field Operations Technician

New York, NY · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... pilot with a utility in June 2024, we've grown fast, now working with three of the five largest utilities in the US. To date, our technology has enabled our customers to reduce wildfire risk ...

Seneca

UAS Flight Test Technician

Sausalito, CA · On-site

$80K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

This is a ground operations role working closely with test pilots. You'll apply strong mechanical ... of wildfire across 500 million acres with AI-powered autonomous drone systems. Imagine a world ...

Seneca

UAV Test Engineer (Systems/Mechatronics)

Sausalito, CA · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Provide technical oversight of test execution , validating readiness, guiding pilots and operators ... of wildfire across 500 million acres with AI-powered autonomous drone systems. Imagine a world ...

Treeswift Inc

Senior Dev Ops Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$142K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... pilot with a utility in June 2024, we've grown fast, now working with three of the five largest utilities in the US. To date, our technology has enabled our customers to reduce wildfire risk ...

AEM

Revenue Operations Analyst

Germantown, MD · On-site

... weather, wildfire and water monitoring and intelligence solutions. We aim to be the world ... Evaluate, pilot, and help scale emerging AI tools, including generative AI for conversation ...

Treeswift Inc

Business Operations Associate

New York, NY · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... wildfire, outage, and regulatory risk from vegetation; preventing cost overruns on new construction; and accelerating recovery after storms. Since our first utility pilot in June 2024, we've grown to ...

AEM

Revenue Operations Analyst

Germantown, MD · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

... weather, wildfire and water monitoring and intelligence solutions. We aim to be the world ... Evaluate, pilot, and help scale emerging AI tools, including generative AI for conversation ...

Acuren Inspection, Inc.

Electrical T&D Inspector

Hamilton, OH · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role supports utility reliability, wildfire mitigation, and public safety by identifying ... Valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) or equivalent regulatory certification for commercial ...

Acuren Inspection, Inc.

Electrical T&D Inspector

Hamilton, OH · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

  • PTO

This role supports utility reliability, wildfire mitigation, and public safety by identifying ... Valid FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107) or equivalent regulatory certification for commercial ...

AEM

Revenue Operations Analyst

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

... weather, wildfire and water monitoring and intelligence solutions. We aim to be the world ... Evaluate, pilot, and help scale emerging AI tools, including generative AI for conversation ...

Treeswift Inc

Deployment Lead

New York, NY · On-site

$160K - $210K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... pilot with a utility in June 2024, we've grown fast, now working with three of the five largest utilities in the US. To date, our technology has enabled our customers to reduce wildfire risk ...

State of North Carolina

District Ranger

Jackson, NC · On-site

$76K - $76K/yr

Wildfire and emergency response require year-round readiness 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week. Overnight ... All Law Enforcement positions, aviation safety-sensitive positions, and positions requiring a Pilot ...

New

Treeswift Inc

Robotics Engineer (Perception)

New York, NY · On-site

$160K - $210K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... pilot with a utility in June 2024, we've grown fast, now working with three of the five largest utilities in the US. To date, our technology has enabled our customers to reduce wildfire risk ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsWildfire Pilot Jobs

Wildfire Pilot information

See salary details

$49.5K

$130.9K

$201K

How much do wildfire pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for wildfire pilot in the United States is $130,916.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wildfire pilot?

Wildfire pilots are highly trained aviators who operate aircraft to support firefighting efforts during wildfires. They may fly fixed-wing airplanes or helicopters to drop water, fire retardant, or transport crews and supplies to affected areas. Wildfire pilots play a critical role in controlling and containing wildfires, often working in dangerous and challenging conditions. Their expertise helps protect lives, property, and natural resources during fire emergencies.

What are the most common challenges faced by wildfire pilots during peak fire season?

Wildfire pilots often face rapidly changing weather conditions, limited visibility due to smoke, and rugged terrain that make each mission unpredictable and demanding. Coordinating with ground crews and other aircraft is crucial to ensure safety and effective fire suppression. Pilots must also manage long hours and high stress, especially during peak fire season when response times are critical and missions can be back-to-back. Adapting quickly to evolving fire behavior and maintaining strong communication skills are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wildfire pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Wildfire Pilot, you need a valid commercial pilot license, extensive hours of flight experience—especially in low-level and challenging conditions—and specialized wildfire aviation training. Familiarity with aircraft such as air tankers or helicopters, GPS navigation systems, and wildfire management protocols is essential. Excellent decision-making, situational awareness, and calmness under pressure are critical soft skills for this demanding role. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure safe, effective aerial firefighting operations and to protect both lives and property during wildfire emergencies.

What is the difference between Wildfire Pilot vs Firefighting Aircraft Pilot?

AspectWildfire PilotFirefighting Aircraft Pilot
CertificationsCommercial Pilot License, wildfire suppression trainingCommercial Pilot License, firefighting aircraft operation training
Work EnvironmentWildfire areas, remote terrainsAirports, firefighting bases, aerial firefighting missions
Employer & IndustryGovernment agencies, firefighting companiesGovernment agencies, private firefighting contractors

Wildfire Pilots and Firefighting Aircraft Pilots share similar certifications and work environments, focusing on aerial wildfire suppression. However, Wildfire Pilots often operate in remote, rugged terrains during active wildfires, while Firefighting Aircraft Pilots may work from bases and airports during coordinated firefighting efforts. Both roles are essential in aerial firefighting, with overlapping skills but different operational settings.

How much do wildfire pilots get paid?

Wildfire pilots typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the employer. The job often requires specialized skills in flying large aircraft and working in challenging conditions, with some pilots earning higher salaries with extensive experience or in high-risk areas.

How to become a wildfire pilot?

To become a wildfire pilot, individuals typically need a commercial pilot license with a seaplane or multi-engine rating, along with experience flying large aircraft. Specialized training in aerial firefighting techniques and safety procedures is also required, often provided by firefighting agencies or private companies. Physical fitness and the ability to work in challenging conditions are essential for this role.
More about Wildfire Pilot jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Wildfire Pilot jobs?

The most popular types of Wildfire Pilot jobs are:

What states have the most Wildfire Pilot jobs?

States with the most job openings for Wildfire Pilot jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Wildfire Pilot jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Wildfire Pilot jobs are:

Wildfire Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wildfire Pilot job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $130,916 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Systems and Test Analyst

Overwatch Imaging

Hood River, OR • On-site

$75K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

About Overwatch:
Overwatch Imaging is an imagery intelligence technology company working to bring sensor autonomy to time-critical airborne search, detection, tracking and monitoring missions. Our Automated Sensor Operator (ASO) software, native to our own line of purpose-built Smart Sensors and as an upgrade for airborne video gimbal platforms, bringsSuperhuman VisionandWorkload Reductionto users of real-time imagery intelligence systems. We fundamentally believe that modern edge processing and AI-enabled autonomy can perform an important set of time-critical imagery intelligence missions better, faster and more safely than humans can alone.
Founded in 2016 in Hood River, Oregon, we support private sector companies as well as federal, state and local agencies around the world with missions ranging from wildfire mapping and disaster response to law enforcement, border security, maritime domain awareness and tactical intelligence.
About the Role:
We are seeking anaviation-centric Systems & Flight Test Analystto join our team. This isnota traditional help desk or SaaS QA role - this position sits at the intersection offlight operations, sensor hardware integration, and real-world airborne testing. You'll be directly involved in preparing, executing, and evaluating airborne sensor systems on small, crewed aircraft, working alongside pilots, engineers, and customers to make our airborne products safe, reliable, and mission-ready.
In this role, you will plan and support flight tests, integrate and troubleshoot sensors in aircraft environments, and operate or assist in operating payload systems (e.g., video gimbals, airborne imagers) during actual flights. You'll also be customer-facing at times, supporting field deployments, demos, and training - so poise, communication, and professionalism matter.
If you're excited by aviation, enjoy hands-on technical problem solving, and want to help deliver cutting-edge airborne systems used in defense, emergency response, and critical remote sensing missions, this role is for you.
What You'll Do:
Flight & Field Testing
  • Prepare for and participate inflight testswith airborne sensor systems, including payload setup, checklists, and test verification.
  • Assist inintegration of sensor hardware(electrical, mounting, cabling) onto aircraft prior to test flights.
  • Execute test plans during airborne missions and document outcomes for engineering evaluation.

Sensor & Systems Troubleshooting
  • Analyze issues from flight data, logs, and onboard systems to identify and resolve hardware or software anomalies.
  • Work with hardware (electrical interfaces, data links) and software to ensure correct sensor performance in flight conditions.

Customer & Aviation Support
  • Serve as afield representativeduring customer flights, demos, and deployments; communicate clearly with pilots, operators, and external stakeholders.
  • Conduct on-site technical training or support for customers as needed.
  • Support our help desk and troubleshoot issues for customers as they arise.

Quality Assurance & Collaboration
  • Write and execute targeted test plans that reflect real-world airborne use cases (not just desktop tests).
  • Log defects with detailed reproduction steps and flight conditions.
  • Work closely with engineers to refine system design based on flight and sensor test results.
  • Provide constructive feedback to product and engineering teams about recurring operational challenges.

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing
  • Maintain and improve documentation for airborne test procedures, integration guides, and in-field troubleshooting tips.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge base and training materials.

Who You Are:
Ideal Experience
  • Experience inremote sensing, airborne payload operation, video gimbal systems, or sensor integrationon aircraft or unmanned platforms.
  • Comfortable working in aviation environments - including pre-flight prep, test execution, and flight "ride-along" support.
  • You may be a formerairborne sensor operator, flight test technician, remote sensing specialist, or someone with hands-on experience integrating sensors on aircraft.

Technical Aptitude
  • Strong troubleshooting and systems-thinking skills with both hardware and software.
  • Knowledge of electrical interfaces, data acquisition systems, and basic aircraft sensor hardware is a plus.

Communication & Customer Poise
  • Excellent verbal and written communication. You can confidently explain complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders and customers.
  • You represent the company in field environments - you're personable, professional, and comfortable interacting with pilots, customers, and partners.

Organizational & Team Skills
  • You manage multiple tasks effectively, prioritize under pressure, and help drive issues to resolution.
  • You thrive in a dynamic, small-company environment where adaptability and cross-functional teamwork are key.

Mindset
  • You're passionate about aviation, airborne systems, and real-world testing. You're excited to learn, grow, and contribute to product success through hands-on work.

Nice-to-Have (but Not Required)
  • Prior Test Experience - experience creating and executing test cases
  • Prior aviation or flight test experience (civilian or military).
  • Prior ISR experience
  • Experience with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, Service Desk, etc)
  • Familiarity with remote sensing data, GIS tools, or sensor calibration procedures.

What We Offer:
  • Growth Opportunities: As a team member of a true startup, you will learn by doing and shape our future. The opportunities are limitless for those who want to grow their career.
  • Impact Opportunity: We work on missions that matter to keep people safe and make the world better, and we do it at the speed of a startup.
  • Team Collaboration: Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with amazing teammates. The Overwatch Imaging leadership team believes in an open-door policy, meaning everyone has a voice and access to guidance, advice, feedback, and the ability to pitch crazy new ideas.
  • Late Start Wednesday: A weekly block to have focus time away from meetings and calls. An opportunity to work from home, flex your schedule or self-directed time to focus on training and development.
  • Time Off: Generous unlimited PTO policy to empower employees to make decisions about work life balance based on work and home needs.
  • Holidays: Overwatch Imaging recognizes 10 company holidays.
  • Ownership: Equity: Stock Options in our growing company.
  • Health Benefits: Medical and Dental premiums are 100% covered for employees and their families, plus a pre-tax health savings account.
  • 401K Retirement Savings: Matching contributions up to 4% of pay.
  • Travel: Position requires business travel up to 50% and work in and around non-commercial aircraft.

All applicants must be authorized to work on a permanent basis in the United States.
Overwatch Imaging is an equal opportunity workplace and makes employment decisions based on merit and business needs, regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected personal characteristic.
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, even if they don't meet every requirement listed
in this job description. We value diversity of experience and perspectives and are always looking
for talented individuals to join our team.
Export Control Compliance Notice
This position may involve access to data, technology, or software that is subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant's ability to obtain any necessary export authorization, as determined by an export compliance assessment conducted by the company.

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