San Francisco
Pilot of Fire Boats - Fire Department (H120)
San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Company Description
399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA Full-time Exam Type: Class Based Test Eligible List Type: Entrance Certification Rule: Rule of Ten Fill Type: Permanent Civil Service Work Hours: 24-hour Watches Job Code and Title: H120-Pilot of Fire Boats Application Opening:
October 17, 2025 Application Deadline:
October 31, 2025 Compensation Range:
$201,578.00 Yearly Recruitment ID:
C00359 Established in 1866, the San Francisco Fire Department is rich in tradition and history. From the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 to the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, the Department has grown to meet the many challenges along the way. Today, the San Francisco Fire Department serves an estimated 1.5 million people, providing fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services to the residents, visitors and workers within San Francisco's 49 square miles. Job Description
Under general supervision is responsible for the safe piloting and navigation of a fire boat in response to fire alarms, emergency incidents, public service activities, training, and other activities requiring the support or services of the vessel; maintains the vessel’s equipment in top operational condition; keeps up-to-date logs and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations; ensures that personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards; and performs other related duties as required. Distinguishing Features
An H120 Pilot of Fire Boats is distinguished from H110 Marine Engineer in that the H120 is responsible for piloting and navigating the fire boat, and the H110 is responsible for the mechanical and electrical systems, and engine room of the fire boat. Supervision Exercised
Supervises boat crew. Major, Important, and Essential Duties
Operates the vessel’s pilot house and bridge equipment while responding to an emergency or service, or in preparation to get underway. Takes the helm, gives engine orders, and operates propulsion controls, radar, compass, radio, and other communications and navigation equipment. Navigates the fire boat in all weather conditions and at all hours of the day in response to all calls requiring fire boat support and services. Participates in fire suppression duties as necessary and practicable. Maneuvers fire boats in position to enable crew members’ maximum effectiveness to fight fires and protect life and property. Takes effective damage control measures to save personnel and equipment in case of casualty or emergency caused by collision, grounding, foundering, explosion, or fire. Inspect fire boats and equipment and performs or arranges for required maintenance of a variety of deck and navigation equipment. Participates in cleaning, scaling and painting duties, performs minor repairs and alterations to topside areas, holds, and deck equipment. Maintains up-to-date log books and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Ensures all personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards. Participates in inspections of occupied and unoccupied buildings and other structures in the area of the San Francisco Bay for fire suppression planning purposes. Qualifications
Education A high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (e.g., G.E.D., California High School Proficiency Certificate) Experience 10 years verifiable experience as master aboard commercial vessels. One year of experience (2080 hours) within the last two years as master aboard commercial vessels. License and Certification Possession of a current license of 500 gross tons issued by the United States Coast Guard in any of the following categories: “Master’s license valid for ocean, coastwise, or inland” “Master Freight and Tow” “Master (Operator), Un-inspected Towing Vessels” Above license must include radar endorsement. Pass federally mandated random drug screening. Desirable Qualifications
Recent experience maintaining and operating vessels on the San Francisco Bay and in its tributaries. Recent experience operating tugboats and/or fireboats. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; safety procedures in hazardous conditions; seamanship; nautical terms; applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; operational and tactical maneuvering of fire boats during emergency response; aids and hazards of navigation in the Bay; depths of water in the Bay; characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; locations of all berths, anchorages, and other facilities in the area of the San Francisco Bay; local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, ocean, and inland waters; use and care of a fire boat navigation system; Fire Department communications system related to fire boat operations; fire boat command structure and how it relates to the Incident Command System; sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting navigation of vessels in the Bay; objectives, principles, and practices of waterfront pre‑fire planning; Fire Department organizational functions, rules, regulations, and procedures; and principles of supervision and training. Ability to effectively operate and maneuver a fire boat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; work effectively with others; properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances; communicate effectively both orally and in writing to members of the department, the public, or representatives of other agencies; establish and maintain good working relations with employees and the general public; complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties; navigate a fire boat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc. Verification
A copy of the current valid license issued by the United States Coast Guard must be received in by 4:00 PM on November 03, 2025. The verification must be submitted by email to DHR_publicsafety@sfgov.org with “H120” in the subject line. Applicants who do not submit the verification by the deadline may be disqualified. Note
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. Selection Process
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions. Pending the availability of permanent positions, candidates may be offered the option of working a limited number of shifts on an as‑needed basis. Each qualified applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire may be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts with regard to how well the applicant’s experience matches the requirements of the position. Those candidates whose experience is determined to most closely match the requirements of the position will be invited to participate in a performance exercise. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the process, and the decision of the screening committee is final. Qualified applicants will be notified by mail of the exact date, time, and location of the performance exercise approximately 30 days in advance prior to test administration. Candidates must successfully complete the performance exercise to receive a final score. Performance Test (100%)
The performance exercise will be designed to measure knowledge areas and abilities including, but not limited to the following: knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; knowledge of safety procedures in hazardous conditions; knowledge of nautical terms; knowledge of applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; knowledge of the operation and tactical maneuvering of fireboats during emergency and non-emergency operations; knowledge of the aids and hazards to navigation in the Bay; knowledge of the depths of water in the Bay; knowledge of the characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, the ocean, and inland waters; knowledge of compass errors; knowledge of the use and care of the fireboat navigation system; knowledge of sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting the navigation of vessels in the Bay; knowledge of the principles of supervision and training; ability to effectively operate and maneuver fireboat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; ability to work effectively with others; ability to properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; ability to think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to Department members, members of the public, and personnel from other agencies; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with other employees and the general public; ability to efficiently complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties; ability navigating a fireboat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc.; ability to attach to and tow a vessel in distress; and ability to operate a vessel with draft restrictions. Certification
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 313.3.4, the certification rule to be used for the eligible list will be Rule of Ten. Eligible List
The eligible list resulting from this selection process will be subject to change after adoption. The duration of the eligible list will be two years and may be extended to one additional year with the approval of the Director of Human Resources. Notes
This announcement is issued in accordance with Civil Service Rule 310. Civil Service Rules 310, 311 and 312 relate to Class-Based Testing for the City and County of San Francisco. They specify announcement, application and examination policies and procedures, including applicant appeal rights. These rules can be obtained at https://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules. HOW TO APPLY
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process. Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen. Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses @sfgov.org and @smartrecruiters.com. Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Crystal Cervantes, at Crystal.Cervantes@sfgov.org. The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
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399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA Full-time Exam Type: Class Based Test Eligible List Type: Entrance Certification Rule: Rule of Ten Fill Type: Permanent Civil Service Work Hours: 24-hour Watches Job Code and Title: H120-Pilot of Fire Boats Application Opening:
October 17, 2025 Application Deadline:
October 31, 2025 Compensation Range:
$201,578.00 Yearly Recruitment ID:
C00359 Established in 1866, the San Francisco Fire Department is rich in tradition and history. From the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 to the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, the Department has grown to meet the many challenges along the way. Today, the San Francisco Fire Department serves an estimated 1.5 million people, providing fire suppression, fire prevention and emergency medical services to the residents, visitors and workers within San Francisco's 49 square miles. Job Description
Under general supervision is responsible for the safe piloting and navigation of a fire boat in response to fire alarms, emergency incidents, public service activities, training, and other activities requiring the support or services of the vessel; maintains the vessel’s equipment in top operational condition; keeps up-to-date logs and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations; ensures that personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards; and performs other related duties as required. Distinguishing Features
An H120 Pilot of Fire Boats is distinguished from H110 Marine Engineer in that the H120 is responsible for piloting and navigating the fire boat, and the H110 is responsible for the mechanical and electrical systems, and engine room of the fire boat. Supervision Exercised
Supervises boat crew. Major, Important, and Essential Duties
Operates the vessel’s pilot house and bridge equipment while responding to an emergency or service, or in preparation to get underway. Takes the helm, gives engine orders, and operates propulsion controls, radar, compass, radio, and other communications and navigation equipment. Navigates the fire boat in all weather conditions and at all hours of the day in response to all calls requiring fire boat support and services. Participates in fire suppression duties as necessary and practicable. Maneuvers fire boats in position to enable crew members’ maximum effectiveness to fight fires and protect life and property. Takes effective damage control measures to save personnel and equipment in case of casualty or emergency caused by collision, grounding, foundering, explosion, or fire. Inspect fire boats and equipment and performs or arranges for required maintenance of a variety of deck and navigation equipment. Participates in cleaning, scaling and painting duties, performs minor repairs and alterations to topside areas, holds, and deck equipment. Maintains up-to-date log books and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. Ensures all personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards. Participates in inspections of occupied and unoccupied buildings and other structures in the area of the San Francisco Bay for fire suppression planning purposes. Qualifications
Education A high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (e.g., G.E.D., California High School Proficiency Certificate) Experience 10 years verifiable experience as master aboard commercial vessels. One year of experience (2080 hours) within the last two years as master aboard commercial vessels. License and Certification Possession of a current license of 500 gross tons issued by the United States Coast Guard in any of the following categories: “Master’s license valid for ocean, coastwise, or inland” “Master Freight and Tow” “Master (Operator), Un-inspected Towing Vessels” Above license must include radar endorsement. Pass federally mandated random drug screening. Desirable Qualifications
Recent experience maintaining and operating vessels on the San Francisco Bay and in its tributaries. Recent experience operating tugboats and/or fireboats. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; safety procedures in hazardous conditions; seamanship; nautical terms; applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; operational and tactical maneuvering of fire boats during emergency response; aids and hazards of navigation in the Bay; depths of water in the Bay; characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; locations of all berths, anchorages, and other facilities in the area of the San Francisco Bay; local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, ocean, and inland waters; use and care of a fire boat navigation system; Fire Department communications system related to fire boat operations; fire boat command structure and how it relates to the Incident Command System; sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting navigation of vessels in the Bay; objectives, principles, and practices of waterfront pre‑fire planning; Fire Department organizational functions, rules, regulations, and procedures; and principles of supervision and training. Ability to effectively operate and maneuver a fire boat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; work effectively with others; properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances; communicate effectively both orally and in writing to members of the department, the public, or representatives of other agencies; establish and maintain good working relations with employees and the general public; complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties; navigate a fire boat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc. Verification
A copy of the current valid license issued by the United States Coast Guard must be received in by 4:00 PM on November 03, 2025. The verification must be submitted by email to DHR_publicsafety@sfgov.org with “H120” in the subject line. Applicants who do not submit the verification by the deadline may be disqualified. Note
Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. Selection Process
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions. Pending the availability of permanent positions, candidates may be offered the option of working a limited number of shifts on an as‑needed basis. Each qualified applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire may be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts with regard to how well the applicant’s experience matches the requirements of the position. Those candidates whose experience is determined to most closely match the requirements of the position will be invited to participate in a performance exercise. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the process, and the decision of the screening committee is final. Qualified applicants will be notified by mail of the exact date, time, and location of the performance exercise approximately 30 days in advance prior to test administration. Candidates must successfully complete the performance exercise to receive a final score. Performance Test (100%)
The performance exercise will be designed to measure knowledge areas and abilities including, but not limited to the following: knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; knowledge of safety procedures in hazardous conditions; knowledge of nautical terms; knowledge of applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; knowledge of the operation and tactical maneuvering of fireboats during emergency and non-emergency operations; knowledge of the aids and hazards to navigation in the Bay; knowledge of the depths of water in the Bay; knowledge of the characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, the ocean, and inland waters; knowledge of compass errors; knowledge of the use and care of the fireboat navigation system; knowledge of sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting the navigation of vessels in the Bay; knowledge of the principles of supervision and training; ability to effectively operate and maneuver fireboat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; ability to work effectively with others; ability to properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; ability to think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to Department members, members of the public, and personnel from other agencies; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with other employees and the general public; ability to efficiently complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties; ability navigating a fireboat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc.; ability to attach to and tow a vessel in distress; and ability to operate a vessel with draft restrictions. Certification
In accordance with Civil Service Rule 313.3.4, the certification rule to be used for the eligible list will be Rule of Ten. Eligible List
The eligible list resulting from this selection process will be subject to change after adoption. The duration of the eligible list will be two years and may be extended to one additional year with the approval of the Director of Human Resources. Notes
This announcement is issued in accordance with Civil Service Rule 310. Civil Service Rules 310, 311 and 312 relate to Class-Based Testing for the City and County of San Francisco. They specify announcement, application and examination policies and procedures, including applicant appeal rights. These rules can be obtained at https://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules. HOW TO APPLY
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process. Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen. Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses @sfgov.org and @smartrecruiters.com. Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Crystal Cervantes, at Crystal.Cervantes@sfgov.org. The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.
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