Fire Apparatus Engineer Academy 44 and 45 Instructor / Assistant Coordinator

Location : Headquarters - 1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine, CA 92602, CA
Job Type: PROVISIONAL
Job Number: 2026-89-JK
Department: TRAINING
Opening Date: 10/21/2026
Closing Date: 11/5/2026 12:00 PM Pacific

DESCRIPTION
This Operations Training and Promotions Division recruitment is an Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) internal recruitment. ONLY applications from current, OCFA Fire Captains and non-probationary Fire Apparatus Engineers will be accepted. This recruitment will be used to fill Academy Assistant Coordinator and Academy Instructor vacancies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Operations Training and Promotions is now recruiting a Fire Apparatus Engineer (FAE) Academy 44 and 45 Instructor Staff for the upcoming FAE Academies. This position requires a nineteen (19) week forty-hour work week schedule (4/10 Monday through Thursday). The FAE Academy 44 and 45 Instructor Staff are eligible for Staff Assignment Pay (SAP) and Staff Incentive Pay (SIP). Please refer to the (Article XXIV, Section 2,(I), Page 105) for additional information.
The FAE Academy Assistant Coordinator and Instructor Staff commitment begins December 25, 2026 and concludes on May 16, 2027 (based on departmental need). The first day of Academy 44 begins January 11, 2027 and concludes on March 4, 2027. Academy 45 will begin March 11, 2027 and conclude on May 13, 2027. The promotions section currently has two academies scheduled for 2027. The instructor needs for each academy will be based on the number of students in the academy.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• OCFA Fire Captain or non-probationary Fire Apparatus Engineer

HIGHLY DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Instructor 1A and 1B or Instructor 1 or equivalent
• Prior experience as a FAE Academy Coordinator or Assistant FAE Academy Coordinator
• Computer skills with proficiency using Microsoft Office
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively
• Strong written communications skills
• No long-term vacations during the academy

If you are interested in being considered for this ambitious and rewarding assignment, please submit a memo of interest and a brief resumé (one-page maximum) outlining your experience, education, and relevant background.
Should you have further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Battalion Chief Levi Medina.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

To apply, visit Interested personnel are to submit the following:

• Online application
• Memo of interest
• Resumé (one page maximum)
• Inclusion of related certificates or training or related professional qualifications is also encouraged

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

• Recruitment Opens: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
• Recruitment Closes: Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon
• Oral Interviews: Week of November 30, 2026
• Selections Announced: Week of December 7, 2026
• Commitment begins: December 25, 2026

Please note, all dates are subject to change based on organizational need. Should a change occur, Human Resources will notify all affected candidates via email.
CANDIDATE POOL LIST

Placement on the candidate pool list will be established based on successful completion of all recruitment process components. The candidate pool list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all names on the list are exhausted. The candidate pool list may be extended or abolished at the discretion of the Assistant Chief of Human Resources.

**Please note, eligible candidates may participate as a Cadre member for multiple academies depending on the number of academies held while the candidate pool list is in effect.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH NEOGOV

Please contact the assigned recruiter, Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst II at or (714) 573-6828.
WITHDRAWING FROM RECRUITMENT PROCESS

If you choose to withdraw from this recruitment process, you are required to submit an email notification to the assigned recruiter, Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst II at requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include your current phone number.
NOTE
The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.

Please note: This summary reflects the benefits for shift employees assigned to a 56-hour average duty week. For benefits information related to staff assignments (40-hour workweek), please refer to the

Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (OCPFA) Local 3631: This classification is represented by the OCPFA Local 3631. Please visit for more information.

Merit Salary Increases
Employees are eligible for an initial merit salary increase (1 to 4 steps) on the first day of the pay period following completion of fifty-two (52) weeks of service, and thereafter annually based on their work performance and until they reach the top of their 12-step salary range.

Health Benefits
Pursuant to a Health Plan Agreement, the Authority contributes to the OCPFA medical benefit trust fund for health insurance and other related benefits. Brown Insurance Services (BIS) is the administrator for these benefits. The current contribution to the medical benefit trust fund will continue through 3/1/2028 in the amount of $2,199.49/month for "actively employed" enrollee members of the unit.

Retirement
All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.

Legacy Safety Members: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 3% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan R). Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits.

New Safety Members: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.7% at age 57 retirement formula (Plan V). Please visit OCERS to view compensation and benefit limits.

For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit , or view the Retirement Plan
Deferred Compensation
Employees may voluntarily participate in the Authority's deferred compensation plan. This plan is provided by Nationwide Retirement Services and allows for pre- and post-tax deferrals. This plan is 100% employee funded.

Retiree Medical Savings Plan
Employees participate in an employer sponsored retirement Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with a contribution of 3.0% of base salary. Firefighter Trainees and Handcrew Firefighters do not participate in this benefit.

OCPFA Supplemental Retiree Medical Plan
Employees contribute 1.0% of their base salary towards the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (OCPFA) Supplemental Retiree Medical Plan Trust Fund.

Social Security
Orange County Fire Authority employees are not covered under the provisions of Federal Social Security (OASDI); therefore, they are not required to contribute 6.2% of salary towards Social Security.

Medicare
Employees contribute 1.45% to Medicare. Employees whose wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year shall contribute an additional 0.9%.

Educational Incentive Pay
Employees with college-level semester units or a bachelor's degree are eligible for educational incentive pay as follows:

• 60+ college-level semester units - 2.5% of base salary per month; or
• 90+ college-level semester units - 5% of base salary per month; or
• Baccalaureate Degree - 7.5% of base salary per month

The maximum educational incentive pay an employee shall receive is 7.5% of base salary. To receive educational incentive pay, the employee must submit a written request to receive the educational incentive pay and submit satisfactory proof of qualification (for example, grade cards, transcripts, and/or other verification from an accredited, college-level educational institution). Employees must provide official transcripts for verification.

Hand Crew Firefighters are not eligible for educational incentive Pay.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Pay
Employees (other than Firefighter Trainees) who maintain an active State of California EMT certification will receive, in addition to their regular salary, seven (9%) percent of each employee's base salary per month, prorated on an hourly basis for regular hours paid.

Other Specialty Pays
Employees who move into special assignments at OCFA, or who possess specialized skills, may be eligible for other specialty pays. Please refer to the OCPFA MOU and Side Letter Agreements for further details.

Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement is $2,000 per fiscal year to cover certain expenses associated with academic pursuits.

Holidays
Employees in the Firefighters Unit observe 13 holidays within the calendar year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
• Lincoln's Birthday
• President's Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas Day

Shift employees receive 11.2 hours holiday pay of which 0.7 hours is designated to a Union Time Bank for Union release time.

Vacation
Vacation accrual is based on hours of completed continuous service (regular hours) exclusive of overtime. For shift employees:

• After 1 year but less than 3 years: Approx 112 hours per year;
• After 3 years but less than 10 years: Approx 168 hours per year;
• After 10 years: Approx 224 hours per year.

Sick Leave
Sick leave is is based on hours of completed continuous service (regular hours) exclusive of overtime. For shift employees:

• Date of employment but less than 3 years: Approx 101 hours per year;
• After 3 years: Approx 144 hours per year.

Uniforms
The Authority provides uniforms to employees.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
The OCFA offers regular, limited-term, and probationary employees both a Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars into an account that can be used throughout the year on qualified medical or dependent care expenses. Participants pay fewer taxes and take home more money. For 2022, the maximum employee contribution is $2,750 for eligible medical expenses. The maximum employee contribution is $5,000 for eligible dependent care expenses.

WEFIT Program
The WEFIT Program is mandatory/non-punitive. The OCFA shall provide all five (5) of the following aspects of the WEFIT Program:

• Medical
• Fitness
• Medical/Fitness/Injury Rehabilitation
• Behavioral Health
• Data Collection and Reporting

Pet Discount Program
OCFA has partnered with United Pet Care to offer a pet healthcare program. This program helps employees reduce the cost of escalating veterinary bills at an affordable rate. All pets are eligible regardless of their age or medical condition.

Benevolent Association
Employees have the option to join OCFA's Benevolent Association which was created to "Take Care of Their Own." Included in your $8.00 per pay period cost is $10,000 Member Death Benefit, $4,000 Dependent Death Benefit, $30,000 Annual Scholarships for Members and Dependents, Hardship Grants/Loans, Annual Picnic for Members, Holiday Ball, and Retiree Tribute. In addition, Discount Offers- Recreation/Amusement Parks, fitness 19 and 24-Hour Fitness gym membership, discount movie tickets, Angels Baseball game with tailgate party, etc. Membership also allows access to very good supplemental insurances of many types, including, Long Term Disability, Long Term Care, various AFLAC (ICU, Cancer, Accident Injury, CSFA membership, Living Trusts and more. The Family Auxiliary and KIDS Fund (provides monetary assistance only to kids of members), both operate under the Benevolent Association.
Updated 07/2026
This benefit summary is intended to provide an easy way for current and prospective employees to access fringe benefit information, including voluntary options. This summary is intended to be accurate, but it is not an official plan document, and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contract, or otherwise, and does not alter or amend any provision of the Memoranda of Understanding, Personnel and Salary Resolution, retirement contract, insurance policy contract, or any other official document of the Orange County Fire Authority, including Standard Operating Procedures and General Orders. All insurance benefits described in the summary are subject to the terms and limitations of the Orange County Fire Authority's insurance contracts with individual insurance providers. Should you have any questions pertaining to information in this summary, please contact the Human Resources Department at (714) 573-6800.
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