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Job Description
Definition
**THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR CURRENT CITY OF MILPITAS EMPLOYEES ONLY**
The Fire Engineer operates and maintain a variety of fire apparatus and firefighting equipment, participates in firefighting activities, fire prevention inspections and training, to perform mechanical maintenance on vehicles, equipment, and apparatus.
Annual Salary:
Fire Engineer/EMT: $140,331.88 - $170,574.82
Fire Engineer/Paramedic: $157,172.08 - $191,044.36
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from a Fire Captain. Exercises technical supervision over other professional firefighters with respect to the operation and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, and apparatus
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment:
Ability to work a 24-hour shift and is subject to emergency response at any time. Employees may be required to perform any emergency response tasks, at any time during the 24-hour shift, for an unspecified period of time. Ability to perform job Inside 25% and Outside 75%.
Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:- Drive assigned apparatus to alarms, stage and spot apparatus at the proper location for maximum utilization and efficiency and competently operate and maintain fire apparatus and equipment.
- Operate and oversee the use of numerous types of vehicles, equipment, tools, and apparatus.
- Lay hose lines, obtain water supply, operate pumping, hydraulic, and other mechanical systems/equipment.
- Inspect vehicles, equipment, and apparatus; perform cleaning, maintenance and minor repair work; identify the need for major repairs, perform daily, weekly, and annual performance checks and tests.
- Assist with training personnel in the operation and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, and apparatus.
- Respond to emergency calls to protect life and property; fight fires, provide medical assistance, and perform rescue operations, and perform salvage and overhaul.
- Participate in fire inspections and other fire prevention activities.
- Provide and support ALS/BLS care on medical emergencies.
- Participate in drills and other training activities.
- Serve as Fire Officer in his absence.
- Participate in station maintenance and repair work.
- Prepare reports with respect to work operations.
- Operate radio equipment.
- Perform supplemental tasks related to community service programs such as conducting public fire education tours, issuing bicycle licenses, blood pressure screening, and voter registration.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
Experience:- Three (3) years of paid full-time experience as a Firefighter in the City of Milpitas or above (employment as a Firefighter with a municipal agency may be utilized to fulfill up to one year of this requirement)
- Successful completion of the MFD Acting Engineer Program
Education:- Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by the following three courses satisfactorily completed at an accredited community college, accredited EMS education provider, or through the California Fire Service Training and Education System:
License or Certificate:- Possession of and ability to maintain an appropriate valid California Class B or C Driver's License and a Firefighter Endorsement per California Vehicle Code Section 12804.11 requirement effective January 1, 2011.
- Possession of a valid EMT-1 or EMT-P certification and accreditation, and maintenance of said certification thereafter.
- Successful completion of the Milpitas Fire Department Acting Engineer Program.
Knowledge of:- Principles, practices, and procedures of modern firefighting and protection of lives and property.
- Principles of mechanics, hydraulics, and mathematics as related to Fire Engineer duties.
- EMT-1/EMP-P scope of practice, standards, techniques and other basic or advanced medical assistance techniques.
- Purposes and uses of a variety of vehicles, equipment, tools, and apparatus used in firefighting, rescue, and medical assistance operations. Defensive driving techniques.
- Street numbering sequences, topography, water supply, locations of fire department connections at protected properties, target hazards, and general building construction characteristics within assigned district.
- Departmental training material and standard operating procedures.
- Federal, State, and city rules and regulations governing motor vehicles, safety, and fire prevention.
Ability to:- Demonstrate physical endurance, agility, strength, and stamina in the performance of hazardous tasks under emergency conditions.
- Demonstrate a high degree of mechanical aptitude.
- Effectively and safely drive and operate the full range of fire apparatus and equipment used by the department.
- Perform field calculations of hydraulics for the proper and effective operations of equipment at emergency scenes.
- Think and act quickly in emergencies.
- Understand and follow oral and written directions promptly and accurately.
- Deal courteously and effectively with the general public.
- Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Meet professional performance objectives.
Supplemental Information
SELECTION PROCESS
Applicants must be current City of Milpitas employees. Meeting the required qualifications will be invited to an examination process that will consist of a written exam (pass/fail) - 70% has been identified as the passing score and a practical Assessment Center exam. Candidates must successfully pass the Written Examination to progress to the Practical Exam.
The Practical Examination may be scheduled over two or three days to accommodate candidate groups of 7 or greater. Each manipulative exercise in the Practical Examination will be scored individually and carry equal weight. An aggregate score will be calculated from the total of all exercises. Scoring criteria for each exercise may carry a critical failure point that would constitute failure of that exercise. These critical failure points are aligned with safety trigger points, time standards, and/or inability to complete an evolution. All manipulative exercises must be completed successfully.
Candidates passing all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligibility list in order based upon the aggregate score of the Practical Examination (75%) and the final score of the written examination (25%). The Fire Chief will conduct a one-on-one interview with the highest scoring candidates based upon the eligibility list.
The Fire Chief will invite the highest-scoring candidates to interview as follows: one vacancy = top two candidates, two vacancies = top three candidates, etc. This interview will factor into final appointments for Fire Engineer from the Fire Chief's office. All candidates will be advised of their status once a finalist has been selected final scoring has been identified by the Practical Examination scoring process.
Written Exam Date: Week of March 16, 2026 (Tentative)
Practical Exam Date: Week of April 19, 2026 (Tentative)
2026 Milpitas Fire Engineer Reading List:
The following materials will serve as information sources for the multiple-choice written exam component of the 2026 Fire Engineer promotional examination. They are not intended to be all-inclusive nor a guarantee of success.
Hydraulic problems, based on Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver / Operator Handbook. IFSTA, 3rd Edition (2015)
Pumping and Aerial Apparatus Driver / Operator Handbook. IFSTA, 3rd Edition (2015)
Essentials of Firefighting. IFSTA, 7th Edition (2019)
Questions? Contact our recruitment team at HRRecruitment@milpitas.gov
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Milpitas will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Human Resources Department.
The City of Milpitas is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
City of Milpitas Benefits Page: Benefits | Milpitas, CA
*For Fire Department benefits, visit: Benefits Overview
Closing Date/Time: 2/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Milpitas
Show moreLocated at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay, the City of Milpitas is a progressive community that is an integral part of the high tech Silicon Valley. With a very diversified resident population of nearly 80,000, the City of Milpitas sees the
role of every employee as being committed to accomplishing the community’s vision by providing fiscally sound, superior services.
Milpitas is the 8th fastest growing city in the United States according to the US Census Bureau and the 2nd fastest growing in California. We are home to an industrious and well educated community with an average household income
exceeding the County average. The homeownership rate is close to 70% and Milpitas’ housing market remains affordable relative to the majority of Santa Clara County.
Milpitas is often called the “Crossroads of Silicon Valley” with most of its 13.63 square miles of land situated between two major freeways (I-880 and I-680), State Route 237, and a County expressway. With existing light rail and a recently opened
BART extension, the transit hub adjacent to the Great Mall facilitated high density transit oriented development with over 1,000 units being built. There are approximately 1,790 acres, or 2.9 square miles designated for various industrial uses.
There are eight existing industrial parks and 550 manufacturing plants in Milpitas. The City provides a multitude of outstanding recreational opportunities, including aquatics, cultural arts and theater, sports leagues and activities, youth programming and senior activities and services.
The City of Milpitas is a full service City with water utility, sewer utility, police and fire services. The City Council makes the ultimate planning and policy decisions for residents, and oversees the City’s almost $192 million budget with 439 full-time
employees. There are 14 advisory commissions on which residents can participate –the Planning Commission, Arts Commission, Youth Advisory Commission, Library Advisory Commission and Senior Advisory Commission to name a few. Issues challenging the City and Commissions include development, quality of life, and
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