Career Opportunity

Marine Engineer of Fire Boats - Fire Department (H110)

Recruitment: REF57314A

Published: October 17, 2025

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

• 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: H110-Marine Engineer of Fire Boats

Company Description

Application Opening – October 17, 2025
Application Deadline – October 31, 2025

Compensation Range: $201,578.00 Yearly
Recruitment ID: C00358

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.

Role description

Under general supervision, maintains the fireboat’s mechanical and electrical systems in condition of general readiness; takes charge of the vessel’s engine room while enroute and during emergency situations; maintains 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 duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

An H110 Marine Engineer of Fireboats is distinguished from H120 Pilot of Fireboats in that the H110 is responsible for mechanical and electrical systems and the engine room of the fire boat, and the H120 is responsible for piloting and navigating the fire boat.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises the engine room crew.

Major, Important, and Essential Duties

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Maintains the fire boat’s mechanical and electrical equipment in condition of general readiness during an assigned shift.

2. Provides working supervision over engine room crew while docked, on standby, enroute, and during emergency conditions.

3. Plans and supervises the work of subordinate engine room personnel; assists with maintenance of the fire boat; overhauls and repairs the main engines, auxiliaries, pumps, electric motors, and related equipment; maintains engineering spaces in clean and orderly condition.

4. Performs intermediate to advanced level metal fabrication, welding and machine work repairs and improvements related to steel and aluminum vessels and vessel components including other materials such as stainless-steel, cast iron, cast aluminum, bronze etc...

5. Assumes lead role in all aspects of drydocking Fire Department vessels. These duties include conceptualizing vessel specific improvement and repair projects as well as planning, designing, execution and oversight of all shipyard projects in conjunction with all levels of shipyard personnel. Additionally, responsible for ensuring a high level of work quality and craftsmanship of multiple projects being completed simultaneously with an emphasis on job site cleanliness and vessel pride.

6. Inspects and maintains the fire boat equipment in operational order.

7. Participates in fire suppression duties as necessary and practicable.

8. Takes effective damage control measures to save personnel and equipment on board in case of casualty or emergency caused by collision, grounding, foundering, explosion, or fire.

9. Participates in cleaning, scaling and painting duties; performs minor repairs and alterations to topside areas, holds, firefighting and deck equipment.

10. Maintains up-to-date engine room log books and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.

11. Stands regular watches at the fire station and performs general station maintenance duties while docked.

12. Completes all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in performance of duties [e.g., journal entries, maintenance logs, etc.].

13. Ensures all personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards.

14. Instructs crew members in proper fire boat maintenance and operations procedures, and in routine and emergency duties.

15. Conducts authorized and scheduled citizen fire boat tours.

How to qualify

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

This selection process is open to individuals meeting at least all of the minimum qualifications listed below at the time of application filing. 

1. A high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (e.g., G.E.D., California High School Proficiency Certificate)
2. Possession and maintenance of a current valid Designated Duty Engineer license issued by the United States Coast Guard for a diesel-powered vessel of 4000 shaft horsepower or greater. Equivalent USCG engineer licenses may also qualify.
3. One year of experience [2080 hours] in the last two years as a Marine Engineer on a diesel-powered vessel or relevant supervisory role in the maritime industry such as Port Engineer.

Desirable Qualifications

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

1. Experience related to the preparation of vessels for drydock operations and the supervision of drydock operations
2. Experience in the maritime industry working dockside or mobile in the capacity of Port Engineer, Marine Mechanic, Marine Diesel Technician, skilled shipyard personnel or another relevant field.
3. Experience with welding, metal fabrication and machine work(machinist).

A completed application must be submitted by the final filing date. Applicants are encouraged to file immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but no earlier than October 31, 2025. The supplemental questionnaire consists of documenting specific experience related to serving as a Marine Engineer on a diesel-powered vessel.

Failure to submit the completed application materials (including a copy of the DDE license) by the final filing date will result in disqualification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of:  theory and operation of marine diesel engines used in fireboats; installed auxiliary equipment such as piping, pumps, and compressors; installed fire equipment and basic laws of hydraulics and mechanics involved in the operation of the equipment; fuels and lubricants; operation and maintenance of marine electrical motors, generators, control systems, and other components; safety procedures in hazardous conditions; seamanship; nautical terms; maintenance requirements of fire boats and related equipment; Fire Department communications system related to fire boat operations; 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:  plan, supervise, and participate in major or minor repair and maintenance overhaul of machinery, systems, and equipment; supervise and train engine room personnel; establish and maintain effective relationships with employees and the general public; effectively perform required physical aspects of the job; 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 Department members, members of the public, and representatives of other agencies; complete and maintain necessary records, reports, correspondence, and documentation as required

License or Certificate

1. Possession of a current valid Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) license issued by the United States Coast Guard for a diesel-powered vessel of at least 4000 shaft horse power.

2. Pass federally mandated random drug screening.

VERIFICATION:

A copy of the current valid Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) license issued by the United States Coast Guard for a diesel-powered vessel of at least 4000 shaft horse power must be received by the Public Safety Team, Department of Human Resources, 1 South Van Ness, 4th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103 by the final filing date.

The verification may be submitted via attachment to the application or email [dhr-publicsafety@sfgov.org]. 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

Note: 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 advanced 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 the theory and operation of marine diesel engines, particularly of the type used in fireboats; knowledge of all installed auxiliary equipment such as piping, pumps, and compressors; knowledge of installed fire equipment and the basic laws of hydraulics and mechanics involved in its operation; knowledge of fuels and lubricants; knowledge of the operation and maintenance of marine electrical motors, generators, control systems, and other components; knowledge of safety procedures in hazardous conditions; knowledge of maintenance requirements of fireboats and related equipment; ability to plan, supervise, and participate in major and minor repair and maintenance overhaul of all installed machinery, systems, and equipment; ability to effectively perform the physical aspects of the job; 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; and ability to efficiently complete and maintain all necessary records, reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties. 

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 test is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this selection process will be two years and may be extended to one additional year with the approval of the Director of Human Resources.

Notes

1. 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.

What else should I know?

Terms of Announcement:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at www.jobaps.com/sf.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 310.3, provided that such appeal is submitted in writing in the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Go to http://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules for more information on applicable appeal rights and submission requirements under the Civil Service Rules; and for Civil Service Rules, policies and procedures on announcements, applications and examinations.

All test procedures are subject to the Civil Service Commission Rules, Volume III, Uniformed Ranks of the San Francisco Fire Department and are available at http://sfgov.org/civilservice/rules and the policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resources.

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

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, therefore, 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 (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), 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.