Fire Department · Career
City Of Sunnyvale Department Of Public Safety - Fire Division
Sunnyvale, CA · Santa Clara County
One of the largest and longest-running fully integrated (combined police-fire-EMS) public safety departments in the United States.
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Department careers page ↗The City of Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) traces its roots to June 1950, when the city merged its police department and volunteer fire department into a single, fully integrated public safety agency — one of the longest-running combined police-fire-EMS departments in the country. The department celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2025 and today employs roughly 293 sworn and non-sworn personnel under Chief Daniel Pistor.
Rather than hiring separately for police and fire roles, Sunnyvale DPS cross-trains every Public Safety Officer as a police officer, firefighter, and EMT, and officers move between the Police and Fire divisions over the course of a career, choosing division and shift by seniority during annual shift bids. Fire-side assignments run a 24-hour Kelly schedule, while patrol and office units work 4/11 and 4/10 rotations respectively.
New hires go through three back-to-back, fully paid academies — police, fire, and EMT — before reporting to their first assignment, so firefighting, hazmat, rescue, and paramedic-level EMS response are all part of the standard Public Safety Officer skill set at Sunnyvale rather than a separate career track.
MissionSaving lives, protecting property, and preserving the environment.
Sunnyvale DPS hires Public Safety Officers (trainee and lateral) and Public Safety Dispatchers rather than firefighters alone, since every officer is cross-trained in police, fire, and EMS work. The city pays recruits a full salary and covers academy tuition, uniforms, and equipment throughout the roughly 3-6 month hiring process and the subsequent three-academy training pipeline.
Requirements
- At least 21 years old at time of appointment
- Associate's degree or 60 semester (90 quarter) units from an accredited college, or equivalent
- Valid California Class C driver's license with a safe driving record
- U.S. work authorization and no disqualifying felony convictions
- Pass POST Pellet B written exam and a physical agility test (6-ft wall/fence climb, 99-yard obstacle course, 32-ft body drag, 500-yard sprint, 1.5-mile run)
- Pass extensive background investigation, polygraph, medical exam, and psychological exam
- Willingness to carry firearms and work irregular hours, weekends, holidays, and overtime
Hiring process
- Written test and physical agility test
- Application and oral board interview
- Background investigation and polygraph examination
- Chief's/command staff interview
- Conditional job offer
- Medical and psychological exams
- Final job offer
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage; CalPERS retirement (2.7%@57 for entry-level, 3%@55 for laterals); city-paid life insurance ($175,000); paid academy salary, uniforms, and equipment; floating holiday and in-lieu holiday pay; deferred compensation; education incentive pay for bachelor's/master's degrees; bilingual and special-assignment pay; boot allowance and tuition reimbursement.
Recruits complete three back-to-back, fully paid academies: a 28-week police academy, an 18-week fire academy (wildland/structure firefighting, hazmat, rope rescue, auto extrication, live fire), and an 8-week EMT academy — with salary, uniforms, and equipment covered by the department throughout.
How do I become a firefighter with the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety?
Sunnyvale doesn't hire firefighters as a separate track — you apply as a Public Safety Officer Trainee, complete a written test, physical agility test, interviews, and a background investigation, and then attend three fully paid academies (police, fire, and EMT) before serving as a cross-trained police officer, firefighter, and EMT.
What are the requirements to apply?
Candidates must be at least 21 at appointment, hold an associate's degree or 60 semester units (or equivalent), have a valid California Class C license, pass the POST Pellet B written test and a physical agility test, and clear a background investigation, polygraph, medical exam, and psychological exam.
Does Sunnyvale DPS accept lateral hires?
Yes. Lateral Public Safety Officer candidates with a current POST Basic Certificate and completed academy training can apply directly, going through the same four-phase process before advancing to Public Safety Officer II.
Do I have to work in the Police division to work in the Fire division?
Yes. All Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers cross-train as police officers, firefighters, and EMTs, then choose their division (Police or Fire) and shift by seniority during annual shift bids.
Is Sunnyvale DPS currently hiring?
Yes, the department is actively accepting applications for Public Safety Officer Trainee, Lateral Officer, and Public Safety Dispatcher positions through its recruitment site.