Wilmington Fire Department — Wilmington, NC
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Wilmington Fire Department in Wilmington, North Carolina is hiring for Fire Engineer. The posted pay is $23–$36 an hour (about $47,840–$74,880 a year at full time). Applications close November 1, 2026 — 13 days from now. Stated requirements: EMT certification (at application); Firefighter I/II (at application); Hazmat certification (at application); CDL / Class B license (within 6 months of hire); High school / GED (required).
Among 72 current North Carolina postings on Driftsmoke with a listed salary, this top-of-range pay is higher than 76% of them; the median among them is $60,894/yr.
Wilmington Fire Department is a career department with 10 stations. Operational crews work a 24-hour shifts. ISO rating Class 1.
An internationally accredited, ISO Class 1 fire department serving coastal Wilmington, with specialized marine/dive, hazmat, and water rescue capabilities and a paid six-month recruit academy.
Wilmington Fire Department has 1 other current opening on Driftsmoke. Department page, openings and history →
Summary by Driftsmoke from the official bulletin and department records; the full posting follows below.
| EMT certification | At application |
| Firefighter I/II | At application |
| Hazmat certification | At application |
| CDL / Class B license | Within 6 months of hire |
| High school / GED | Required |
**The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ** ## Position Description The Wilmington Fire Department is hiring Fire Engineers!
The purpose of this position is to protect life and property of the citizens of Wilmington. Serves as second in command to the Company Officer; implementing, directing, and conducting tasks at emergency scenes and the fire station. May assume the lead in the absence of the Company Officer and carry out supervisory responsibilities; maintaining documents; and maintaining training and knowledge of firefighting principles and practices. Also, provides for the safe response of the firefighting apparatus and personnel to fire and EMS alarms. May temporarily assume the role of incident commander (Safety Officer, RIT Member, or Accountability Officer) at emergency scenes. Performs all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary at the discretion of the Battalion Chief.
**Application Procedure: ** To be considered for this excellent opportunity, applicants must submit a completed online employment application, the Career Plan Report, Supplemental Questionnaire and upload all required documents by posting deadline.
External Candidates must : - Upload certification/proof of EACH required qualification - Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Certification numbers will not be accepted in lieu of uploaded documents. Internal candidates must also :
**All communications regarding the selection process will be via email. ** Applicants are encouraged to frequently check their e-mails after the closing of the post to obtain any correspondence associated with this recruitment. If selected to move forward, applicants will receive their scheduled date and time for testing and interview, and all supporting information that may be needed. Please be sure the email provided on this application is always current; it is your responsibility to update your personal information. Update your Spam, Junk, Bulk and Firewall settings as needed to ensure that you receive all information pertaining to this recruitment. Missing an email will not be an accepted justification for missed assessments.
Selection Components
Career Plan Report The Career Plan Report shall be a document that details the candidate's professional growth. The document will describe the candidate's Experience, Formal Education, Professional Development, and Organizational Commitment. The assessment must be completed in accordance with the specific guidelines included in Section 8 of the Promotion Process Engineer/ Lieutenant/ Captain/ Battalion Chief/ Assistant Chief (210). Assessment documentation will be supplied to candidates at required WFD Candidate School sessions outlined below.
WFD Candidate School I All candidates submitting an application must attend one of the virtual sessions below in order to meet this requirement for qualification. Participant attendance will be taken at beginning of the meeting.
Process PhaseTitleScoringPhase I By closing date Nov 1Career Plan Report Top 20 candidate scores move forwardPhase II ** Tentative Nov 16-17 ** ** Fire Problem 35% of final score*Phase III ** *Tentative Nov 16-17 ** *Interview25% of final scorePhase IV ** *Tentative Nov 23-24Pumping Practical40% of final score
*Phases II-IV require candidates to have a passing score of 70% or higher to move forward *
Final List
The cumulative scores obtained in phases II-IV of the process with determine the final ranking of the candidates. A candidate that scores less than 70% at any phase, or overall, will not be eligible for the final list. This selection process will produce a certified roster in rank order. When a vacancy occurs the Fire Chief will select the top candidate on the certified list unless a written disciplinary action has been taken or poor performance has been documented as per the Promotional Procedures for Engineer. In the event of a tie after the final score, promotion will be determined by the final score provided on the Career Plan Report. The eligibility roster generated by this promotional process will expire 1 calendar year from the certification date.
For external candidates selected for hire, the anticipated Engineer orientation date will be February 8, 2027. ** ## Typical Tasks - Serves as second in command to Company Officer by implementing, directing, and conducting tasks at emergency scenes and the fire station, may assume the lead in absence of the Company Officer. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies, tactical guidelines and applicable laws. - Assists Company Officer in preparing reports as required, demonstrating general knowledge of forms used and ability to complete forms in timely and accurate manner. - Drives, maintains, spots, and operates fire apparatus. Secures a water supply and enhances the execution of the safety and operational need on emergency scenes. - Participates in continuous professional and personal development by attending training in areas such as fire ground operations, EMT, search and rescue, driver/operator training, NIMS, physical fitness, hazmat operations, water rescue, car seat technician, SCBA technician, and fire boat operations. - Performs operational support and administrative duties by facilitating fire prevention education, fire truck displays, station tours, installing smoke detectors, performing duties as a car seat technician and assisting the public in emergency and non-emergency situations. - Assist Company Officer with planning, organizing, conducting and documenting training activities and/or maintaining training hours, and keeping current with materials, instruction of co-workers, and documentation. - Acts as Team Leader for routine station duties, tasks or other functions, including but not limited to housekeeping and grounds maintenance, equipment checks and station/equipment maintenance. - Will perform all other duties as assigned and/or as necessary. ## Qualifications All Applicants Must Possess:**
Additional Information:
Failure to meet certification requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Internal candidates:
A driving history and a criminal history check will be performed on all internal candidates who are placed on the certified roster for promotion.
External candidates: ** The next steps are only for those candidates given a conditional offer of employment after the process has completed:**
Required documentation submitted to HR
Copy of a High School Diploma, High School Transcript or GED Certificate. Note: Copy of a College Diploma and/or official or unofficial transcript may be attached in lieu of High School Diploma and/or HS Transcripts. Continuing education credits are not accepted
Driving History Check, Personal and Professional Reference Checks, *Fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check
*This position has been identified to interact with children and must comply with NC G.S. 153A-94.2(b) requires an applicant for employment that "works with children in any capacity, must require the applicant, if offered the position, to be subject to a criminal history record check conducted by the SBI.” These checks must be conducted in accordance with G.S. 143B-1209.26(Download PDF reader), the statute which authorizes the SBI to provide a fingerprint-based state and national criminal record check to cities and counties.
Post-offer Pre-Employment Physical, Stress Test and Drug Screen
Our Core Values: _ _
INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY
Our Mission Statement: _ _ Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.
What we offer:
The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
Free on-site city gym access
Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
6-weeks paid parental leave
Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
Tuition assistance benefits
Applicant Status Updates: ** After the closing date for this position, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred over to the hiring department. All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal. **
Benefits are offered to employees working at least 30 hours per week.
** **
Health Insurance ** - The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage. Dental Insurance ** - Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Employees, their spouse and dependent children are eligible for coverage.
**Life Insurance ** - The city pays to provide coverage valued at one times your annual salary. Supplemental insurance is available for employees to purchase. Optional coverage for dependents is also available for purchase.
Retirement: ** - NC Local Government Retirement System - All benefits eligible employees make a mandatory 6% contribution every pay period. - Deferred Compensation – ** For all employees, the city contributes 4.5% of salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution and the City contributes an additional 3% of salary to the 457 plan for Public Safety Fire employees. In addition, the City offers to match an employee contribution dollar for dollar up to 3% of the annual salary for Public Safety Fire employees to the 457 plan. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.
- Social Security benefits – ** calculated under Windfall Elimination Provision**
Paid Leave: ** ** - Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year
** - Annual Leave - ** Accrual based on years of service and classification. Employees can earn from 10 to 24 days each year. - Holidays - ** 13 paid holidays annually - Paid Parental Leave - ** Six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child.
Miscellaneous: - Tuition reimbursement up to $1500 annually - Employee Assistance Program - Bereavement Leave- School Support Leave
Short & Long Term Disability
Cancer & Critical Illness
Note: The City of Wilmington is on a bi-weekly pay cycle. New employees should expect to receive their first paycheck approximately 4 weeks after their start date.
This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.