Wildfire Meteorologist

Job Posting End Date06-02-2025

Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

WHO WE ARE

The power of AEP comes from our valued team of unique employees….the best in the business! We’re proud to be one of the largest electric energy companies in the U.S., powering over 5 million homes and businesses, spanning across 11 states. We’re passionate about making an innovative difference in the communities we serve. We’re powering the future – today!

The Wildfire Meteorologist at American Electric Power (AEP) provides expert analysis and operational support related to fire weather forecasting and wildfire risk. This role plays a critical part in AEP’s wildfire mitigation strategy by delivering timely and accurate meteorological insights that inform risk modeling, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) decisions, operational readiness, and field response activities. The Wildfire Meteorologist reports directly to the Director of Wildfire Mitigation and works in close coordination with Transmission, Distribution, Emergency Preparedness, and Enterprise Risk teams.

Job Description

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Essential Responsibilities:

• Monitor and interpret fire weather models, forecast data, and satellite imagery to identify emerging wildfire risks across AEP’s service territory.

• Deliver daily and event-driven fire weather briefings to internal stakeholders, including Fire Potential Index (FPI), fire behavior assessments, and meteorological summaries.

• Support PSPS decision-making with weather forecasts, threshold evaluations, and real-time fire weather analysis.

• Contribute to seasonal wildfire outlooks and long-term planning, collaborating with risk modelers and GIS teams to align weather forecasts with wildfire potential.

• Coordinate with federal and state agencies (e.g., National Weather Service, NOAA, USFS) to ensure consistency and accuracy in fire weather messaging.

• Develop and refine fire weather decision support tools and visualization platforms to enhance situational awareness.

• Participate in tabletop exercises, after-action reviews, and incident debriefs to improve forecasting effectiveness and emergency response.

• Provide subject matter expertise for wildfire mitigation plans, operational procedures, and enterprise resilience strategies.

• Educate internal teams on fire weather dynamics, including training sessions and guidance documents.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Meteorology, Fire Science, or Emergency Management and at least 4 years of professional meteorological experience, with a focus on fire weather or emergency operations; OR,

Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Sciences, or a related discipline and 6 years of experience.

In-depth knowledge of fire weather indices (e.g., Haines Index, ERC, Fosberg Index), fuels, and topographic influences on fire behavior.

Experience using tools such as the National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS), WIMS, or other fire modeling platforms.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, especially for technical audiences and executive leadership.

Ability to work under pressure during high-impact weather and wildfire events.

Proficiency in interpreting numerical weather prediction models and remote sensing data.

Preferred Qualifications:

• AMS or NWA certification.

• Prior experience supporting electric utility operations or wildfire mitigation programs.

• Familiarity with PSPS programs, wildfire risk modeling, and regulatory wildfire compliance frameworks.

• GIS and data visualization experience (ArcGIS, QGIS, Power BI, etc.).

Work Environment and Requirements:

• This role may require non-standard work hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and on-call support during high-risk wildfire periods.

• Occasional travel and fieldwork in fire-prone areas, including utility rights-of-way.

• Must comply with AEP’s safety and operational protocols, including wildfire and emergency response standards.

American Electric Power is committed to protecting the communities we serve. The Wildfire Meteorologist plays a vital role in ensuring the safety, reliability, and preparedness of our grid against growing wildfire threats.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

INITIAL POSITION FUNDING / BASE SALARY RANGE: approximately ($97,000 - $124,000/year). In addition to base salary, AEP offers competitive Total Rewards including: discretionary annual incentive, 401(k), pension, health insurance, vacation, educational assistance, etc.

#AEPCareers #LI-ONSITE

Compensation Data

Compensation Grade:

SP20-008

Compensation Range:

$96,110.00-124,940.00 USD

The Physical Demand Level for this job is: S – Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Hear about it first! Get job alerts by email. Log in to your Candidate Home Account today! If you don't have an account, you can create one.It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

R8833