Spatial Wildfire Analyst

Vibrant Planet

Spatial Wildfire Analyst developing and improving wildfire modeling and analytics at Vibrant Planet. Collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver key fire behavior models and analyses.

Posted 7/20/2026full-timeRemote • Montana • 🇺🇸 United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $100,000 - $130,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in fire behavior modeling, spatial data analysis, and the development of modeling frameworks. Proficient in utilizing GIS software and Python geospatial libraries to enhance fire modeling processes and support wildfire management decisions.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Fire Behavior Modeling SystemsSpatial Data AnalysisGIS Software ProficiencyPython Geospatial LibrariesWildfire Sciences Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Fire Modeling CalibrationSpatial Data Framework DevelopmentData Quality AssuranceCustom Analyses of Vector and Raster DataParameterizing Wildfire Behavior ModelsProducing Spatial Fire Modeling OutputsEditing Scripts for Spatial AnalysisUnderstanding Fire Behavior InputsProcessing Remote Sensing DatasetsRisk-Based Decision Making

Soft Skills

Attention to DetailTeam CollaborationQuick LearnerOral CommunicationWritten Communication

Tools & Technologies

ArcMapArcGISQGISFSProFARSITEFSimFlamMapGeoPandasRasterioGDAL

Industry Keywords

Wildfire ManagementEcological Forest ManagementLANDFIREWildland Fire Decision Support SystemRemote SensingIncident ManagementFuels ManagementFire ResearchVegetation DatasetsFire Behavior Characteristics

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonRemote Sensing

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Improve fire modeling calibration and validation and potentially develop new fuel and fire modeling approaches
Contribute to further development of fire behavior modeling automation
Perform spatial and temporal data analysis across large landscapes
Develop and implement spatial data and modeling frameworks
Develop and adhere to data standards
Incorporate data quality assurance and quality control into all work products
Document methodology and contribute to reports, presentations and other publications
Contribute to proposal development for new business opportunities

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience designing and performing custom analyses of vector and raster results of inputs and outputs of a wide range of fire modeling systems
Experience parameterizing, operating and interpreting incident-level wildfire behavior modeling systems such as FSPro, FARSITE, and their equivalents
Proficient at using commercial or open-source GIS software (ArcMap, ArcGIS, or QGIS, for example) to perform spatial analysis of vector and raster data
Experience writing or editing scripts to perform spatial analysis
Able to function well as part of a multi-disciplinary problem-solving team
Excellent attention to details
Ability to learn new concepts quickly
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Working knowledge of Rothermel-based spatial fire behavior modeling systems such as FSim, RANDIG, FConst, FSPro or FlamMap
Working knowledge of how fire behavior modeling inputs—including surface and canopy fuel characteristics, weather/climate, and topography—affect fire behavior characteristics
Experience producing and/or analyzing spatial fire modeling outputs, including burn probability, fire intensity, perimeter polygons, ignition sources, such as datasets hosted on the FS Research Data Archive.
Experience with fuelscape vegetation and fuels datasets, such as datasets produced by LANDFIRE’s vegetation team and fuels team. Some examples of these datasets include: Existing Vegetation Type (EVT), Fuels Vegetation Cover (FVC), Canopy Cover (CC), Canopy Base Height (CBH), and Fuel Disturbance (FDist).
Experience working in wildfire sciences and/or management, such as incident response, fuels management, fire research, etc.
Experience with Python geospatial libraries such as GeoPandas, Rasterio, Shapely, GDAL, and ArcPy (or equivalent in R) with the ability to utilize existing Python scripts and to contribute to the enhancement and automation of fire modeling.
Familiarity with land management and wildfire decision support datasets, models, software, and workflows. For example, LANDFIRE, Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS), FlamMap, Nexus, WindNinja, FSim, Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS), Google Earth Engine.
Familiarity with processing remote sensing datasets such as LiDAR, NAIP, and LANDSAT.
Understanding of ecology in dry forests and Mediterranean environments and ecological forest management; ability to effectively communicate scientific concepts to lay audiences.
Experience supporting risk-based wildfire-incident decision making as part of a large-fire incident management team (e.g., LTAN, FBAN, etc.)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Unlimited PTO policy
401k
Company equity
Home office set-up allowance (one time)