Exam Bulletin - Senior Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer (Spec)

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-2540

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST): $10,886.00 - $13,625.00 per Month

View the SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST) classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2540

For SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02540

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103674 - SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST)

Graduation from college with major work in electrical, electronic, mechanical, or civil engineering. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) and

Either 1

Two years of experience performing the duties of an Associate Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer in California state service.

Or 2

Five years of progressively responsible engineering experience in the electric utilities field and/or in the operation and maintenance of pumping and generating equipment, at least two years of which shall have been comparable in responsibility to that of an Associate Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer.

Position Description

00103674 - SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST)

This is the staff specialist level responsible for conducting assignments which are difficult, controversial, require a high level of specialized expertise or unique technical knowledge and skills relating to: analysis of electric resource requirement and/or making recommendations to management for specific arrangements for acquisition of power supply or exchanges best suited for the operation of the State Water Project, negotiate with high level electric utility representatives for power purchase, sale or exchange agreements; prepare documents and/or testimony regarding power-related activities and present to regulatory agencies; provide guidance to field maintenance personnel about highly specialized maintenance, repair, or testing technologies or for complex database of management information system to improve availability and reliability of hydroelectric plants, machinery, equipment and apparatus; prepare unique procedures and conduct specialized diagnostic, predictive and/or corrective tests for hydroelectric plant machinery, equipment and apparatus using state-of-the-art test equipment; review hydroelectric plant machinery, equipment and apparatus for obsolescence and selecting appropriate replacements; coordinate retrofitting/replacement effort for the Operations and Maintenance Division.

Additional Desirable Qualification
 
Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a professional engineer.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Engineering theory and practices relating to power generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing
  2. Electric utility operation and management
  3. Functions, responsibilities, and procedures of regulatory and government agencies including the Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the California Energy Commission, in the electric utility field
  4. Planning, design, construction, and operation of major generating plants, power transmission systems and pumping plants
  5. Methods of determining the optimum capacity and energy output of generating plants
  6. Power marketing and economics, including the market for and value of electric power, methods of marketing power and rates, agreements
  7. Operating, maintaining and testing of electrical and mechanical equipment and systems for plants, switchyards, reservoir outlets and aqueduct control features
  8. Environmental issues and policies
  9. Unit operating and loading procedures and criteria
  10. Standards of the American National Standards Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  11. Instrumentation and control circuitry and electrical protection
  12. Servo systems and governors
  13. Bearings
  14. Lubrication
  15. Metal working
  16. Machining and welding
  17. Nondestructive examination
  18. Alignment and balancing of rotating machinery including vibration measurement
  19. Methods of maintenance, repair, and testing
  20. Power system operation and control
  21. Power system studies, load flow, stability, and fault analyses
  22. Principles and practices of effective supervision, management, and organization
  23. The Department's Affirmative Action Program objectives
  24. A manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program, and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives
  25. Department policies
Ability to:
  1. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action
  2. Prepare clear and concise reports
  3. Prepare procedures and manuals
  4. Make feasibility studies
  5. Interpret, prepare and revise electrical and mechanical drawings and schematics and relay and control logic diagrams
  6. Assist and advise others on maintenance and repair procedures, materials, tools
  7. Negotiate, administer, and coordinate contracts such as for maintenance, repair, testing, and consultation
  8. Conduct and coordinate special test activities
  9. Use personal computers
  10. Plan, organize, and direct the work of an engineering staff
  11. Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence
  12. Establish and maintain effective public relations
  13. Effectively contribute to the Department's affirmative action objectives

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR HYDROELECTRIC POWER UTILITY ENGINEER (SPECIALIST) Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Water Resources

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Senior Hydroelectric Power Utility Engineer (Specialist) Training and Experience Exam Preview

Instructions:   

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

 

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

 

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer.  

 

PLEASE NOTE:  This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.  All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position. In preparing your responses please note each exam item response textbox has a max of 1,000 character count.

 

Tasks:

  1. Conducting complex studies (e.g., engineering, economic feasibility, environmental, operational, rate forecast) to determine the feasibility of potential projects.
  2. Performing technical engineering calculations and evaluating data to make recommendations to management.
  3. Developing computer models, databases, and/or spreadsheet applications to analyze engineering data.
  4. Preparing various technical documents (e.g., applications, engineering reports, plant and switchyard schematics, etc.) to ensure compliance with organizational standards.
  5. Preparing complex economic and/or engineering analysis for reporting to ensure the organization meets its regulatory requirements.
  6. Preparing technical and/or engineering reports or whitepapers to inform interested parties.
  7. Developing contract language necessary to implement agreements.
  8. Analyzing reports, agreements, and/or regulatory filings to ensure content is consistent with organizational standards.
  9. Preparing written and/or oral presentations regarding organizational policies, procedures, or rationale for decisions.
  10. Representing the organization at various meetings and/or workshops.
  11. Act as technical resource or subject matter expert for members of the organization to provide advice.
  12. Planning and implementing equipment maintenance, repair, modification, or replacement to ensure facilities remain operational.  
  13. Assist in drafting written responses, filings, and other related documentation for submission to regulatory agencies and other entities.
  14. Perform various budget related activities (e.g., tracks expenditures, monitors preparation, submission, and tracking of cost and scheduling documentation, etc.).
  15. Developing and monitoring project plans to ensure the requirements and timetables of projects are met.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Water Resources

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@Calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Water Resources
P. O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 653-4838

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Water Resources reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)