Job Posting: ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

Department of Water Resources

JC-511959
-
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

$6,488.00 - $12,152.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 5/7/2026

Job Description and Duties

State Water Project Aerial Tour 2021 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7A1jHyfqp8E

 

Duties: The Delta Scheduling Unit is seeking an innovative and highly motivated engineer capable of managing technical analysis, organizational coordination, and inter-agency collaboration in support of the day-to-day operations of the State Water Project. In this role, the Water Resources Engineer will have the opportunity to develop and implement physical based, mathematical based, empirical, and machine-learning-based water quantity and water quality forecasting models. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to apply advanced analytical tools while contributing to critical water operations, this position may be an excellent fit for you.

 

As a Water Resources Engineer, you will be responsible for maintaining and updating data related to State Water Project export operations, including hydrologic, water quality, and fishery information used to support real-time Delta compliance for water rights, endangered species protections, and other regulatory requirements. In this role, you will maintain and enhance database systems that support the effective management and dissemination of operational products, utilizing programming and data management tools such as Microsoft Visual Basic Applications (VBA), Python, R, SQL, HTML, and JavaScript. You will also engage in planning, scheduling, and coordinating activities associated with the State Water Project Clifton Court Forebay allotment and Intake Gate Priority schedules. Additionally, you will work closely with the unit manager to prepare and deliver day-to-day operational and delta hydrology briefings to federal and state regulatory agencies.  This position offers a unique opportunity to combine your passion, engineering ingenuity, and analytical skills in a dynamic and rewarding career supporting the continued operation and management of the State Water Project.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-511959
Position #(s):
842-063-3137-009
Working Title:
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES
Classification:
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES
$6,488.00 - $7,735.00 A
$7,428.00 - $9,296.00 B
$8,896.00 - $11,131.00 C
$9,712.00 - $12,152.00 D
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Operations and Maintenance, Assistant Division Manager Water Management, Water Operations Branch, Water Operations Scheduling Section, Delta Scheduling Unit, Sacramento


Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov/

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

Special Requirements

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

 

Must be willing to sometimes work outside of normal business hours, travel, and stay overnight in various locations throughout the State of California.

 

The Department of Water Resources is committed to its mission and employees, and we are grounded in our commitment to public safety.  Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is essential to the successful performance in this position.

 

Employees are required to successfully complete all safety training related to the functions of the job.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 5/7/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Water Resources
Mailing Address
Attn: Division of Human Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Water Resources
Submit in Person
Certification Desk
715 P Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 04:30 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Other - Cover Letter
  • Statement of Qualifications - See Special Instructions for additional details.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
 

Our ideal candidate will have knowledge and/or experience of California’s complex water management infrastructures in and around Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The incumbent should have ample experience on physical, empirical, mathematical and machine learning based hydrological and hydraulics models for predicting spatial and temporal variations of hydrologic, hydraulics, water quantity, and water quality. The incumbent should have broader understanding of Coordinated Operation Agreement, Decision 1641, Incidental Take Permit, Endangered Species Act, Water Rights, Biological Opinions etc. In addition, the incumbent to possess knowledge and/or experience in technical engineering documentation; environmental and regulatory requirements; coordination and presentations; environmental processes, including CEQA; the State Water Project; California Water Rights and Water Code; database development and GIS applications; engineering modeling assumptions and results; and tool development and data processing.

Benefits

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

 

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

 

This position is in the Arden Arcade area with plenty of free parking.

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Hiring Unit Contact:
Paige Howard
(916) 574-6078
paige.howard@water.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 653-6952
civilrights@water.ca.gov
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.

Special Instructions

To be considered, submit a completed State application (STD. 678), cover letter, resume, and Statement of Qualifications. Please reference SAP Position #50001792 and Job Control # 511959 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

 

Cover Letter

The Cover Letter should include a statement as to why you are interested in this position and highlight skills that are most applicable to the Duty Statement.

 

Statement of Qualifications

This is a (2-page maximum) separate typed document entitled Statement of Qualifications in Arial 12-point font that addresses the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as it relates to the job description

 

The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus.

 

Note: Applicants who do not follow these instructions may be disqualified from the selection process. Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

 

Click here to complete DWR’s Recruitment Survey. This survey is for research purpose only and will not affect the application status.

 

Examination/Assessment

For more information about the State hiring process, click here. To learn more about how to get a State job, click here.

 

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.

 

Click the examination(s)/assessment(s) information link:


 

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.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free 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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job