Job Posting: Engineer, Water Resources

Department of Water Resources

JC-531938
-
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: 10/6/2026

Job Description and Duties

Why Choose Us: The single greatest advantage of working for the Department of Water Resources is that you can practice civil engineering in its purest form. Because we are the owner and operator of the facilities, our engineers are empowered to make the right choices in design, detailing, and materials to ensure public safety and longevity of the infrastructure.  Our engineers are at the forefront on design and construction projects, and they make design decisions based on good engineering practice for safety, durability, and performance—in that order.

 

At DWR you will have the advantage of numerous resources to support your work and your professional growth—including training, organizational memberships, and knowledgeable colleagues, of which many are under one roof and all of which collaborate for project success.

 

We hope you’ll check out the Duties and Desirable Qualifications below and apply for this great career opportunity to join our team and help deliver water to over 26 million Californians as well as contribute to protecting our environment and species conservation efforts.

 

Duties: This position is open to engineers of varying levels of experience.  Actual assigned duties will be commensurate with skill level.  In this position, the incumbent performs engineering studies and analysis, writes reports, and prepares designs, drawings, and specifications for construction of a variety of public civil-works projects related to flood control, water storage and conveyance facilities, species conservation and habitat restorations, and recreation. Such work will include the design and analysis of site drainage, canals, check structures, levees, gates, weirs, siphons, pipelines, penstocks, turnouts, roads, culverts, spillways, retaining walls, fish screens, fish ladders, pump houses, site accessibility, and other related facilities. The incumbent must provide a broad working knowledge of civil design, reinforced concrete design, structural steel design, masonry design, hydrology and hydraulics, soils and rock mechanics, applicable design and building codes, and engineering analysis computer applications.

 

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-531938
Position #(s):
843-460-3137-082
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 Engineering

Design / Civil Engineering Branch / Civil I Section

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

Must possess a valid California Driver's License to safely operate State and/or personal vehicles as part of the duties of the position.  Travel on short notice and overnight lodging will be required on some trips. 

 

Range D incumbents in this classification must possess a valid certificate of registration as a civil engineer issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

 

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.

 

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: 10/6/2026

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
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:


Candidates will be evaluated based on their relative ability as demonstrated by the quality and extent of their experience. Therefore, our ideal candidate’s application and resume will clearly and concisely address as many of the following desirable qualifications as possible: Candidate will have relevant civil engineering/construction engineering work experience; possess strong written ,and verbal communication skills; has the ability to take direction; is engaged; works as a contributing team member; has strong problem-solving ability; is a highly-motivated self-starter and works autonomously; is detail and quality oriented; can manage multiple tasks and projects at the same time; is organized; goes the extra mile to meet deadlines and is conscientious of budgets; is dependable; has computer skills in spreadsheets, experience in computer-aided drafting (CAD), hydraulics and hydrology analysis programs, structural analysis programs, geotechnical analysis program, civil design software (InRoads/OpenRoads/Civil 3D, MicroStation, AutoCAD, SAP 2000, RISA, HEC-RAS, GeoStudio, ArcGIS), Microsoft Office, and has the ability to learn new computer applications; has a knowledge or experience with public works construction contracts and water projects; has knowledge and experience in Plans, Specifications, and Estimates  Production for contract documents; has knowledge or experience writing and reviewing technical specifications; has knowledge or experience in construction inspection and support. Possession of a valid certificate of registration as an engineer-in-training (EIT) or Professional Engineer’s license for the State of CA is preferred but not required.

 

Benefits

Click here to read about some of our outstanding benefits. We’re also located right next to Light Rail for an easy commute – we’ll even reimburse you for a portion of your monthly public transit pass!

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

Contact Information

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

Hiring Unit Contact:
Nicolaus Seppi
(916) 764-9763
nicolaus.seppi@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 State Employment Application (STD 678) along with a resume and a cover letter briefly introducing yourself and explaining the qualities you possess that would demonstrate your ability to succeed in this position. Please reference SAP Position Number: 50093580 and Job Control Number: 531938 in the Explanations section of your application.

 

Failure to provide requested documents and information may result in automatic disqualification from the hiring process. Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.  The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.

 

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

 

You are not required to be on an eligibility list at the time you apply for this position.  Simply submit your application today using the provided instructions.  List eligibility will eventually be required, however, prior to hiring. You may qualify for list eligibility at any time prior to hiring by visiting www.calcareers.ca.gov, clicking on Exam/Assessment Search, entering Exam Code “1684,” clicking “Search,” click to view the Exam Bulletin, and then clicking the “Training and Experience Evaluation” under the Taking the Examination section.

 

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: ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

 

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