Job Posting: Meteorological Data and Forecast Specialist

Department of Water Resources

JC-535791
-
Meteorological Data and Forecast Specialist
RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST I

$6,955.00 - $8,706.00 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: 11/9/2026

Job Description and Duties

One of Department of Water Resources’ most vital responsibilities is to provide accurate hydrologic runoff forecasts that aid flood and drought management response, water management decisions, environmental and water quality decisions, and public safety across California.  The River Forecast Unit (RFU) needs innovative and passionate professionals who can analyze meteorological and climatological data, evaluate weather and forecast information, and develop timely and accurate decision-support products to improve river and reservoir inflow forecasts.

 

The Research Data Specialist, under the direction of Senior Engineer, Water Resources, Hydrology Section, RFU, is a member of the State-Federal River forecasting team and supports the analysis of meteorological and hydrometeorological information used for river and reservoir inflow forecasting, flood operations, and statewide water management.  This position works closely with the National Weather Service - California Nevada River Forecast Center and with research partners including the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and supports research-to-operations activities to evaluate and implement new meteorological data, models, and forecasting tools.  This is a unique opportunity to combine your passion for meteorology, climatology, data analysis, and innovative forecasting technologies into an exciting career opportunity.  If this sounds like an exciting challenge for you, then we have the perfect position for you to consider. 

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-535791
Position #(s):
841-421-5742-002
841-421-5742-001
Working Title:
Meteorological Data and Forecast Specialist
Classification:
RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST I
$6,955.00 - $8,706.00 A
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
2
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Flood Operations, Hydrology and Flood Operations, Hydrology Section, River Forecasting 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

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.


Pre-employment eligibility may require passing a security check, as outlined in U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Departmental Administrative Order (DAO) 207-12: Foreign Access Management Program, NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 207-12, and NWS Foreign National Access and Technology Transfer Directive (NWSI) 60-704, including any applicable requirements related to access by foreign nationals.  Continued access to NWS networks and databases may also require periodic reverification and compliance with applicable security and access requirements.

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: 11/9/2026

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.
  • Statement of Qualifications - See Special Instructions for additional details.
  • 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:


Our ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of California’s meteorology, weather patterns, climatology, and hydrometeorology. Experience analyzing and performing statistical analysis of meteorological and climatological data, numerical weather prediction guidance, radar and satellite products, and precipitation and temperature forecasts is highly desirable. Experience with atmospheric river analysis, extreme precipitation, ensemble forecasting, hydrometeorological data collection – including Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) and validation, forecast verification, or research-to-operations activities is preferred. The incumbent should have strong oral and written communication skills and be able to analyze complex information and present results through technical summaries, briefings, maps, charts, and graphics. Experience collaborating with research institutions, universities, or government agencies is desirable. Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams is expected. Experience with programming and scripting languages such as Python, R, or MATLAB is preferred. Familiarity with Linux, GIS, automated data-processing workflows, and meteorological visualization tools is desired.

Benefits

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees such as leaves, pension, insurances, retirement saving, etc.  Our work environment is well-balanced, and our team members are very diverse.  The Department offers a variety of professional training opportunities including online classes from LinkedIn Learning.


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:
Timothy McDaniel
(916) 281-5693
Timothy.McDaniel@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, cover letter, resume, and statement of qualifications.  Please reference SAP Position #50105684, 50105685 and Job Control #535791 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.

Statement of Qualifications: A separate typed document in 12-point Arial font (one page maximum) explaining how the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and experience qualify him/her for this position.

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

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.

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:  RESEARCH DATA SPECIALIST I

 

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