ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES
State of California
Sacramento County, CA, USA
USD 6,488-12,152 / month
Job Posting: Dams and Canals Engineer
Department of 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: 6/5/2026
Job Description and Duties
The Geotechnical Sciences Section (GSS) is seeking a creative, motivated, and talented Civil Engineer to work on exciting and challenging design projects. Work includes the design of large civil engineering projects associated with dams, the California Aqueduct, levees, and other water infrastructure. Work also includes involvement during construction.
Under the direction of a Senior Engineer, WR, the incumbent will work in a collaborative environment to perform civil and geotechnical engineering analyses, studies, and investigations, and prepare reports, presentations, designs, drawings, quantities cost estimates, and specifications for a variety of State Water Project facilities and other water infrastructure such as earthen dams, canal embankments, pipelines, and other hydraulic structures and water infrastructure. Work products include stability and seepage modeling, engineering analyses, and design calculations. The incumbent will prepare written responses to a wide variety of communications and will support construction activities by making site visits, providing construction inspections, working on change orders, and answering submittals and requests for information. In addition, GSS Engineers may work as first responders during floods and other State Water Project facility emergencies and are often requested to assist with construction inspection on their projects.
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
Department Information
Division of Engineering, Geotechnical Services Branch, Geotechnical Sciences Section/Soils 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, diversity, equity, 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 when conducting State business that requires driving a vehicle. Applicants must be able to travel on short notices, including overnight lodging on some assignments, and be willing to work irregular and extended hours during outages or emergencies. 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: 6/5/2026Who May 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
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
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.
- Other - See Supplemental Questionnaire information under Special Instructions below.
Desirable Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be able to work closely with others, foster teamwork and a positive work environment, and thrive in a team that encourages cooperation, communication, and mutual sharing of risk, responsibility, and reward. The additional following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
- Interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Experience and knowledge in design and remediation of earthen dams, canals, levees, and foundations
- Experience/knowledge in performing geotechnical engineering analysis and preparing geotechnical design recommendations
- Experience/knowledge in geotechnical laboratory testing, field testing, and data analysis
- Experience in developing plans, specifications, and quantity/cost estimates
- Experience in construction support and inspection
- Understanding and use of computer programs, including:
- Geotechnical Engineering Programs (Slope/W, Seep/W, FLAC, LPILE, etc.)
- Computer Aided Design and Drafting programs (MicroStation or AutoCAD, InRoads or OpenRoads Designer, Civil 3D)
- Graphic Information Systems (ArcGIS)
- Programming Languages
- Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project, Teams, OneNote)
- Problem Solving Skills
- Organization Skills
- Engineering Licenses, including:
- Fundamentals of Engineering (aka Engineering-In-Training)
- Professional Civil Engineering License
Benefits
Click here to read about some of the benefits available to eligible employees. 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! Our new, modern Natural Resources building provides amenities such as complimentary gym facilities, bike lockers, rooftop terraces, and plenty of collaboration spaces.
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.
Nikisa Rayej
(916) 764-9752
Nikisa.Rayej@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
Special Instructions
Interested applicants must submit a: (1) State Employment Application (STD 678), (2) Cover Letter, (3) Resume, and (4) Supplemental Questionnaire. Please reference SAP Position number 50002743 and Job Control #516264 on your application.
The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.
Supplemental Questionnaire: One-page maximum typed response (Arial 12-pt. font) to the following statement:
Based on the job description, explain why you are interested in this position and want to join our Division of Engineering Geotechnical team. Include examples of relevant experience and how it has prepared you to be a good candidate for this position.
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.
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 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.
The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, SROA/Surplus, and training and development assignment.
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.
