SENIOR ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
Sacramento County, CA, USA
USD 11,437-14,315 / month
Job Posting: Senior Engineer, WR (Specialist)
Department of Water Resources
SENIOR ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
$11,437.00 - $14,315.00 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: 9/2/2026
Job Description and Duties
If you are an engineer interested in modernizing California’s water budget and accounting, improving statewide water planning data, and using scenario-based analyses to help identify future water supply gaps, vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies, and you want to play a key role in helping shape State water policy, this job could be a great opportunity for you!
The Water Accounting Section of the Data and Decision Support Branch in the Division of Planning is seeking a Senior Engineer, Water Resources (non-supervisory specialist) to lead efforts related to the development, modernization, application, and interpretation of regional and statewide water budget and accounting. The incumbent will organize and manage statewide water planning data by improving data consistency, accessibility, accuracy, and usefulness; align data with the needs of Department of Water Resources programs, partner agencies, interested parties, and California Water Plan end users; evaluate opportunities to streamline water agency data reporting and make reported information more useful; and assist in conducting scenario-based modeling and planning analyses to assess future water supply gaps and vulnerabilities under plausible climate, population, land use, and regulatory conditions. The incumbent will also help identify and assess cost-effective, place-based and regional adaptation strategies to reduce projected water supply gaps and improve system resilience.
One of the many attributes of this job is that it involves working with a multi-disciplinary team in an encouraging, positive, and collegial work environment. This is a job where teamwork and collaboration are essential, and adaptability and innovation are very highly valued. It’s a place where you can learn and grow with others, as they learn and grow with you.
Since the Senior Engineer in this position will be working with many individuals, both within and outside of the Department, good interpersonal skills are essential. Other critical needs for the job include good oral and written communication, solid leadership and project management skills, attention to detail and quality, self-motivation and initiative, productivity, and professional integrity.
If you’re prepared to be a key part of an outstanding team, and to play a pivotal role in modernizing California’s water planning data, water budget and accounting, future water supply gap and vulnerability analysis, and adaptation strategy assessment, we hope that you will apply for this special and important job.
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 Planning, Data and Decision Support Branch, Water Accounting 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
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.
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: 9/2/2026Who 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
- Statement of Qualifications - See Special Instructions for additional details.
Desirable Qualifications
Candidates should clearly demonstrate how their knowledge, skills, abilities, and education qualify them for the duties of the position, in fields related to groundwater and surface water, water budget and accounting, water resources planning and management, or closely related disciplines. Demonstrated experience in data management, modeling, programming, and visualization tools, for example, working with hydrologic and hydraulic models, databases, R, Python, ArcGIS, Tableau/Power BI dashboards, or similar platforms. Experience in project planning, management, and tracking, or project coordination is necessary. The ideal candidate should also have experience leading or coordinating work in a matrix team environment, collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams to achieve project objectives. Clear, well-organized written communication is essential, including experience preparing technical reports, planning documents, publications, or other professional documents. Presentation and outreach experience communicating technical information in meetings, workshops, conferences, or public settings is also highly desirable.
Successful candidates will demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, sound professional judgment, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic work environment. Candidates should be self-motivated, highly organized, ethical, accountable, innovative, detail-oriented, and committed to maintaining a positive and productive workplace.
Benefits
Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees. We’re located in a beautiful, state-of-the-art new Natural Resources Headquarters building in downtown Sacramento, with secure bike locker storage area, shower rooms, and a fitness center. The modern facility is next to Light Rail for an easy commute – we’ll even reimburse you for your monthly public transit pass! We offer continuous professional development and a wide range of training opportunities.
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.
Michelle Rivera
(279) 231-0769
Michelle.Rivera@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
To be considered, submit the following documents: 1) std 678; 2) Cover letter; 3) Resume; and 4) Statement of Qualifications. Please reference SAP Position #50050911 and Job Control # JC-511679 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application.
The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is an important part of your application. It is a separate typed document, two-page maximum, in Arial 12-point font, with margins between 0.5 and 1 inch, that describes the candidate’s education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience, and other attributes that qualify them for the position, consistent with the Desirable Qualifications listed in the job announcement. The SOQ must be well-organized, clearly written, and demonstrate proper grammar and syntax.
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:
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.
