Exam Bulletin - Engineer, Water Resources

Department of Water Resources

Exam Code: EX-1684

Examination Plans Included:

  • ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES: $6,299.00 - $7,510.00 (A) per Month
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES: $7,212.00 - $9,025.00 (B) per Month
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES: $8,637.00 - $10,807.00 (C) per Month
ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES: $9,429.00 - $11,798.00 (D) per Month

View the ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1684

For ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01684

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

00103137 - ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

Either 1

Education: Graduation from a curriculum in civil engineering accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology. (Registration as a "senior" in such a curriculum will admit an applicant to the competition, but he/she must produce evidence of graduation before he/she will be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or 2

Education: Graduation from an engineering curriculum which includes the basic engineering courses normally covered in a standard four- year course, and by qualifying in a written examination covering basic civil engineering. (Registration as a "senior" in such a curriculum will admit an applicant to the qualifying examination, but he/she must produce evidence of graduation before he/she will be considered eligible for appointment.)

Position Description

00103137 - ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

Incumbents assist in engineering work in connection with projects relating to land, hydraulics, roads, bridges, buildings, wharves, piers, dams, levees, sanitary facilities, and similar works; prepare designs, plans, specifications, estimates, and reports for various types of construction projects including bridges, roads, dams, aqueducts, levees, ditches, retaining walls, and similar structures; revise or prepare maps, plans, charts, and diagrams; act as a member of a survey party; keep survey and construction notes; make engineering calculations in connection with field or office work; prepare simple design work and draft working plans and detail drawings and tracings and produce drawings using CADD; oversee the work of several office and field assistants engaged in conducting studies of water supply, water quality, snow conditions, flood control, groundwater analysis, and irrigation surveys; act as inspector on a variety of construction projects such as road construction and structural steel, concrete, and timber construction; inspect structures under construction; make hydrographic and irrigation investigations; inspect, make field or laboratory tests, or take samples for laboratory analysis on materials being used for construction projects; make field inspections of existing structures to determine extent of damage, deterioration, or defects; assemble data and make reports from field investigations; may assist in the development or maintenance of computer programs; may perform engineering calculations and/or prepare other documents using a personal computer or a work station; assist in preparing environmental impact analyses, environmental impact reports, and environmental impact studies; prepare memoranda and reports; may use underwater diving equipment in connection with underwater quality control investigation. 

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Basic principles of physics, chemistry, and mathematics as applied to civil engineering
  2. Surveying
  3. Hydrology and hydraulics
  4. Stress analysis
  5. Design of simple structures
  6. Mechanics
  7. Strength, properties, and uses of engineering construction materials
  8. Methods and equipment of engineering construction
  9. Engineering economics
  10. Common descriptions of real property
  11. Computers and computer software
  12. Use of computers in engineering practice
  13. Environmental and/or engineering science
Ability to:
  1. Do simple mapping and drafting either manually or through CADD and make neat and accurate computations and engineering notes
  2. Do mapping and engineering drawings
  3. Use computers and CADD
  4. Prepare clear and concise reports
  5. Prepare detailed plans and specifications
  6. Inspect construction projects
  7. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  8. Maintain friendly and cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work
  9. Communicate effectively

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Water Resources

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Engineer, Water Resources Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:

Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Spreadsheet software.
  2. Database software.
  3. Computer-Aided-Drafting (CAD) software.
  4. Word-processing software.
  5. Programming Languages.
  6. Geographic Information System (GIS).
  7. Preparation of reports including technical writing.
  8. Preparation of charts, tables, and/or graphics.
  9. Preparing a presentation for a project.
  10. Giving a presentation about a project.
  11. Devising an alternate plan due to a setback or changing priorities to complete a project on time.
  12. Situation in solving problems where you had to remain calm, courteous and tactful.
  13. Working with environmental laws and regulations.
  14. Preparation and/or review of environmental permits and/or documents.
  15. Design and/or analysis of open channel flow.
  16. Design and/or analysis of flow in pipes.
  17. Performing an economic evaluation based on the design life of a project.
  18. Measurement and/or analysis of hydro-climate data.
  19. Measurement and/or analysis of environmental data.
  20. Measurement and/or analysis of groundwater.
  21. Development of a unit hydrograph.
  22. Reading and interpreting construction plans and specifications.
  23. Calculating material quantities for engineering and/or construction estimates.
  24. Identifying the preferred alternative for a project by performing a cost benefit analysis.
  25. Inspecting, monitoring and/or controlling construction operations.
  26. Estimating the quantity of seepage through a dam or levee.
  27. Testing and analysis of the engineering properties of soils.
  28. Slope stability analysis.
  29. Computation of runoff for a given watershed.
  30. Methods of measuring flowing water.
  31. Reinforced concrete design and/or analysis.
  32. Structural steel design and/or analysis.
  33. Foundation design and/or analysis.
  34. Application of seismic principles.
  35. Analysis of water supply systems.
  36. Water resources planning and/or modeling.
  37. Water quality analysis.
  38. Water treatment processes.
  39. Surveying applications and measurements.
  40. Interpretation of topographic mapping.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Water Resources

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@Calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Water Resources
P. O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 653-4838

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.

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.

Drug Free Statement

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

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Water Resources reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)