Exam Bulletin - Senior Engineering Geologist

State of California

Exam Code: EX-1686

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST - Open

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

Classification Details

SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST: $11,104.00 - $13,898.00 (A) per Month
SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST: $11,104.00 - $13,898.00 (S) per Month

View the SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST 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):

  • SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1686

For SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01686

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.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103751 - SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in geology, engineering geology, or a closely related field that includes coursework in geology. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.) (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the Engineering Geologist examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.) AND

Either 1

Experience: Two years of experience performing the duties of an Engineering Geologist, Range D, in the California state service.

Or 2

Experience: Five years of professional engineering geological experience involving the performance of increasingly responsible duties, at least two years of which shall have been comparable in level and responsibility to an Engineering Geologist, Range D, in the California state service. (A master's degree with major work in geology or engineering geology may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Possession of a doctorate degree in one of the fields identified above may be substituted for two years of the general experience.)

Position Description

00103751 - SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST

The Senior Engineering Geologist Supervisor is either (1) a first-line unit supervisor; or (2) a nonsupervisory staff specialist assigned to perform the most complex and technical engineering geologic assignments. The senior level is the first level to which administrative responsibility is assigned.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

Course work in engineering geology; willingness to travel in performing field work throughout the State; course work and/or experience in environmental engineering, water resource management, hydraulics, and/or hydrogeology; and in addition to registration as a geologist, certification as an engineering geologist or hydrogeologist.

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. Stratigraphic, structural, historical, and economic geology as related to civil engineering projects.
  2. Geological processes and survey techniques, equipment, and procedures.
  3. Fundamental principles of mineralogy, petrography, soil mechanics, and hydrogeology.
  4. Photogeology, geological mapping and drafting, and the application of geology to engineering problems.
  5. Grouting methods, techniques, and equipment.
  6. Geological literature.
  7. Subsurface exploration and sampling procedures.
  8. Principles of effective supervision, personnel management, and budget preparation.
  9. The department's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives.
  10. A supervisor's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employment development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
  11. Methods and techniques of effective leadership.
  12. General administrative processes.

Ability to:

  1. Conduct geological and geophysical exploration investigations.
  2. Conduct independent technical research work.
  3. Make, record, and evaluate observations on geological engineering problems.
  4. Make accurate tests, observations, and measurements.
  5. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
  6. Prepare and analyze technical reports.
  7. Prepare and analyze technical reports.
  8. Prepare plans, specifications, and estimates for geological and geophysical exploration.
  9. Perform independent technical research work and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the work.
  10. The ability to delegate work to others, direct the work of others, and motivate others to work effectively.
  11. Effectively contribute to the department's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives.

 

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the SENIOR ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

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.

Senior Engineering Geologist Training and Experience Exam 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, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

 

PLEASE NOTE:  This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position.  All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position. In preparing your responses please note each exam item response textbox has a maximum of 1,000 character count.

 

Tasks:

  1. Utilizing scientific method for geologic problem solving.
  2. Using investigative techniques and procedures to evaluate surface and subsurface geologic conditions.
  3. Applying geologic principles to projects to determine the presence and impact of unique geologic formations.
  4. Collect, analyze, and maintain engineering, geologic, and/or geophysical data to support existing and proposed projects.
  5. Preparing written correspondence and technical reports to communicate with staff and stakeholders.
  6. Communicating effectively, both in written and oral form, with project team members and/or supervisors to ensure project completion.
  7. Explaining complex technical geologic information or ideas to accomplish geologic work assignments.
  8. Reviewing technical documents (e.g., work plans, reports, permits, health and safety plans, decision plans) for geologic completeness, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
  9. Interpreting aerial photos and other remote sensing data in solving geologic problems.
  10. Working independently on project related activities to complete geologic tasks.
  11. Coordinating and collaborating with various individuals and/or agencies on multidisciplinary projects/tasks.
  12. Leading by example to effectively achieve operational goals in line with organizational objectives.
  13. Planning and conducting complex geologic field assessments.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.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.

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.

State of California 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)