Job Posting: PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES

Department of Water Resources

JC-512090
-
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES

$15,263.00 - $17,336.00 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: 4/27/2026

Job Description and Duties

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) Plan Formulation Branch (PFB) is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking leader who is passionate about improving California’s water future, thrives on empowering others, has a strategic mindset, and fosters a collaborative culture founded on respect, trust, and continuous improvement. This position serves as the Principal Engineer, Water Resources, Manager and provides high-level guidance, policy direction, and leadership in developing the State’s strategic water resource master plan, known as the California Water Plan, as well as advancing DWR’s Climate Change Program.

 

DWR’s multidisciplinary Climate Change and California Water Plan teams develop and perform cutting edge climate risk and adaptation studies as well as manage California’s only comprehensive statewide water resource planning framework. This position is responsible for overseeing the assessment of current and future water resource conditions, fostering innovation, recommending effective policies, statutory changes, investments, and actions to address critical water issues across all water resource sectors. This includes developing and delivering presentations, reports, and other communication materials that clearly convey complex technical and planning information to executive leadership, decision-makers, non-technical audiences, and supporting effective understanding and participation in the California Water Plan process.

 

The California Water Plan provides planning insights into the future and identifies strategies to meet California’s water resource management needs within the framework of the Executive Branch’s water policy. The California Water Plan integrates many sectors related to water resources and includes, but is not limited to, water supply (urban, agricultural, and environmental), water quality, flood management, wildfire and forest management, ecosystems, land use, energy, watershed management, and groundwater. Geographic coverage of planning activities ranges from headwaters to the ocean and occurs at both statewide and watershed scales. As the leader of the California Water Plan, this position directs investigations, integrates multidisciplinary work, recommends policies, actions, and investments that promote the sustainability and resilience of California’s water resources.

 

Leadership exercised in this position includes overseeing program development and management involving more than a dozen workstreams performed through highly matrixed teams involving several Divisions and Programs. This role requires collaboratively synthesizing workstream outputs into recommended state water policies and investments, providing thoughtful leadership, fostering innovation, and developing strategic recommendations to accelerate implementation of water policy and actions, including improvements to regulation and permitting, institutional authorities, financing, and governance.

 

This position also provides information and strategic guidance for special initiatives such as potential changes in statute, advancing the Governor’s Administration policy directives, informing General Obligation Bonds, shaping public water resource planning and policy conversations, and recruiting and sustaining a relevant and high-performing water planning and policy organization.

 

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-512090
Position #(s):
841-840-3255-691
Working Title:
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
Classification:
PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
$15,263.00 - $17,336.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Mailing Address

Department Information

Division of Planning, Plan Formulation Branch, 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

Moderate travel for site inspection of construction projects and attending technical agency meetings throughout the State is required. Overtime work may be required at times to meet program schedules and deadlines.

 

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.

 

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.

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: 4/27/2026

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

In addition to having strong knowledge of many of the water sectors listed above, the ideal candidate is highly communicative, enthusiastic, and comfortable working in a collaborative environment involving multiple water-related disciplines, other State agencies, and interested parties across California.

 

The incumbent is expected to consistently exercise sound judgment and cooperation; conduct themselves with professionalism in the face of criticism or conflict; inspire trust, empowerment, and collaboration among team members. This requires the ability to establish strong working relationships within and outside of DWR, apply strong critical thinking skills, facilitate public conversations, and thrive within a matrix management organizational structure.

 

The incumbent should also have knowledge of State water policy and positions on strategic initiatives and the ability to analyze, guide, and recommend State statutes related to water resource planning and management.

Benefits

Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees. We offer continuous professional development and a wide range of training opportunities. Our brand new, state-of-the-art Natural Resources Headquarters Building is located right next to Light Rail in downtown Sacramento for an easy commute – we’ll even reimburse you for a portion of your monthly public transit pass!

 

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:
Daisy Tam
(279) 231-0766
daisy.tam@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 the following documents: (1) State Application (STD 678); (2) One-page Cover Letter; (3) Resume (two-page maximum); and (4) Statement of Qualifications. The Statement of Qualifications is an important part of your application; it is a separate typed document, one-page maximum, in Arial 12-point font, that succinctly and clearly describes your knowledge, skills, experience, and education directly related to the qualifications and duties listed in the Job Duties Statement.  Please reference the SAP Position Number# 50045527, and Job Control Number#512090, in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application

 

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.

 

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job