Job Posting: Senior Civil Engineer
Department of Water Resources
JC-519109
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: 6/23/2026
Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job
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Job Description and Duties
Why Choose Us: First, the single greatest advantage of working for us is that you can practice civil engineering in its purest form. Because California's Department of Water Resources is the owner and operator of its facilities, our engineers are empowered to make the right choices in design, detailing, and materials to ensure public safety and longevity of the infrastructure. Our engineers are at the forefront on design and construction projects, and they make design decisions based on good engineering practice for safety, durability, and performance-in that order.
At DWR you will have the advantage of numerous resources to support your work and your professional growth-including training, organizational memberships, and knowledgeable colleagues, of which many are under one roof and all of which collaborate for project success.
We hope you'll check out the Duties and Desirable Qualifications below and apply for this great career opportunity to join our team and help deliver water to over 26 million Californians as well as contribute to protecting our environment and species conservation efforts.
Duties: The incumbent serves as a civil engineering job manager and coordinates with other team-members, stakeholders, consultants, and contractors. The incumbent will coach and supervise a staff of subordinate engineers performing engineering studies, writing reports, and preparing the designs, drawings, and specifications for a variety of large public civil-works projects related to water storage, water transportation, flood control, environmental protection, species conservation, and recreation. Such work will include the design and analysis of canals, check structures, levees, gates, weirs, siphons, pipelines, penstocks, turnouts, roads, culverts, spillways, retaining walls, fish screens, fish ladders, pump houses, and many other related facilities.
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-519109
Position #(s):
843-460-3261-511
Working Title:
Senior Civil Engineer
Classification:
SENIOR ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES
$11,437.00 - $14,315.00 A
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
Department Information
Division of Engineering, Civil Engineering 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
Possession of 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: 6/23/2026
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:
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:
The ideal candidate's application and resume will clearly and concisely address as many of the following desirable qualifications as possible: knowledge and experience in the civil engineering field and especially in the duties mentioned above; experience directing the work of others-including coaching/mentoring other engineers and draftspersons; can execute work assignments autonomously; can communicate and write well; is detail and quality oriented; can manage multiple tasks and projects at the same time; is organized; goes the extra mile to meet deadlines; is dependable; is experienced in customer service; can work effectively in a team environment; has familiarity/expertise with water conveyance, water storage, and flood-control facilities; has knowledge and familiarity with hydrology and hydraulics modeling; and has computer skills in spreadsheets, computer-aided drafting, engineering analysis programs, MS office 365 and other related software, along with the ability to learn new computer applications.
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!
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:
Kalie Chang
(916) 600-8583
maikau.chang@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
How to Apply: Submit a completed State Employment Application (STD 678), resume, cover letter, and Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).
The cover letter should introduce yourself and briefly explain why your background and experience align with the duties and responsibilities of this position. The SOQ must be a minimum of one page and no more than three pages in length, single-spaced, using 12-point Arial font, and written in narrative paragraph format (not bullet points or lists). Please reference SAP Position Number 50002882 and Job Control Number JC-519109 in the Explanations section of your application.
The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.
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 "2505," clicking "Search," click to view the Exam Bulletin, and then clicking the "Training and Experience Evaluation" under the Taking the Examination section.
The follow 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:
SENIOR 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.