ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES; California; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Water Resources in California seeks an Engineer, Water Resources in the Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Flood Management Section, located in the South Central Region Office in Fresno. The role supports the NFIP and river investigations with a focus on flood risk reduction.

You will conduct studies, gather data, prepare reports, and assist with project implementations. Travel and training duties are included as part of a collaborative team effort.

Qualifications

• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Broad computer skills including Microsoft Office, GIS, and drafting software desirable.
• Experience in managing water resources, field data collection, and working with floodplain information is valued.

Responsibilities

• Support the NFIP program and River Investigations activities in a matrix environment.
• Evaluate local floodplain management programs and preparereports.
• Conduct training workshops, provide public outreach, gather data, and travel as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

GIS

Drafting software

Microsoft Office

Tools

GIS software

Drafting software

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

$6,488.00 - $12,152.00 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: 12/4/2026

Are you a great communicator who is self‑motivated and would like to work with local communities on issues related to flood management? Do you want to be part of a collaborative team of technical experts to help preserve California’s water resources for the next generation? If so, then this position may be right for you! The Department of Water Resources’ South Central Region Office has an opening for an Engineer, Water Resources position in the Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Flood Management Section.

Under the direction of the Senior Engineer, Water Resources, the successful candidate will perform a variety of engineering tasks and assignments, including conducting studies and investigations, gathering resources data, preparing reports, and assisting with the implementation of projects related to water resources fields. The candidates’ primary responsibilities will include working in a matrix environment to support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) but will also support other activities within the River Investigations Branch.

The candidate will help protect local communities in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast from damaging floods, especially as climate change continues to increase flood risk. The position duties involve performing a variety of engineering tasks and assignments, including evaluating how local communities are administering their floodplain management programs, conducting training workshops, providing public outreach, completing investigations, gathering data, and preparing reports.

This position requires the candidate to work cooperatively with others; maintain regular, consistent, and predicable attendance; possess a high level of oral and written communication skills; exercise initiative and competent independent judgment; analyze situations accurately; and take effective actions. The candidate may represent the Department in meetings and will be required to travel as needed.

We encourage all candidates interested in this challenging and rewarding work to apply for this position. The position will be headquartered at the South Central Region Office in a new state‑of‑the‑art building in Fresno. The position requires working in the office a minimum of four days per week.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES

ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES $6,488.00 - $7,735.00A $7,428.00 - $9,296.00B $8,896.00 - $11,131.00C $9,712.00 - $12,152.00D New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Number of Positions

1

Work Location

Telework

Hybrid

Job Type

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

Division of Regional Assistance, South Central Region Office, River Investigations Branch/Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Flood Management Section, Fresno

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.

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

This position requires participation at meetings, workshops, training, fieldwork, and other work‑related activities that may require consecutive days of travel and overnight stays. 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.

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:

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with effective oral and written communication skills, including report‑writing and giving presentations. Broad computer skills, including the Microsoft suite of software, GIS, and drafting software is desirable. Experience of and knowledge about managing water resources, working on or around rivers, field data collection, administering Floodplain Information and Risk Management Systems, or the National Flood Insurance Program should be included in application materials. Teamwork, customer service skills, and community outreach are valued traits. Experience in surveying, hydraulics, and hydrology are a plus!

Contact Information

The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

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
[phone]
[e-mail]

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 a completed Standard State Application (std. 678), a cover letter, and a resume that is no longer than 3 pages online or to the address shown. Please reference SAP Position # 50003232 Job Control #536693 in the Explanations 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. The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.

For more information about the State hiring process, please consider other resources. To learn more about how to get a State job, please consult official resources.

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.