Engineering Geologist

State Water Resources Control Board; Riverside (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Water Resources Control Board invites applications for an Engineering Geologist in the Agriculture & Cannabis Section, based in Riverside, CA. The role requires independent travel to diverse sites across Southern California with possible overnight stays.

Ideal candidates demonstrate integrity, initiative, dependability, and strong communication. Public interaction, field inspections, and GIS proficiency are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment and cooperativeness.
• Strong written and oral communication and public speaking abilities.
• Experience in fieldwork, inspections, and interacting with the public.

Responsibilities

• Travel from the office to urban and rural sites across Southern California counties.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required for field duties.

Skills

Integrity

Initiative

Dependability

Good judgment

Cooperation

Public speaking

Customer service

Communication skills

Travel willingness

Field inspections

GIS knowledge

Education

Engineering Geologist eligibility

Tools

GIS

Job description

Job Description and Duties

Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.

The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board has an opening for an Engineering Geologist to join the Agriculture & Cannabis Section. The position is located at 3737 Main Street, Suite 500, Riverside, CA 92501 right in the heart of downtown, just across the street from the Fox Performing Arts Center, and a few blocks from the Metrolink station.

Duties: The position requires independent travel from the office to urban and rural sites in San Diego, Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties. Overnight stays may also be required. Please see the Duty Statement attached for the full description.

Additional information

Candidates must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class.

If the position requires driving, you must possess a current and valid driver’s license. Please Do Not include full Social Security Number, method of eligibility, and LEAP information in your application package.

Working Conditions

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position .

In accordance with the Statewide Telework Policy and GC 14200, the successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment. Proof of residency may be required.

Salary Information - CalHR salary rules allow appointment at the entrance rate (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 599.673) of a classification. For classes with alternate ranges, placement is based on education/experience. Employees appointed to the Attorney or Water Resource Control Engineer classification will receive Recruitment Higher Above Minimum (HAM) rate in accordance with the approved

In addition, note: Effective July 1, 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) which reduces an employee’s monthly salary in exchange for leave credits. Employees appointed to this classification will have their monthly salary reduced and will accrue hours of PLP 2025 on the first day of each pay period in accordance with the applicable The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Special Requirements

In order to be considered for this position, you must include the following:

• RPA# 26-180-018 in the “Examination or Job Title(s)” section of the State application when submitting a hardcopy application.
• Photocopies of degree and official transcripts (if needed to establish eligibility).

Must have Engineering Geologist list, transfer, or reinstatement eligibility and be reachable on the certification list. Here is the link to the exam: .

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States that does meet accreditation standards must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due during final minimum qualification evaluation of candidate(s). A link of accepted evaluation agencies can be found here: .

You are required to complete employment history on the application form (STD. 678), including work experience, dates, hours worked, contact names and phone numbers of supervisors on the state application. Applicants who fail to submit a completed STD. 678 may be disqualified.

In the hiring interview, the panel will consider education, experience, personal development, personal traits and fitness for the job. In appraising experience, more weight may be given to the breadth of pertinent experience and evidence of the candidate's ability to accept and fulfill increasing responsibilities than to the length of his/her experience. For additional information, you may refer to the class specification.

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:

Please remember these are desirables and are not required.

A well-qualified candidate would exhibit some or all the following:

• Self-motivated, a good work ethic, and a desire to learn and improve environmental public policy.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience in public speaking and experience in customer service interacting with members of the public.
• Experience and ability to conduct professional work in the field, such as on-site inspections possibly while interacting with members of the public, enrollees, or other parties.
• Experience, including in the field, interpreting hydrogeologic, geomorphologic, and/or geologic processes.
• The ability to organize and set priorities on assignments and meet deadlines.
• The ability and willingness to travel independently throughout California, including overnight trips, as needed.
• Knowledge and experience in data analysis, data management, and proficiency in GIS.
• Knowledge and experience evaluating surface water and/or groundwater quality issues.
• Knowledge and experience addressing water quality issues.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, and the ability to evaluate technical reports applying geologic and hydrogeologic principles.

Benefits

Water Board employees may be eligible for benefits. Health benefits and leave programs are available for most permanent, full-time employees, and some permanent, part-time employees. Benefit eligibility may depend on length of service and may be subject to collective bargaining agreements negotiated between the State of California and employee organizations that define wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment. and

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted along with the State Application and serves as documentation of candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. It should be typed, no more than two (2) pages in length, using Arial size 12 pt. font, and normal margins.

Indicate your level of knowledge and years of experience when addressing the following:

• Describe your knowledge of and experience, including in the field, evaluating and interpreting hydrogeologic, geomorphologic, and/or geologic processes.
• Describe your knowledge of and/or experience evaluating surface water and/or groundwater quality issues.
• Describe your experience researching, analyzing, interpreting, and managing technical data.
• Describe your experience presenting technical information and/or in public speaking.
• Describe your experience providing customer service and/or working directly with members of the public.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated will not be considered.

For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit: . Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Failure to comply may result in disqualification.

Note: Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be evaluated or considered as a response to the SOQ.

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 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.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see below for specific requirements.
• Other - Cover Letter is required and must be included.