SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER

State of California; California; Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

California Energy Commission seeks an Energy Sustainability Technical Lead to provide technical leadership in energy-related research and climate risk management. The role advances projects within the Sustainability and Resilience Branch, collaborating with agencies, industry, and academia to shape policy and technology deployment.

The position is remote-centered with hybrid work in California, requiring strong leadership and communication to advance energy-system resilience and decarbonization

Qualifications

• Desirable qualifications: substantial knowledge and technical expertise in mechanical engineering related to energy-related research on climate risk management; energy sector resilience; emissions of methane; and energy-system transition to meet state energy goals.
• Strong research and analytical skills and ability to make well-supported recommendations for planning and decision-making.
• Excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work activities, and deliver high-quality, timely work products.
• Ability to communicate effectively and prepare reports, presentations, and correspondence.
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and editing technical information for various audiences, including CEC leadership and the public.
• Ability to work well as part of a team and perform independent tasks that contribute toward shared goals.
• Ability to communicate complicated information in a simple, public-friendly manner.
• Experience in managing complex energy projects and programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in planning, development, and deployment of energy-related research and related activities.
• Represent the division before state and federal agencies, the Legislature, companies, and research organizations.
• Inform decision-makers on strategies for achieving the state’s energy goals and foster collaboration between governmental and private sectors.

Job description

Job Posting: Energy Sustainability Technical Lead

California Energy Commission

JC-535819 - Energy Sustainability Technical Lead SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER

$11,427.00 - $14,298.00 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: 10/26/2026

Job Description and Duties

Pending DOF Approval.

Under the general direction of the Branch Manager of the Sustainability and Resilience Branch within the Energy Research and Development Division (ERDD), the Energy Sustainability Technical Lead will perform challenging mechanical engineering work and provide technical leadership in the planning, development, and implementation of the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) research, development, demonstration, and deployment and other activities focused on energy-related research on climate risk management; energy sector resilience; energy-system impacts to public health and the environment; methane emissions; and the energy-system transition to meet state energy goals. In addition, the Energy Sustainability Technical Lead will represent the division and the CEC before various state and federal agencies, the Legislature, companies, research organizations, communities, and other parties. The Energy Sustainability Technical Lead will serve as a subject matter expert on policy, technology, market, and strategic issues; inform decisionmakers on strategies for achieving the state’s energy goals; and foster governmental and private sector collaboration.

The ERDD deploys over $200 million annually to advance new scientific approaches and technology innovations to meet the state’s clean energy and climate change policies, including but not limited to the areas of renewable energy supply, building and industrial decarbonization, sustainable transportation, energy storage, energy distribution, resilience and reliability, and carbon management. The Sustainability and Resilience Branch invests in projects and applied research that increase community energy resilience and reliability, accelerate food production decarbonization, and support California's transition to a climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable zero-carbon energy system.

Minimum Qualifications (MQs): The MQs for this classification can be found at CalHR. The documents you submit in your application package must highlight how you meet the MQs. If the MQs are not met, you will not be considered for this position.

Education Information: If you are using education to meet the minimum qualifications for this classification, please provide your unofficial transcripts. Applicants who completed their education outside of the United States (with foreign degrees/transcripts) must provide evaluated transcripts. The transcript evaluation must state the number of units to which foreign coursework is equal. Foreign education evaluation services can be found at https://www.naces.org. Official transcripts and official foreign degree transcripts will be required prior to appointment. If you are not using education to qualify for this classification, you do not need to submit transcripts. To bypass the required document, select Choose/Upload and select Bypass File.

Please let us know how you heard about this position by taking a brief survey at CEC Recruitment Survey.

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

Working Conditions

The CEC supports a hybrid workplace model with office-based and remote-centered workers. Limited in-person attendance and occasional travel may be required based on the needs of the division. Regular and consistent attendance is essential to successful performance.

This position is remote-centered, which means the incumbent works 50 percent or more of their time from an alternate work location. Teleworking is only available for employees who reside in California. You must be located in California and provide your in-state address prior to your start date.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #: JC-535819

Position #: 535-360-3579-001

Working Title: Energy Sustainability Technical Lead

Classification: SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER

$11,427.00 - $14,298.00 per Month

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

The CEC was established by the Legislature in 1974 to address energy challenges facing the state. Today, the CEC is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency and is leading the state to a 100% clean energy future. Serving all Californians, the CEC embodies diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has taken an active and meaningful role in creating an environment that enables each employee to thrive. The CEC operates under the umbrella of the California Natural Resources Agency and shares offices with the agency in a LEED Platinum Certified Building in downtown Sacramento.

The California Energy Commission seeks an Energy Sustainability Technical Lead in the Energy Research and Development Division/Sustainability and Resilience Branch/Administration. If you are interested in a challenging and exciting career in clean energy and are passionate about renewable, efficient, and reliable energy that addresses climate change, join our diverse team of global energy leaders! The California Energy Commission plays a lead role in creating the energy system of the future, not just in California, but globally.

This position is open to interested applicants who qualify. This can be a multi-step process. To be eligible to be hired:

1. Create an online CalCareers account. For a tutorial on the state application process, visit California State Hiring Process Instructional Video Series - YouTube or contact [e-mail].
2. Complete and pass the SME exam to be eligible to be hired for available positions. See information on Energy Commission Assessments and Exams.
3. To apply for this position, submit an application package through your CalCareers account. An application package must include all items under the "Required Application Package Documents" section. Resumes will not be accepted in place of a State Examination and Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications must include "to" and "from" dates (month/day/year), time base (full-time/part-time/number of hours per week/month), and applicable civil service classifications. State employees are subjected to a temporary reduction in pay in exchange of 2025 Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific reduction rate and hours were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit agreement.

Department Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov/

Special Requirements

You must include the following if you are applying by mail or in person:

1) How you are eligible (list eligibility, transfer within state service, reinstatement, SROA/surplus, etc.) in the Explanations box on the first page of the STD. 678.

2) The Job Control number 535819 and the title of the position you are applying for in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) box on the first page of the STD. 678.

3) Request for Personnel Action Number 360-101 in the Explanations box of the STD. 678.

4) Your original signature at the bottom of the first page of the STD. 678.

5) Include unofficial school transcripts with your application package if the position you are applying for has an educational requirement. You may be required to provide official transcripts if hired.

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:

1. Substantial knowledge and technical expertise in principles of mechanical engineering, specifically related to energy-related research on climate risk management; energy sector resilience; energy-system impacts to public health and the environment; emissions of methane; and the energy-system transition to meet state energy goals.
2. Strong research and analytical skills and ability to make well-supported recommendations for planning and decision-making.
3. Excellent interpersonal and team leadership skills.
4. Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize work activities, and deliver high-quality, timely work products.
5. Ability to communicate effectively and prepare clear, concise, complete, and technically accurate reports, presentations, and correspondence.
6. Experience in drafting, reviewing, and editing technical information for various audiences, including CEC leadership and the public.
7. Ability to work well as part of a team and perform independent tasks that contribute toward shared goals.
8. Ability to communicate effectively and be able to relay complicated information in a simple, public-friendly manner.
9. Experience in managing complex energy projects and programs.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: https://www.energy.ca.gov/

Human Resources Contact:
Personnel Office
[phone]
[e-mail]

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:
Equal Employment Opportunity Office Contact
[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.

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.