Principal Engineer, Water Resources

Are you ready to lead a fantastic team of engineers, geologists, scientists, technicians, and administrative professionals providing support for integrated regional water management efforts, assisting with sustainable groundwater management, evaluating water supplies, supporting floodplain management, responding to drought, promoting water conservation, collecting and disseminating all kinds of water and land use data, and conducting environmental studies and projects; all to help communities across Southern California and up along the east side of the southern of Sierra Nevada?

If so, apply today

The Southern Region Office needs a manager to guide its team; a leader who is accomplished at promoting the Department's vision and plans and advocating for program needs; a collaborator who is effective at working with a multitude of federal, tribal, state, and local partners and interests on politically charged or controversial issues; a mentor who can calm nerves, inspire confidence, and motivate both staff and management across the Department, among our government partners, and with the many communities in the Region.

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

Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-499512

Position #(s):
848-001-3255-690

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:
Los Angeles County

Telework:
Hybrid

Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information
Division of Regional Assistance, Southern Region Office, Glendale

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
Must be able to travel throughout the Region, to field locations, to headquarters in Sacramento, and to other venues as necessary to represent the Region, Division, or Department with little or no advanced warning.

The Department of Water Resources is committed to its mission and employees, and we are grounded in our commitment to public safety. This position will require a minimum of two days a week in the office. 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.

This position is covered in the Political Reform Act and requires financial disclosure within 30 days of the first and last day physically worked in a covered position and annually by April 1st.

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: 1/28/2026
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 optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Other - Cover Letter
• Other - See Essay information under Special Instructions below.

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 is knowledgeable of leadership principles, program administration, and CA water history and laws or codes affecting DWR's programs; is familiar with the water agencies and interests of Southern California communities; is practiced at managing staff and showing empathy and consideration for others; is a strategic thinker and adept at learning new things, adapting to changing conditions, and balancing competing priorities; is highly organized, industrious, and accountable; and has excellent verbal and written communication skills and is comfortable speaking to large groups and the media.

Benefits
Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

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:
Michelle Rivera
(279) 231-0769
Michelle.Rivera@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 a completed State application (STD. 678); 2) Cover Letter; and 3) Essay. Please reference the SAP Position # 50003283 and Job Control # JC-499512 in the "examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying" section of your application.

The essay is a maximum 2-pages typed in Arial or Calibri 12-point font, explaining how the applicant's knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience align with the desirable qualifications for the position.

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:
PRINCIPAL 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.

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