To be considered for this position, you must apply at CalCareers.ca.gov. To apply, you must first create a CalCareers account. Once your account is created, you can search for job code 506738 to locate the job posting and apply. 

Link: CalCareers

Note: This position will no longer be available on CalCareers once the job closes on 2/23/2026. No applications will be accepted after the job closing date.

Are you looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in water resource policy and management? If you enjoy using your engineering, communication, and leadership skills and would like to help state decision makers shape short- and long-term drought planning activities, then this may be the position for you! Apply today and join our team. The State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Water Rights has an opening for a Senior Water Resource Control Engineer Specialist in the Drought Planning, Hearings and Special Projects Section of the Bay Delta and Hearings Branch. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 14th Floor, Sacramento, right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation.

Duties:

This position offers a unique and challenging opportunity to serve as a technical and multi-disciplinary team lead for the development and implementation of a wide variety of long-term drought planning and management activities, projects, and programs designed to improve the efficiency and efficacy of the State Water board’s Division of Water Rights’ drought management actions; and to assist with complex and controversial water right hearings, adjudicatory proceedings, and permitting actions before the State Water Board.  Please review the attached duty statement for more information.

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.

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

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

Working Conditions

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

Positions at the Water Boards may be eligible for telework with in-person attendance based on the operational needs of the position and might be expected to comply with Executive Order (EO) 22-25 after July 1, 2026.

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 Civil Service Pay Scales.

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 bargaining contract. The salary range(s) included on this job posting do not reflect the reduction in pay.

Job type: Full-Time

$11,437.00 - $14,315.00 per Month

The Water Resources Control Board is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSFL) Qualified Employer.