PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES

Job Description and Duties The Department of Water Resources (DWR) Plan Formulation Branch (PFB) is seeking a dynamic, forward–thinking leader who is passionate about improving California’s water future, thrives on empowering others, has a strategic mindset, and fosters a collaborative culture founded on respect, trust, and continuous improvement. This position serves as the Principal Engineer, Water Resources, Manager and provides high‑level guidance, policy direction, and leadership in developing the State’s strategic water resource master plan, known as the California Water Plan, as well as advancing DWR’s Climate Change Program. DWR’s multidisciplinary Climate Change and California Water Plan teams develop and perform cutting‑edge climate risk and adaptation studies as well as manage California’s only comprehensive statewide water resource planning framework. The Principal Engineer oversees the assessment of current and future water resource conditions, fosters innovation, recommends effective policies, statutory changes, investments, and actions to address critical water issues across all water resource sectors. The role includes delivering presentations, reports, and other communication materials that clearly convey complex technical and planning information to executive leadership, decision‑makers, non‑technical audiences, and supporting effective understanding and participation in the California Water Plan process. The California Water Plan identifies strategies to meet California’s water resource management needs within the framework of the Executive Branch’s water policy. It integrates many sectors including water supply, quality, flood and wildfire management, ecosystems, land use, energy, watershed management, and groundwater, covering planning activities from headwaters to the ocean at both statewide and watershed scales. As the leader of the plan, the Principal Engineer directs investigations, integrates multidisciplinary work, and recommends policies, actions, and investments that promote sustainability and resilience of California’s water resources. Leadership exercised in this position includes overseeing program development and management involving more than a dozen workstreams performed through highly matrixed teams involving several divisions and programs. The role requires synthesizing workstream outputs into recommended state water policies and investments, fostering innovation, and developing strategic recommendations to accelerate implementation of water policy and actions, including improvements to regulation and permitting, institutional authorities, financing, and governance. This position also provides information and strategic guidance for special initiatives such as potential changes in statute, advancing the Governor’s Administration policy directives, informing general obligation bonds, shaping public water resource planning and policy conversations, and recruiting and sustaining a high‑performing water planning and policy organization. Final filing date: 5/21/2026. Minimum Requirements Minimum requirements are specified in the Class Specification. Desirable Qualifications The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of the water sectors listed above and demonstrates excellent communication, enthusiasm, and an ability to collaborate across multiple water‑related disciplines, other state agencies, and interested parties statewide. The incumbent is expected to exercise sound judgment, maintain professionalism in the face of criticism or conflict, inspire trust, empowerment, and collaboration among team members, and establish strong working relationships within and outside DWR. The candidate should also possess knowledge of state water policy and strategic initiatives and the ability to analyze, guide, and recommend state statutes related to water resource planning and management. Special Requirements Moderate travel for site inspection of construction projects and attending technical agency meetings statewide is required. Overtime work may be required at times to meet program schedules and deadlines. Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is essential to the successful performance in this position. Benefits Benefits include continuous professional development and a wide range of training opportunities. The office is located in the Natural Resources Headquarters Building, adjacent to Light Rail in downtown Sacramento, and the state reimburses a portion of monthly public transit pass costs. Equal Opportunity Employer The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender expression or identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. California maintains a drug‑free workplace and expects all employees to comply with applicable laws and rules. Position Details Job Code: JC‑512090 Position #: 841‑840‑3255‑691 Working Title: PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES Classification: PRINCIPAL ENGINEER WATER RESOURCES Salary: $15,263.00 – $17,336.00 per month (minimum for new to state candidates) Number of Positions: 1 Work Location: Sacramento County Telework: Hybrid Job Type: Permanent, Full Time Facility: Mailing Address `, #J-18808-Ljbffr State of California