Engineering Geologist

Job Description and Duties

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

Are you looking for an exciting and fulfilling career in protecting California’s water resources? The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Division of Financial Assistance has an opening for a permanent full-time Engineering Geologist in the Technical Review Unit I within the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Cleanup Fund.

The position requires that the Engineering Geologist (EG) work independently to review complex technical documents and information related to planning, management, and implementation of water quality protection at current and former contaminated UST sites. Applicants should possess strong critical thinking and project management skills; expertise in UST assessment and remediation; and the ability to review and interpret data, technical reports, feasibility studies, and action plans. The EG would be expected to provide timely and professional assistance to the public, stakeholders, internal staff, and external agencies. The position requires occasional field visits to current and/or former UST sites.

The position is with the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance in the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Cleanup Fund Branch. The office is located at 801 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.

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: .

You will find additional information about the job in the .

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. E mployees 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

To be considered for this position, you must include the following:

• RPA# 26-550-024 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 credential’s 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: .

Electronic submittal of applications and attachments through jobs.ca.gov is preferred. Emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted. 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:

• Knowledge and experience in conducting investigations and remediation of multiple contaminants in various media including soil, soil gas, and groundwater.
• Experience in organizing and conducting field investigations and facility inspections.
• An understanding of the contaminants’ fate and transport in the environment and their impacts on the water resources and principles governing the movement of contaminants in groundwater basins.
• Experience reviewing environmental workplans and reports.
• Knowledge and/or experience with project management.
• Ability to consistently apply good judgment in analyzing water quality issues.
• Ability to work independently and in cooperation with other technical staff; follow through on commitments; organize and set priorities; and meet deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Good computer (Excel, Word, Access, and Power Point) and writing skills.
• Knowledge of regulations related to the protection of water resources, public health, and environment.

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 12 pt. font , and normal margins.

Indicate your total years of experience when answering the following statements/questions:

1. Describe your understanding of and experience with site assessment, cleanup, and monitoring of subsurface contamination; fate and transport of subsurface contamination; soil, soil vapor and groundwater remedial technologies; risk assessment of subsurface soil, soil vapor and groundwater contamination.
2. Describe your experience in organizing and conducting field investigations and facility inspections; reviewing regulatory and historical records related to assessment, cleanup, and monitoring of subsurface contamination.
3. Describe your experience providing excellent customer service and the steps you took to ensure your customer(s)’ satisfaction.

Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated may 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.