Senior Water Resource Control Engineer (JC-494157)

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 494157 to locate the job posting and apply. 

Note: This position will no longer be available on CalCareers once the job closes on 1/28/2026. No applications will be accepted after the job closing date.

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.

The State Water Resources Control Board has an opening for a Senior Water Resource Control Engineer (Specialist) in the Office of Sustainable Groundwater Management. The position is located at 1001 I Street, 18th Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 right in the heart of downtown next to light rail stations and other public transportation The incumbent will help implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA was enacted to halt groundwater overdraft and bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge, ideally through local management of groundwater. The Board’s implementation of SGMA will involve supporting local, regional, and statewide efforts and may involve limiting pumping, on a temporary basis, where and when found to be warranted. For information on the State Water Resources Control Board's implementation of SGMA, please see the duty statement and these links:

• Program website: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/sgma/ 
• Most recent SGMA board hearing: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSep2025  
• Most recent OSGM information item: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeApril2025
• Board racial equity resolution: https://tinyurl.com/2021-0050  
• Principles and strategies related to drinking water wells: https://tinyurl.com/DW-wells 

Duties: 

The Senior Water Resource Control Engineer (Specialist) is responsible for technical, policy, strategic, communication, and coordination work, ensuring that the State Water Board meets requirements under SGMA, coordinating with staff across agencies, assisting interested parties, conducting and overseeing investigations, and managing contractors. The incumbent will focus on evaluating components of water budgets, subsidence, and developing or reviewing groundwater models to evaluate basin conditions. The incumbent should be able to communicate findings clearly orally and in writing. 

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

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

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.