Water Resources Engineer

About the role

The California Department of Water Resources' (DWR) Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit (SSWSFU) seeks an innovative and passionate engineer who can maintain and periodically update, create, and calibrate hydrologic models to provide timely and accurate water supply forecasts to State, federal, and local agency water managers across California. This is a unique opportunity to combine passions for hydrology, hydrometeorology, engineering ingenuity, and public service into an exciting career opportunity supporting one of DWR's most innovative, important, and impactful programs and contributing to California's water resilience and climate adaptation efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain runoff forecasting models and hydrologic analyses
• Use Python, machine learning, and advanced modeling tools to improve forecasting capabilities
• Collect and analyze field data from remote mountain and watershed locations
• Produce and communicate water supply forecasts to water agencies, reservoir operators, stakeholders, and the public
• Collaborate with State, federal, academic, and industry partners on innovative water forecasting initiatives
• Help manage the interagency CCSS program
• May serve in one of the management sections established in the Incident Command System to assist the Department in performing its emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation functions

Qualifications

• Graduation from a curriculum in civil engineering or engineering curriculum
• Must possess a valid CA driver's license
• Requires desire to travel and perform field work; backcountry experience preferred
• Requires reporting and working in the Sacramento office four days per week

Schedule

• Position is office-based, reporting in-person to the Sacramento office four days per week
• Periodic travel and fieldwork, including winter snow surveys, is required

Application window closes on 8/4/2026. Check minimum qualifications at the CalHR website. For more information about the California State hiring process, refer to the CalCareers Steps page.