Engineering Geologist
Posted on March 10, 2026 by California State Personnel Board
- Cape Town, United States of America
- $6488.0 - $12215.0
- Full Time
State Water Resources Control Board
ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST
$6,488.00 - $12,215.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Final Filing Date: 4/8/2026
Job Description and Duties
Please note, the Water Boards do not participate in E-Verify.
Are you interested in a meaningful career talking California’s most pressing water quality and natural resources challenges? Do you enjoy fieldwork and collaborating with others to protect the environment? If so, apply today to join our dedicated team.
The California Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s Redding Office is seeking a motivated and skilled Engineering Geologist to support the Forest Activities Program. The position is located at 364 Knollcrest Dr. Ste 205, Redding, CA 96002.
The Engineering Geologist will play a key role in supporting the goals of the State and Regional Board’s Strategic Plan by evaluating, inspecting, monitoring, and regulating timberland management activities on non-federal lands. The incumbent will work under the close supervision of a Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory) and will be required to travel to remote areas and conduct field work in difficult terrain and weather conditions.
Duties:
Under the close supervision of the Senior Environmental Scientist (Supervisory), the incumbent will coordinate with other State Agencies to review timber harvest plans (THPs) and timber harvesting plan emergencies and exemptions, conduct field inspections and develop recommendations to prevent, minimize and mitigate impacts on water quality from forest management, post-fire recovery, ecosystem restorations and fuel reduction projects.
Other duties include maintaining knowledge of water quality statutes and regulations, geologic and hydrogeologic aspects of forestland and vegetation management practices, rural road and watercourse crossing design, planning and ecological effects, erosion control design and maintenance and watershed analysis of multiple land use projects and their impacts on fisheries, water supply, and other beneficial uses of water.
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.
Working Conditions
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.
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. 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.
Position Details
Department Information
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the nine (9) Regional Water Quality Control Boards (RWQCB) (collectively the Water Boards) work to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Water Boards value diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the organization. We foster an environment where employees from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We believe the diversity of our employees is essential to inspiring innovative solutions. Together we further our mission to preserve, enhance, and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health, and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water resource allocation and efficient use, for the benefit of present and future generations. Join the Water Boards to improve the lives of all Californians.
Department Website: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/
Special Requirements
- RPA# 25-157-024 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: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1685.
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.
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 4/8/2026Who May Apply
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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.
Desirable Qualifications
- Technical skills and knowledge related to the evaluation of land management activities including those specific to forest land management and watershed management for ecosystem benefits.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a record of establishing good working relationships with peers and non-peers.
- Ability to manage complex projects that include working with a variety of parties to stay on schedule.
- Knowledge of and/or experience developing technical reports.
- Knowledge of and/or experience working with a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency professional team.
- Understanding of environmental regulations.
- Knowledge of and/or experience using GIS applications for landscape and project assessments.
- Ability to safely operate an all-terrain vehicle.
Candidates who do not meet every desirable qualification are still encouraged to apply.
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. https://www.calhr.ca.gov/Pages/California-State-Civil-Service-Employee-Benefits-Summary.aspx and Health Benefits | CalPERS
Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.
Department Website: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/
Human Resources Contact:
Jennifer Fiederer-Luna
(916) 341-5018
jennifer.fiederer-luna@waterboards.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Angela Wilson
(530) 224-4856
angela.wilson@waterboards.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:Shyla Hoffman
(916) 341-5881
shyla.hoffman@waterboards.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
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 2 (two) pages in length, using Arial font, no smaller than 12 pt, and normal margins.
Your SOQ needs to answer/address the following:
- Summarize your interest in this specific position, and the knowledge, abilities, and experiences that make you uniquely qualified based on the job duties (see attached duty statement) and the desirable qualifications listed above.
- Describe your experience with and knowledge of timberland management activities, California’s Forest Practice Act and Rules, and related water quality issues and impacts.
- Describe your ability to manage complex projects and relationships with multiple stakeholders and interested parties.
- Describe your knowledge and experience related to conducting field work in difficult field settings and/or post-fire environments.
Applications received without the SOQ addressed as stated may not be considered.
For guidance on writing effective SOQs, visit: Work4CA: How to Write a Statement of Qualifications. 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.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
Advertised until:
April 9, 2026
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