Demo

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST

Department of Water Resources
Sacramento, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 5/11/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/1/2026

Do you enjoy working with tabular and spatial data, and making a difference to end users applying aerial imagery, spatial analysis, cartography, and visualization skills? Come join our team of highly talented scientists in the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Land Use Program!

 

The DWR Division of Regional Assistance, Water Use Efficiency Branch, CIMIS Land Use and Water Use Section, Land Use Unit, is seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent educational background and experience, including geospatial expertise, remote sensing, WebGIS, programming, and advanced data analytics skills. We are looking for someone who enjoys working with data to perform meaningful, challenging, and rewarding tasks to join a team of highly qualified scientists in our Land Use Program. The long-term goal of the Land Use Program is to improve the frequency and efficiency of statewide land-use surveys by integrating remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with field surveys, while analyzing data from local sources, satellite imagery, and high-elevation digital imagery. The main emphasis of our current field-level land-use surveys is mapping irrigated agricultural land statewide, including urban agriculture and native vegetation. Our land use surveys include more than 70 different crop types within 10 crop categories, and we also map irrigation methods and water sources where applicable. Land use data is the basis for calculating statewide agricultural water uses for the California Water Plan, water resources modelling, and supporting the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, among other uses. The Environmental Scientist will be responsible for various assignments in the development, analysis, and quality assurance and control of land use data, in addition to participating in planning, organizing, and fulfilling work assignments as a member of project teams working on multi-disciplinary tasks.

 

 

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

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
  • ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
  • Job Application Package Checklist
  • Duty Statement
Job Code #:
JC-514052
Position #(s):
841-630-0762-010
Working Title:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
Classification:
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
$4,418.00 - $6,035.00 A
$5,370.00 - $7,350.00 B
$6,796.00 - $9,321.00 C
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Facility:
Mailing Address

Division of Regional Assistance, Water Use Efficiency Branch, CIMIS Land Use and Water Use Section, Land Use Unit, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov/

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

The duties require occasional travel to attend meetings, training, and/or field.

 

The Department of Water Resources is committed to its mission and employees, and we are grounded in our commitment to public safety.  Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is essential to the successful performance in this position.

 

All employees are responsible for contributing to an inclusive, safe, and secure work environment that values diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and is free from discrimination.

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 of computing and analytical skills, experience including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, remote sensing software such as ENVI or ERDAS Imagine, and Python programming. Knowledge of SQL, Machine Learning, and other programming languages such as R and HTML will be advantageous. Field work, analyzing and evaluating environmental data, working with entities engaged in environmental work, and written and oral presentations are recommended.


The ideal applicant has excellent capacity to pay attention to detail, is reliable and productive in both independent and/or collaborative work settings and has advanced computer skills in word processing and spreadsheets along with strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. Basic knowledge of irrigated agricultural crops grown in California and water usage in urban and agricultural areas is preferred.

Salary : $53,016 - $111,852

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