Planning Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Communities everywhere share the need for clean water. And as they work to meet that need, they're facing new, more complex challenges every day. Our water professionals collaborate to contribute innovative ideas, guided by scientific rigor and a vision for sustainable growth. Every day, we're helping communities improve, reuse, and protect our world's most precious resource.
Join our team to deliver transformational projects that will benefit future generations. Grow with us, H2O+U
Your Opportunity
Our Sacramento, California, office is seeking an experienced Water Resources Planning Engineer to join our multi-disciplinary team of integrated water management professionals, each committed to delivering sound and strategic consulting services to a range of local, regional, state, and federal clients. The position is for California water wonks who enjoy engaging with clients and stakeholders to find viable solutions, collaborating across diverse teams, and helping to shape the future of water policy and management in California.
Your Key Responsibilities
Through teamwork and collaboration, you will support all aspects of consulting: winning, doing, and managing.
Win: Support marketing and business development efforts to grow Stantec's water resources planning and management services.

• Identify trends and leverage your knowledge of the water industry, market, and clients.
• Engage our clients in meaningful discussions about their most critical issues and translate those discussions into opportunities to deliver solutions.
• Work with our marketing and business development team to support the pursuit and capture of projects within your area of expertise.
• Actively participate in regional and national industry groups to advance the Stantec brand and maximize exposure of Stantec's subject matter experts.

Do: Deliver high quality water resources consulting services.

• Act as a project lead and/or project manager for projects in broad areas that draw on your water resources expertise.
• Apply your knowledge of and experience in California water resources which may include surface water, groundwater, and recycled water supplies; river systems; water-related infrastructure; applicable laws/policies/regulations/guidelines; and/or understanding of operations of major water systems, such as the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP).
• Lead and participate in multi-disciplinary teams conducting water resources planning projects throughout California and the western U.S.
• Perform and/or lead technical evaluations supporting the planning and design of integrated water supply and infrastructure projects. This may include managing and/or supporting hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic modeling studies, financial and economic analyses, environmental reviews, and/or interested party engagement efforts.
• Coordinate with project managers, project engineers and scientists, clients, communities, regulatory agencies, and subcontractors.

Manage: Contribute to the development of our team of high-performing water resources professionals.

• Support professional development of our team through on-the-job training, exposure to various levels of responsibility and interaction with clients and stakeholders, and guidance on their participation in professional organizations and events.
• Supervise and mentor staff to support their personal career growth.
• Reinforce Stantec's core values: we put people first, we do what is right, we are better together, and we are driven to achieve.

Education, Experience, and Credentials

• Bachelor's degree in water resources engineering, civil/environmental engineering, hydrology, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 7 - 15 years of increasing responsibility in the execution of complex water resources planning and management projects for public/government sector clients; Areas of specialty may include integrated water resources management, water supply reliability, flood risk management; and ecosystem and habitat enhancement.
• Professional certification/registration (PE, PH, etc.) in appropriate area of expertise preferred but not required.
• Experience with and understanding of California water policies, programs, regulations, and guidelines.
• In-depth understanding of issues related to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CVP/SWP operations, and/or the operation of reservoirs and other water management facilities in California.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including ability to convey complex issues to a variety of audiences. Experience collaborating with stakeholders, the environmental community, and the public.
• Familiarity with and experience using or interpreting outputs of analytical tools (CalSim/WRIMS, WEAP, DSM2, HEC-ResSim, MODFLOW, IWFM, IMPLAN, etc.), scripting/programming languages (e.g. Python, R, VBA) and other analytical methods and decision-making frameworks to support water resources evaluations.
• Experience incorporating NEPA/CEQA or other regulatory compliance processes into traditional planning processes and contributing to the preparation of environmental review documents.
• Familiarity with state and federal planning processes and requirements, such as federal feasibility studies consistent with PR&G.
• Experience communicating and working with local, state, and federal agency staff.
• Strong client relationships and experience with local/regional water management agencies.
• Geographically based in the greater Sacramento region or willingness to relocate.

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that may be required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other's talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. At Stantec, we live our corporate values every day.

• Stantec is the only engineering design firm that has been rated a Climate Leader with an A- score by CDP for the last three years.
• Stantec has been named by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers and America's Best Employers for Women. Additionally, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society selected Stantec as one of the Top 50 workplaces for Indigenous STEM professionals.

Pay Range:
• Locations in CO, HI, MD & Various CA, NJ Areas - Min Salary $ 112,300.00 - Max Salary $ 168,500.00
Pay Transparency: In compliance with pay transparency laws, pay ranges are provided for positions in locations where required. Please note, the final agreed upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. At Stantec certain roles are bonus eligible. Actual compensation for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on the agreed number of working hours per week.
Benefits Summary: Regular full-time and part-time employees (working at least 20 hours per week) have access to medical, dental, and vision plans, a wellness program, health saving accounts, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) plan, employee stock purchase program, life and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term/long-term disability plans, emergency travel benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional membership fee coverage and paid family leave. Regular full-time and part-time employees will receive ten paid holidays in each calendar year. In addition, employees will be eligible to accrue vacation between 10 and 20 days per year and eligible for paid sick leave (and if more generous, in accordance with state and local law).
Temporary/casual employees have access to 401(k) plans, employee stock purchase program, and paid leave, in accordance with state and local law.
The benefits information listed above may not apply to union positions because benefits for such positions are governed by applicable collective bargaining agreements
Primary Location: United States | CA | Sacramento
Organization: 1840 Water-US Pacific-Sacramento CA
Employee Status: Regular
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 12/08/2026 03:08:33
Req ID: 1001324
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.