DWR - Engineer-In-Training II

Salary: $6,100.00 - $9,011.00 Monthly

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: PEA 00271 10/26

Department: Department of Natural Resources

Division: Division of Water Resources

Opening Date: 10/08/2026

Closing Date: 10/25/2026 11:59 PM Mountain

FLSA: Determined by Position

Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

Primary Physical Work Address: 1313 Sherman Street, Suite 821, Denver CO 80203

Hiring Pay Rate: Employees new to State Government will be paid on a bi-weekly basis.

FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.

Department Contact Information:

Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.

How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Department Information

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO

Are you interested in investing in a career that makes a difference?

Consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. It's our mission to manage and conserve Colorado's natural resources for the benefit of people today - and tomorrow. That means we have to balance development with conservation so the state we all love provides similar opportunities for our children and their children.

We invite you to explore our website at to find out more about the work we do to manage Colorado's natural resources for today - and tomorrow.

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply.

In addition to offering rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Medical and Dental plans
• Strong, flexible retirement plans including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus pre-tax 401K and 457 plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Wellness programs
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous vacation and sick leave
• Flexible work schedule options and remote-work options
• Career advancement opportunities throughout the State system

Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to:

Division of Water Resources (DWR):

State Engineer's Office

Our mission is to administer the waters of the State to maximize lawful beneficial use, ensure that dams and water wells are properly constructed and safe, and provide information about water resources to the public. Division of Water Resources.

The Water Supply work unit exists to serve the needs of the public and to conserve, protect, develop, and maximize the beneficial use of the State's present and future water supplies. The work unit is responsible for conducting the engineering studies and analyses needed to support the decisions of the State Engineer, the Division Engineers, and the Colorado Ground Water Commission in administering water in the following areas: issuing well permits, subdivision water supply plan reviews, Determinations of Water Rights, replacement plans, changes of water rights, Water Court resume reviews, substitute water supply plan evaluations, inter-state water compact administration, hearings, water court case negotiations and trials, and public assistance for the northeastern portion of the state.

Description of Job

OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RESIDENTS OF COLORADO

This position exists to provide support to maximize the beneficial use of waters of the state and facilitate the above by conducting engineering and hydrologic investigations pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and policies of the State Engineer and Colorado Ground Water Commission. This position analyzes applications for well permits and approves or denies them or returns them to the applicant with necessary explanations; reviews water court cases and prepares determinations of facts; reviews requests for approval of substitute water supply plans; evaluates applications for determinations of water rights, replacement plans, and changes of water rights within the Designated Basins; reviews submittals from County planning departments and other State and Federal agencies for technical or legal issues; provides support to the State Engineer, Division Engineer, and Colorado Ground Water Commission on matters within the South Platte River Basin inside of the Denver Basin; and consults, assists, advises, and confers with water users and/or their attorneys and engineers.

Specific job duties include but are not limited to:

• Reviews and evaluates requests for substitute water supply plans/replacement plans by evaluating surface and ground water hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water court decrees, and evaluating site specific data.
• Determine if substitute water supply plans result in injury to decreed water rights based on review and evaluation of the engineering report, consumptive use model and Glover model.
• Performs engineering evaluations of water court cases for engineering, geologic, legal, and administrative correctness and provides comments to the Division staff.
• Participates in negotiations with attorneys, consulting engineers, and geologist of applicants for water rights on behalf of the Division of Water Resources.
• Reviews and provides analysis and the State Engineer's opinion to counties regarding the adequacy and potential injury to other water rights of proposed subdivision water supply plans by reviewing applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies, and evaluating groundwater hydrology, performing engineering analyses, researching water rights, evaluating site specific data
• Provide (written and verbal) information, assistance, and advisement to the general public, water users, attorneys, engineers and private organizations on water issues, Colorado Revised Statutes, State Engineer and Ground Water Commission Rules, regulations, and guidelines, policies, geology, hydrology, and availability of groundwater.
• Conducts engineering, hydrologic, and geologic analysis and evaluation of applications for change of water rights within the Designated Basins and applications to construct and use large-capacity and non-exempt wells pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, rules, regulations, and the policies of the State Engineer and Ground Water Commission.
• Evaluation and/or final review of applications to construct and use small-capacity and exempt wells.
• Determine, after analysis and evaluation, if an application to the Ground Water Commission for Determination of Water Right within a Denver Basin bedrock aquifer can be approved in accordance with applicable statutes and rules and decide if the application can be given favorable consideration by the Commission.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

OPEN TO STATE OF COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

Substitutions

Current, valid licensure as a Professional Engineer from the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors will substitute for the enrollment as an Engineer Intern.

Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. Your resume will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications; only the work experience section of your application will be reviewed to determine this. "See Resume" statements on the application will not be accepted. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current or former State experience relevant to this position.
• Knowledge and experience with Colorado water rights.
• Water administration experience.
• Licensure as a Professional Engineer.
• Water measurement experience.
• Water modeling experience such as historical consumptive use analysis, Glover equation, MODFLOW.
• Excellent public service skills.
• Proficiency with Google and Microsoft suites.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.
• Other experience relevant to the use or management of water resources.

The current work arrangement for this position is as follows:

(Please note, this arrangement can be subject to change)

Flexible workplace - working from a home/remote office, with mandatory in-office training currently twice a month and occasional in-state travel for presentations or offsite meetings.

Flexible schedule - may work four ten-hour days, five eight-hour days, or other schedule acceptable to supervisor that meets business needs.

Conditions of Employment:

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify their application from the current position. (Please Note: Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with DNR).
• Must have and maintain a valid Colorado license in accordance with DNR-120 Fleet and Driving Standards Administrative Directive, if utilizing a fleet vehicle.
• Current enrollment as an Engineer Intern or current valid license as a Professional Engineer by the Colorado State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

It is recommended that you contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below to resolve issues related to your possession of minimum qualifications. However, if you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by, US Mail, faxed or hand delivered within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board go to or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at under Rules.

Supplemental Information

The Assessment Process