ASSISTANT SURVEYOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Field survey data degrades every downstream decision when control points are set incorrectly or LiDAR accuracy goes unverified. The Assistant Surveyor works directly under a Survey Party Chief to collect, verify, and document ground-truth measurements that underpin construction layout and geospatial deliverables. Compliance with ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and USGS National Geospatial Program specifications governs how that data is collected and recorded. Accuracy matters from the first setup.

As the Assistant Surveyor, you execute field data acquisition using GNSS and robotic total station equipment, ensuring control surveys meet project specifications and client accuracy requirements. You work within a field crew structure, coordinating daily with the Survey Party Chief and Project Manager across construction staking, topographic, and LiDAR verification assignments.

Career Impact: Hands-on exposure to LiDAR verification, ALTA boundary, and construction layout surveys builds the documented field proficiency required to advance toward Survey Party Chief or licensed Surveyor.

Business Impact: Accurate ground control data you collect directly determines whether airborne and terrestrial LiDAR deliverables pass client acceptance and meet ASPRS accuracy thresholds.

Growth Opportunity: Rotating project assignments across construction, topographic, and geospatial disciplines accelerate licensure hours and broaden technical standing in the survey labor market.

• Assist the Survey Party Chief in executing field operations, including construction staking, boundary location, topographic, and ALTA surveys.
• Collect ground control and verification data to confirm the positional accuracy of airborne and terrestrial LiDAR datasets.
• Set, mark, and maintain all survey monuments, control points, and reference stakes to project specifications.
• Maintain accurate field notes documenting backsight and foresight heights, instrument setups, and data collection conditions.
• Test and calibrate survey instruments including tribrachs, rod bubbles, GNSS receivers, and robotic total stations before each deployment.
• Obtain required site permits and safety equipment, and enforce site safety standards throughout all field operations.
• Organize, scan, and complete survey files in accordance with project procedures and record-keeping requirements.
• Support vehicle and equipment readiness by restocking supplies, conducting maintenance checks, and ensuring transport is field-ready.

• Bachelor's degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, or equivalent work experience.
• 1 or more years of field surveying experience, with exposure to construction staking, topographic, or boundary survey methods.
• Demonstrated ability to operate modern survey equipment including GNSS receivers and robotic total station instruments.
• Working knowledge of field safety standards, including site hazard identification and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Ability to maintain accurate field notes and contribute to survey file completion under Party Chief supervision.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record suitable for project site travel.
• Physical ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions and carry field equipment over varied terrain.

• Familiarity with ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards or USGS LiDAR Base Specification requirements.
• Prior experience supporting airborne survey operations or geospatial data collection programs.
• Enrollment in or progress toward a professional surveying credential, licensure hours, or RICS-equivalent pathway.
• Experience with multi-project environments including concurrent construction and topographic assignments.

• Control point positional error, measured against project-specified ASPRS accuracy class tolerances.
• Field note completeness rate, tracking percentage of setups with fully documented backsight and foresight records.
• Instrument calibration pass rate, reflecting proportion of equipment verified serviceable before field deployment.
• Survey file closure rate, measuring files reviewed, signed off, and submitted within project deadlines.
• Rework incidents per project, counting resurveys required due to data collection or setup error.
• Typical tools: GNSS survey systems (commonly Trimble or Leica); robotic total stations (commonly Topcon or Leica); field data collectors.

• Base Salary Range: $42,000 to $58,000 annually, depending on experience and location
• Bonus: Project completion or performance-based bonuses common in field survey roles
• Equity: Typically not offered at this level in the construction/geospatial sector
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by firm size
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus standard federal holidays
• Common Perks: Per diem and travel allowances for rotational field assignments; company vehicle use; equipment training

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for all positions. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and applicable pre-employment screening. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Assistant Surveyor delivers field survey support across cross-section, profile, topographic, and construction layout surveys, operating instruments and locating monuments to maintain data accuracy on active project sites. Working under the direction of senior crew members, this role contributes directly to project continuity by managing equipment calibration, maintaining field notes, and ensuring vehicles and materials are ready for uninterrupted field operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Walk the job down with the survey crew and survey requestor.
• Assist in operating various survey and engineering instruments and devices to measure distances and collect data.
• Make cross-section, profile, location, topographic, and construction layout surveys.
• Assist in establishing lines, critical points, and angles.
• Dig ground using a shovel and other hand tools to search for and locate survey monuments and points.
• Set, clean, and paint all points used for survey purposes.
• Maintain field notes regarding backsight and foresight heights for each setup.
• Obtain permits and safety equipment as required.
• Assist with completing and scanning survey files, and organize all materials and equipment.
• Restock the vehicle with supplies, empty trash, and arrange for washing and vacuuming as required.
• Refuel vehicles as required to avoid interference with field work.
• Sort, file, shelve, and handle documents, books, files, and related materials required for clerical operations.
• Review and sign off on survey files.
• Test tribrachs, rod bubbles, rods, mirrors, mini prisms, and other tools to verify calibration.

Required Qualifications

• Experience in the construction surveying industry is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of engineering design and survey methods.
• Ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.
• Availability to travel to various project sites.
• Excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills.
• Commitment to continuously improving operations, decreasing turnaround times, and streamlining work processes.
• Valid Class G driver's license.

Embedded within a multidisciplinary engineering team, the Assistant Surveyor produces deliverables against defined specifications, scope, and contractual requirements across safety-critical systems on fixed and floating offshore installations. Working closely with internal and external clients and colleagues across departments, this role strengthens the team's technical position by supporting chartered engineering progression, maintaining compliance with UK offshore legislation, and driving service delivery improvement through timely reporting and client communication.

Core Functions

• Conduct relevant activities as agreed in a personal training plan to increase knowledge and competency in survey and related work.
• Assist in producing deliverables against defined specifications, scope, budget constraints, and contractual requirements.
• Discuss and present deliverables with internal and external clients and suggest solutions where appropriate.
• Conduct activities in line with internal procedures, accreditation schemes, legislation, and industry standards.
• Pursue professional development by maintaining and documenting technical and non-technical knowledge to support achieving chartered engineering status.
• Assist with survey fee calculations and quotations to understand the time and value of work undertaken for external clients.
• Communicate internal and external client feedback to support service delivery improvement.
• Produce reports, certificates, and documents to agreed formats and within agreed timescales.
• Develop knowledge of safety-critical systems on fixed and floating offshore installations, survey at equipment manufacturers' works, and audits of duty holders' assurance processes.
• Manage change-control processes, interpret UK offshore legislation and offshore installation safety cases, and prepare performance standards and written schemes of examination.
• Provide control of assigned work, including client communication, financial control, and timely and accurate reporting.
• Actively seek new opportunities to develop and strengthen the team's position, and work closely with colleagues across departments to encourage collaboration.
• Assess risks and work safely at all times, implementing health and safety rules and refusing work that compromises health or safety.
• Report all incidents, including near-misses, accidents, and injuries, promptly and raise health and safety concerns with the line manager.

Education & Experience

• A degree or equivalent (BEng with MSc, or MEng) in a relevant field of engineering recognised by the Engineering Council.
• Working towards or achieving chartered engineering status.
• Sufficient knowledge to obtain authorisations for survey of electrical and mechanical safety-critical elements.
• Working knowledge of international codes and standards applicable to the offshore industry.
• Proficiency in English commensurate with the work.
• Technically strong with good communication skills.
• Strategic thinking and awareness of how own work contributes to the team.
• Membership of an appropriate professional institution.

Reporting to the Survey Party Chief, the Assistant Surveyor supports airborne and terrestrial LiDAR data collection by safely gathering ground survey data to control and verify accuracy against ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and USGS LiDAR Base Specifications. Partnering daily with the Survey Manager, Survey Technician, and Project Manager, this role builds reliable geospatial datasets through skilled operation of Real-Time GNSS and Robotic Total Station equipment that underpin project deliverable quality.

Primary Duties

• Assist the Survey Party Chief in charge of the survey field crew.
• Support airborne Geiger LiDAR surveys and other technologies as required.
• Safely collect high-quality ground survey data to control and verify the accuracy of airborne and terrestrial/mobile LiDAR data.
• Assist in locating and dimensioning relevant improvements as required.
• Interact daily with the Survey Party Chief, Survey Manager, Survey Technician, other field survey personnel, and the Project Manager.
• Follow guidelines for producing aerial data per the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data and the USGS National Geospatial Program's LiDAR Base Specification.
• Utilize a variety of surveying tools, including Real-Time GNSS, Robotic Total Station equipment, and Terrestrial LiDAR scanning during field data acquisition.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 1 year of prior experience as a Survey Assistant.
• Prior field experience in surveying, including construction staking, boundary location, ALTA, and topographic surveying.
• Experience with modern survey equipment, including data collectors, GNSS surveying gear, and field surveying supplies.
• Some knowledge of field surveying of several types and associated technical knowledge.
• Ability to maintain all surveying equipment and tools.
• Ability to travel for two weeks at a time on a rotational basis (two weeks on, two weeks off).
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work long hours under harsh weather conditions.
• Ability to work collaboratively and problem-solve effectively.
• Successful completion of a background check and I-9 e-verification.

Sitting at the intersection of technical surveying and client-facing project delivery, the Assistant Surveyor leads a portfolio of small building surveying projects, undertaking site inspections and liaising with clients on technical matters while ensuring compliance with Building Regulations, CDM, and health and safety legislation. Operating across a multi-disciplinary consultancy environment, this role shapes project quality outcomes by contributing to financial reporting, supporting business development activities, and implementing quality procedures that meet both client and operational objectives.

Duties

• Guide on best methods and practices to meet technical and project requirements with the approval of senior surveyors.
• Monitor relevant technical aspects of quality plans and report variances with suggestions for corrective actions.
• Keep up to date with industry best practices.
• Manage a portfolio of small projects across all aspects of building surveying.
• Undertake site inspections and surveys of all types.
• Liaise with clients on technical matters.
• Provide input into project quality plans and implement quality procedures on all projects.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, environmental, and other applicable legislation.
• Contribute to the formulation of monthly financial reports, including internal management accounts and external payment applications, in conjunction with the principal surveyor.
• Assist senior surveyors in the business development process, including producing information for PQQs and tenders.

Skills & Qualifications

• Related degree leading to membership of a recognised professional body such as the RICS or equivalent.
• Experience as a building surveyor, including in a multi-disciplinary consultancy environment.
• Sound knowledge of Building Regulations, CDM, Planning, Health and Safety, and other relevant legislation.
• Proficient with AutoCAD, NBS, and MS Office Suite.
• Knowledge of MS Project is an advantage.
• Clean driving licence.
• Strong project management, coordination, and problem-solving skills.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• Enthusiastic, dynamic, and forward-thinking approach to working with teams to achieve client and operational objectives.