Survey Field Technician I

Looking for a terrific place to build your career and write your own success story?

Balzer & Associates is searching for a Survey Field Technician I. This is an incredible opportunity to lead and grow with an extremely successful firm. At Balzer & Associates, we have been delivering design solutions to clients for over 50 years and are looking for the right team members to contribute to our mission of serving the community. Our employees are recognized as the essential pillars to our development and success; therefore, our focus is on taking exceptional care of not only our clients, but of our team.

When you join our team, you are exposed to all aspects of the design process. As a multi-disciplinary firm, our staff has the unique opportunity to interact, learn, and grow in a collaborative environment where knowledge is gained every day. Our diversity of work and disciplines affords our professionals the opportunity to be involved with a wide variety of projects that provide a foundation on which an outstanding career can be built.

Balzer & Associates offers a competitive, robust benefit package to full-time employees consisting of medical, dental and vision insurance; 401k match; PTO & paid holidays; annual bonus program, discretionary profit sharing, educational reimbursement, employee engagement events, financial wellness education, and other valuable benefits.

Job Summary:

The Survey Field Technician I will be responsible for working with and taking direction from the Survey Crew Chief, working in the field to complete various land survey projects in the region. The incumbent will assist with all tasks used for construction, map making or other purposes using Robotic total station, GPS, level and other surveying instruments. He or she will work to ensure the accuracy of field work, maintain survey equipment, ensure the proper maintenance of crew vehicles, adhere to all applicable safety procedures and perform other duties as necessary to complete complex land surveying projects. He or she will learn / understand basic survey principles, develop written and verbal communication skills, and display a winning attitude.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Application, care, and adjustment of surveying equipment, including instrument, tripods, traverse poles and prisms, steel and cloth tapes
• Knowledge of field supplies (stakes, flagging, paint, nails, etc.) – where they are stored at the office and in the truck, purpose, and significance of various colors awareness of frequency of use and keeping the necessary supplies readily available
• Basic understanding of code list and linework coding processes
• Site and utility sketches, proper measurement of inverts and pipe sizes, site photographs
• Application, care, use, operation, and adjustment procedures for vertical and horizontal angles when performing topographic contouring and open or closed traversing
• Basic use of data collector to startup projects, occupy control, locate existing features, stakeout to proposed points
• Proficient with code list and linework coding
• Application, care, and use of equipment for setting up and running closed loop/boundary traverse
• Stakeout of site improvements. How to adjust offsets and grades in the field based on situational needs
• Methods and procedures for boundary, ALTA, and topographic surveys
• Coordination with Office Technicians and Engineers to maximize efficiency and understand appropriate levels of detail/accuracy
• Identify and work with a mentor
• Compiles notes, sketches, and records of data obtained and work performed
• Transports equipment from station to station
• Maintains concentration and diligence in order to assist the Survey Crew Chief in accurate and comprehensive completion of projects
• Performs other duties as directed by the Land Surveyor or the Survey Crew Chief

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions and correspondence
• Ability to communicate effectively in written form
• Ability to understand and carry out detailed written and oral instructions
• Basic understanding of survey fundamentals

Physical Requirements:

• The employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear
• The employee is regularly required to walk
• The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds
• The employee routinely uses a brush axe and/or machete to clear lines of site
• The employee routinely uses 1 to 8 lb. hammers to set survey points
• The employee consistently wears required Personal Protective Equipment including work boots, safety vest, eye protection, and long pants
• The employee works in outside weather conditions, construction sites, roadway corridors, and forested undeveloped sites
• On occasion the employee works from a small boat performing hydrological surveys (in still waters)
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

Education and Experience:

• High school degree or equivalent
• Valid Virginia driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record

Competencies Required:

• Communication
• Dependability
• Initiative
• Interpersonal Skills
• Productivity
• Quality
• Self Development
• Sense of Urgency
• Teamwork
• Technical Skills

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.