Land Surveyor I

About the role

The Texas General Land Office is seeking a Land Surveyor within the Surveying Services Department. This journey-level position performs moderately complex to complex surveying work, including planning and conducting field surveys, inspections, and measurements; compiling, updating, and maintaining maps; and assisting with training on technical equipment and methods. The role operates under general supervision with latitude for initiative and independent judgment, routinely assisting others with duties of greater complexity and serving as a technical expert. Duties include leading field surveys, processing and verifying survey data, analyzing boundaries, preparing plats and reports, and signing/sealing certified documents. The position also leads coastal tide gauge leveling operations for the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON) and advises on related policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Leads and conducts field surveys; processes technical field survey data; ascertains accuracy; performs surveying computations; analyzes boundary construction; composes field notes; prepares or oversees preparation of survey plats and reports; signs/seals documents for certification.
• Provides senior-level technical and professional support for the leveling of coastal tide gauges within the TCOON and GLO Coastal Resources, including leading and directing field operations.
• Advises, consults, and collaborates on the interpretation, application, and modification of existing policies and procedures related to the TCOON Tide Gauge Leveling Program.
• Researches, investigates, and assimilates legal and survey records, maps, aerial imagery, and other information to determine state ownership and boundaries, navigable and/or perennial stream determinations, and encroachments on Permanent School Fund (PSF) land or other state interests; prepares overlays and performs mathematical calculations manually or using CAD software.
• Leads and directs the survey review procedural process for Coastal Boundary Surveys (CBS) submitted by private surveyors in accordance with Texas Natural Resources Code 33.136 for final approval.
• Assists with preparation of products required to conduct or complete field surveys and other tasks/projects, completing projects with competence, accuracy, initiative, and independence while meeting deadlines.
• Reviews, processes, and endorses archive files, maps, plats, and reports associated with Patent Requests, Deeds of Acquittance, and Vacancies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in land surveying/mapping, geomatics, or civil engineering is generally preferred.
• Must be a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) in good standing with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (TBPELS).
• Six months of experience and working knowledge of littoral coastal shoreline boundary surveying in Texas.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily performs sedentary office work, with routine mobility required for some duties.
• Extensive use of computers, telephones, and client/customer contact.
• Ability to move and position oneself for filing and routine office tasks.
• Stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions; ability to read printed materials and computer screens.
• Capable of moving and transporting records, documents, boxes, and related materials weighing up to 20 pounds when required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and working knowledge of littoral coastal shoreline boundary surveying in Texas.
• Experience processing and analyzing field data collected via conventional total station, GPS, and digital level electronic data collection systems.

Benefits

• Free parking.
• Defined retirement benefit plan.
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts.
• Medical insurance—state pays 100% of the health plan premium for eligible full-time employees and 50% for eligible dependents; 50% for eligible part-time employees and 25% for their dependents.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Minimum of 96+ hours of annual leave per year, with increases based on length of service.
• Professional development opportunities through LinkedIn Learning and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).