Survey Party Chief

About the role

Tetra Tech is seeking a Survey Crew Chief to join their Oakland, CA team. This role involves leading field survey operations for a variety of transportation, municipal, utility, site development, and infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct survey crews during field operations, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and accurately.
• Perform topographic, boundary, construction staking, GPS control, and utility surveys.
• Operate and maintain survey equipment including robotic total stations, GNSS/GPS receivers, digital levels, and data collectors.
• Collect field data in accordance with project specifications, survey standards, and client requirements.
• Cook up daily field activities with project managers, engineers, and licensed land surveyors.
• Train and mentor survey assistants and junior field personnel.
• Aid with survey calculations, field notes, quality control, and data transfer for office processing.
• Utilize emerging technologies including UAV (drone) surveys and terrestrial laser scanning when applicable.
• Maintain company vehicles, equipment, and safety standards while working in a variety of field conditions.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3-5+ years of progressively responsible land surveying experience, including experience serving as a Survey Crew Chief or lead field technician.
• Valid California driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Experience operating GPS/GNSS equipment, robotic total stations, and conventional survey instruments.
• Strong understanding of boundary, topographic, construction staking, and control surveys.
• Ability to lead field crews while maintaining quality, safety, and productivity.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently in the field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• LSIT certification or ability to obtain within six months.
• Experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D and survey data processing.
• Familiarity with GIS platforms.
• Experience with UAV surveying and/or terrestrial laser scanning technologies.
• Previous experience supporting municipal, transportation, utility, or site development projects.