Survey Technician

About the role

The Survey Technician supports land surveying and construction projects by performing boundary, topographic, and construction staking surveys while working closely with a crew chief or professional surveyor. This role uses advanced surveying equipment to collect accurate field data for commercial site development and other land development projects, primarily in and around Des Moines and across the region.

Responsibilities

• Perform boundary surveys to establish and verify property lines in accordance with project requirements and applicable standards.
• Conduct topographic surveys to collect detailed site information, including elevations, contours, and existing features.
• Complete construction staking for new commercial builds and site development projects, ensuring precise layout of structures, utilities, and site features.
• Work alongside a crew chief and professional surveyor as part of a 1–2 person field crew to execute daily survey tasks safely and efficiently.
• Operate Trimble equipment and Robotic Total Stations to collect survey data and capture accurate records of plots and site conditions.
• Use GPS and other survey instruments to perform ALTA surveys, construction staking, and observation work as required.
• Read and interpret construction plans, site plans, and related documents to ensure survey work aligns with design intent and project specifications.
• Document and organize field notes, measurements, and observations in a clear and process-oriented manner.
• Communicate proactively with contractors, adjacent landowners, and other community members about ongoing survey activities and project impacts.
• Collaborate with office and field team members to resolve discrepancies, clarify design information, and support project completion.
• Follow established procedures, safety practices, and quality standards for all survey activities.

Essential Skills

• 1+ years of current work experience in construction staking.
• 1+ years of current work experience in boundary surveying.
• 1+ years of current work experience in topographic surveying.
• 1+ years of current work experience in ALTA surveys (American Land Title Association).
• 2+ years of experience operating Robotic Total Station or other GPS survey equipment.
• Hands-on experience working on survey crews of 1–2 people in the field.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans and related documents.
• Proficiency with topographic surveys, construction staking, and land survey practices.
• Experience using Robotic Total Stations and GPS-based survey instruments.
• Strong communication skills to interact with contractors, adjacent landowners, and other community stakeholders about project activities.
• A process-oriented approach with attention to detail and accuracy in field measurements and documentation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Trimble survey equipment and Robotic Total Stations.
• Background in suburban commercial site development, residential subdivisions, and general land surveying.
• Exposure to ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys and related documentation requirements.
• Experience serving as or supporting a crew chief or survey lead in the field.
• Willingness to pursue additional certifications, with costs supported by the company.
• Interest in growing within a professional surveying and engineering environment with recurring clients and long-term projects.

Work Environment

The role primarily supports commercial site development, residential subdivision, and land surveying projects across Iowa and into surrounding states. Typical assignments involve suburban commercial site plans and land development projects in and around Des Moines. You will work as part of a structured team that includes multiple professional engineers, licensed land surveyors, several field survey crews, and a professional landscape architect. Field work is performed outdoors on active construction and development sites using Trimble equipment, Robotic Total Stations, GPS instruments, and other standard survey tools. The organization maintains a collaborative, growth-oriented culture with recurring customers and opportunities to develop professionally, including company-paid certifications.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Iowa City, IA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $35.00/hr.

Requirements

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 20, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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