Chief Surveyor Jobs
Chief Surveyor jobs are open across construction, land development, mining, and government agencies, at every level from project surveyor to principal and chief, with specializations in boundary surveys, quantity surveying, and geospatial analysis. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 30+ Chief Surveyor jobs
Manage and coordinate survey department in a manner that meets safety, quality, and budgetary goals. This is an exempt position working without direct supervision.
Essential Functions:
- Plan, prioritize, and direct the field and office survey activities.
- Supervise, coordinate, and assign work to survey crew leaders.
- Proactively communicate with internal and external customers regarding survey projects.
- Coordinate surveying with various design and construction operations.
- Represent Hawbaker Engineering to the public, outside agencies and interests.
- Research, recommend, and implement new techniques and technologies in the practice of land and construction surveys.
- Hire and maintain a “Premier Workforce”: Train, counsel, coach, and mentor employees with appropriate rewards, evaluations, and discipline.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and requirements.
- Act as advisor to land surveying team regarding projects, tasks, and operations.
- Maintain records, prepare reports and compose correspondence.
- Review survey field work for accuracy and completeness.
- Safely operate a company vehicle.
- Exercise proper care and maintenance of company equipment.
- Frequently work more than 40 hours per week and non-traditional hours including night shift, Saturdays and occasionally Sundays.
- Perform additional assignments per supervisor’s direction.
- Occasional overnight travel required.
- Survey principles and practices.
- Global Positioning Systems.
- Engineering design and construction practices.
- Heavy and highway construction practices and techniques.
- Safety regulations, scheduling, cost control, project plans, specifications, special provisions and phases needed for the project.
- Learn, follow, and enforce HE Company policies and procedures.
- Oversee complex survey activities, contracts, and budgets.
- Read and interpret blue prints, schematics, specifications and plans.
- Prepare reports, business correspondence, and documents.
- Make effective oral presentations.
- Plan, organize, and direct the work of others.
- Proficiently perform mathematical calculations and statistical analysis.
- Effective interpersonal verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrate high degree of analytical and organizational skills.
- Valid driver’s license for state in which you reside with acceptable driving record per company minimum standards for drivers.
- Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
- Registration as a Professional Land Surveyor in the State of primary operation is required.
- Minimum high school diploma or equivalent required.
- Prefer four-year college degree in Land Surveying.
- Minimum ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in land or construction surveying preferred.
- Drug Free Workplace
- Selecting and Retaining
- Basic Management
- CPR/ First Aid
- OSHA 10 Hour
- Ability to occasionally work in field environment with exposure to dust, noise, inclement weather conditions and extreme temperatures.
- Ability to walk and work on uneven terrain, on occasion.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
- Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
- Ability to use standard office equipment to include computers, copiers, faxes, etc.
- Ability to frequently use hands for typing, filing and performing other administrative duties.
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Find Chief Surveyor JobsChief Surveyor Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Thompson Engineering12
- ARCXIS2
- Langan Engineering and Environmental Services2
- Toll Brothers1
- F.O. Day Company1
Top Industries Hiring
- Energy
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief surveyor jobs.
- Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license or equivalent state credential required
- 10 or more years of progressive surveying experience with supervisory responsibility
- Proficiency in CAD software such as AutoCAD Civil 3D or Bentley MicroStation
- Experience with GPS, total station, and robotic survey equipment in the field
- Strong knowledge of boundary law, legal descriptions, and plat preparation
- Bachelor's degree in surveying, geomatics, civil engineering, or a related field
Tips for Your Chief Surveyor Job Search
Tailor your resume to survey type
Boundary, topographic, and quantity surveying each have distinct deliverables and tools. Align your resume to the specific discipline the role requires, highlighting the relevant software, field methods, and project types you've led rather than listing every survey category you've touched.
List your licensure status prominently
Many chief surveyor postings require a Professional Land Surveyor license or equivalent state credential. Put your license number, issuing state, and any reciprocal states up front on your resume so hiring managers don't have to hunt for it.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chief surveyor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight large-scale project oversight
Chief surveyor roles center on managing survey programs, not just executing fieldwork. Quantify the acreage, project count, or team size you've overseen to show you've operated at the scope the employer needs, not just contributed to it.
Prepare for a technical assessment round
Many employers add a scenario-based technical stage after the initial interview, covering boundary dispute resolution, datum selection, or reading complex legal descriptions. Review recent projects where you made a defensible judgment call and be ready to walk through your reasoning.
Negotiate scope before you negotiate salary
Before finalizing an offer, clarify the reporting structure, budget authority, and whether you'll have final sign-off on sealed documents. These define your actual authority as chief surveyor and affect your professional liability, not just your day-to-day workload.
Chief Surveyor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chief surveyors?
Thompson Engineering, ARCXIS, and Langan Engineering and Environmental Services are hiring the most chief surveyors right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is typically strongest with firms handling large infrastructure, land development, or government contract work.
How many chief surveyor jobs are remote?
About 29% of chief surveyor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the fieldwork component that most roles still require. The sub-areas most compatible with remote arrangements include quantity surveying, geospatial analysis, document review, and project coordination, where deliverables can be produced and reviewed digitally.
How do you become a chief surveyor?
Start by earning a degree in surveying, geomatics, or civil engineering, then gain field experience across multiple survey disciplines to build a broad technical foundation. Obtain your Professional Land Surveyor license by passing the required exams and meeting your state's experience requirements. Progress into supervisory roles managing crews or survey programs, then pursue chief-level positions by demonstrating your ability to oversee complex, multi-site projects and make final technical decisions independently.
Can you get hired as a chief surveyor with limited senior experience?
It's unlikely without at least several years of supervisory or lead surveying experience, since employers expect a chief surveyor to manage staff, sign and seal documents, and bear professional liability. If you're close but not there yet, targeting a senior or lead surveyor title first is the practical path. Demonstrating ownership of a complex project from start to deliverable, even in an acting capacity, strengthens your case for the step up.
What does the chief surveyor interview process look like?
Most employers run a phone or video screen first, focused on your licensure status and the scale of projects you've managed. A technical interview typically follows, covering boundary law interpretation, adjustment of survey data, and how you handle discrepancies between field measurements and recorded plats. Final-stage interviews often involve a panel including a project manager or director, and some employers add a written scenario or ask you to review a sample plat and identify issues.
Where can I find and apply to chief surveyor jobs?
You can find and apply to chief surveyor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find the roles that fit your experience, location, and specialization, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 30 Chief Surveyor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chief Surveyor Jobs