Survey Party Chief Jobs
Survey Party Chief jobs are open across construction, civil engineering, oil and gas, and land development firms, at every level from field crew member to senior party chief, with specializations in boundary surveying, topographic surveys, and construction layout. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Survey Party Chief jobs
We create the connections that get people and goods moving—whether by car, bus, train, plane, or on their own two feet. Working within the context of the communities we serve, we provide planning, engineering, and infrastructure management services that fit the needs of our clients and improve the overall transportation experience. Join our team and help us keep communities connected.
Strong communities don’t just happen. They are thoughtfully planned and future-ready. We bring life to urban downtowns, suburban hubs, small towns, and rural areas through master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, parks, and recreation facilities. The result: vibrant economic centers, resilient neighborhoods, and welcoming places that feel like home.
If you’re passionate about empowering communities, join us to discover a career with endless opportunities to make communities more equitable, resilient, and livable.
Your Opportunity
Stantec is seeking a full-time Union Party Chief (Survey Technician) for our Santa Barbara, CA office. This position will report to the manager of Land Surveying and will primarily be a field role, performing construction layout staking, topographic and boundary/ROW surveys, but there will be times when office support, performing construction calculations and creating topographic, boundary/ROW, and exhibit maps will be required.
Your Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to being in charge of field survey activities, including the following:
- Performing a variety of surveys with minimal supervision.
- Conducting comprehensive construction layout, topographic, boundary/ROW and as-built surveys.
- Ensuring proper safety measures are being followed.
- Effective communication with Project Manager as to progress updates, scope changes, and other project impacts.
- Act as a company representative, liaising directly with client field representatives and landowners.
- Some office technical survey work will be required in this position.
- Strong critical thinking skills in a field environment.
- Manage information flow between the field and office, and prepare clear, concise, and accurate field notes, records, and calculations.
- Understanding the operation of total stations and GNSS equipment and their associated controllers and data collectors.
Your Capabilities and Credentials
- Being a member or willing to join the IUOE Local 12 union is required.
- Ability to perform physical work (i.e., strenuous walking, bending, lifting (up to 50 pounds), carrying / loading equipment, etc.)
- A valid Driver’s license is required, with a clean driving record.
- Good communication skills.
- Experience reading and interpreting construction drawings is required.
- Proficiency with GPS, Trimble robotic Total Stations, and Trimble Access data collection methods are required.
- Data processing/importing, DTM creation and CADD knowledge with Autodesk Civil 3D is required.
- The ability to work in a team environment is necessary.
- Experience with terrestrial LiDAR, a plus.
- Some travel to project sites is required. The amount of travel varies. (All travel is within the work week. No stays over the weekend are typically required. All allowable lodging and meal costs are reimbursed).
Education and Experience
- 5+ years of experience in land surveying.
- Bachelor or an Associate degree in Land Surveying, a plus.
- Having a California Surveyor’s License or Certified Party Chief certification with the IUOE Local 12 Union, a plus.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what has previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what is possible.
Pay Range:
- Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA, VA Areas-$88,700.00 - $128,600.00 Annually
Primary Location: United States | CA | Santa Barbara
Organization: BC-2042 CommDev-US West
Employee Status: Regular
Management Level: Individual contributor
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 06/11/2026 05:11:29
Req ID: 1008755
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
We create the connections that get people and goods moving—whether by car, bus, train, plane, or on their own two feet. Working within the context of the communities we serve, we provide planning, engineering, and infrastructure management services that fit the needs of our clients and improve the overall transportation experience. Join our team and help us keep communities connected.
Strong communities don’t just happen. They are thoughtfully planned and future-ready. We bring life to urban downtowns, suburban hubs, small towns, and rural areas through master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, parks, and recreation facilities. The result: vibrant economic centers, resilient neighborhoods, and welcoming places that feel like home.
If you’re passionate about empowering communities, join us to discover a career with endless opportunities to make communities more equitable, resilient, and livable.
Your Opportunity
Stantec is seeking a full-time Union Party Chief (Survey Technician) for our Santa Barbara, CA office. This position will report to the manager of Land Surveying and will primarily be a field role, performing construction layout staking, topographic and boundary/ROW surveys, but there will be times when office support, performing construction calculations and creating topographic, boundary/ROW, and exhibit maps will be required.
Your Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to being in charge of field survey activities, including the following:
- Performing a variety of surveys with minimal supervision.
- Conducting comprehensive construction layout, topographic, boundary/ROW and as-built surveys.
- Ensuring proper safety measures are being followed.
- Effective communication with Project Manager as to progress updates, scope changes, and other project impacts.
- Act as a company representative, liaising directly with client field representatives and landowners.
- Some office technical survey work will be required in this position.
- Strong critical thinking skills in a field environment.
- Manage information flow between the field and office, and prepare clear, concise, and accurate field notes, records, and calculations.
- Understanding the operation of total stations and GNSS equipment and their associated controllers and data collectors.
Your Capabilities and Credentials
- Being a member or willing to join the IUOE Local 12 union is required.
- Ability to perform physical work (i.e., strenuous walking, bending, lifting (up to 50 pounds), carrying / loading equipment, etc.)
- A valid Driver’s license is required, with a clean driving record.
- Good communication skills.
- Experience reading and interpreting construction drawings is required.
- Proficiency with GPS, Trimble robotic Total Stations, and Trimble Access data collection methods are required.
- Data processing/importing, DTM creation and CADD knowledge with Autodesk Civil 3D is required.
- The ability to work in a team environment is necessary.
- Experience with terrestrial LiDAR, a plus.
- Some travel to project sites is required. The amount of travel varies. (All travel is within the work week. No stays over the weekend are typically required. All allowable lodging and meal costs are reimbursed).
Education and Experience
- 5+ years of experience in land surveying.
- Bachelor or an Associate degree in Land Surveying, a plus.
- Having a California Surveyor’s License or Certified Party Chief certification with the IUOE Local 12 Union, a plus.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
About Stantec
Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what has previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what is possible.
Pay Range:
- Locations in WA, DC & Various CA, MA, VA Areas-$88,700.00 - $128,600.00 Annually
Primary Location: United States | CA | Santa Barbara
Organization: BC-2042 CommDev-US West
Employee Status: Regular
Management Level: Individual contributor
Business Justification: New Position
Travel: Yes
Schedule: Full time
Job Posting: 06/11/2026 05:11:29
Req ID: 1008755
Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. At Stantec we are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process then please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
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Find Survey Party Chief JobsSurvey Party Chief Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in survey party chief jobs.
- 3-5 years of field surveying experience, including crew leadership responsibilities
- Proficiency with total stations, GPS/GNSS equipment, and digital data collectors
- Working knowledge of field-to-finish software such as Trimble Business Center or Carlson Survey
- Valid driver's license with ability to operate and tow survey vehicles and equipment
- Fundamentals of Surveying exam passed or active progress toward professional land surveyor licensure
- Familiarity with OSHA safety standards and willingness to maintain a safety-compliant field environment
Tips for Your Survey Party Chief Job Search
Tailor your resume to survey specs
List the specific equipment you've operated, like total stations, GPS/GNSS receivers, and data collectors, by manufacturer and model. Hiring managers for survey party chief roles screen for hands-on instrument experience, not just generic field technician language.
Highlight your crew leadership experience
Employers expect a survey party chief to direct field crews, assign tasks, and maintain safety compliance. Quantify the crew size you've managed and name the project types you've led, such as boundary, topographic, or ALTA surveys.
Pursue your state surveyor-in-training credential
Many employers require or strongly prefer candidates working toward licensure. If you've passed the Fundamentals of Surveying exam or logged documented experience hours under a licensed professional land surveyor, include both on your resume with dates.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists survey party chief openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that name your software stack
Filter for roles that mention field-to-finish software you already know, such as Trimble Business Center, Carlson Survey, or AutoCAD Civil 3D. Matching your software fluency to the posting's language significantly improves your odds of clearing an initial screen.
Prepare for a field skills assessment interview
Many survey firms ask finalists to walk through how they'd set up and check instrument calibration, run a traverse closure, or troubleshoot a data collector issue. Practice narrating your process out loud so your answers reflect real field judgment, not just textbook steps.
Survey Party Chief Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most survey party chiefs?
The companies hiring the most survey party chiefs right now include GREGORY CONSTRUCTION, Gregory Construction, and Jacobs, with the largest share of openings in Ohio, Florida, and Georgia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Infrastructure spending and energy development activity tend to drive hiring volume in this role.
How many survey party chief jobs are remote?
About 50% of survey party chief openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the fundamentally field-based nature of most surveying work. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include GIS data processing, project coordination, and office-side CAD drafting attached to a party chief role.
How do you become a survey party chief?
Start by gaining field experience as a survey technician or rodman under a licensed professional land surveyor. Build proficiency with total stations, GPS equipment, and field software, then take on crew lead responsibilities on progressively larger projects. Passing the Fundamentals of Surveying exam and accumulating documented experience hours toward licensure accelerates advancement to the party chief level.
Can I get hired as a survey party chief with little experience?
Some firms hire candidates into a junior party chief or crew chief role if they've completed a surveying technology program and have solid instrument skills. Demonstrating that you can run a basic traverse, perform field checks, and lead a small crew safely matters more to most employers than years of tenure alone. Targeting smaller civil or land development firms often gives entry-level candidates the most direct path.
What does the survey party chief interview process look like?
Most survey party chief interviews begin with a phone screen focused on equipment experience and project types. An in-person or video interview typically follows, covering crew management scenarios, safety protocols, and software familiarity. Some firms add a practical field or office component where you walk through how you'd handle a traverse closure error or a data collector setup. Final-stage conversations often include the project manager or principal surveyor.
Where can I find and apply to survey party chief jobs?
You can find and apply to survey party chief jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your equipment experience, project type, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 15 Survey Party Chief Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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