Survey Crew Chief

Job Title: Survey Crew ChiefJob Description

This role leads field survey operations for a wide range of public and private sector projects, with a strong focus on construction staking, boundary, and topographic surveys. You will spend most of your time in the field on active job sites, operating advanced survey equipment, interpreting construction and architectural plans, and ensuring accurate, reliable data collection to support engineering, architectural, and land development projects.

Responsibilities

• Perform field surveys, including topographic, boundary, and utility surveys, to determine the locations of natural and man-made features, both above and below ground, and their relationship to right-of-way and boundary lines.

• Lay out survey grids and establish horizontal and vertical control points to support construction staking and layout activities.

• Prepare survey sites by removing necessary obstacles such as debris, brush, and tree limbs to safely and effectively perform the survey.

• Operate survey instruments, including robotic total stations, laser scanners, GPS equipment, data collectors, and other standard survey tools to collect precise field data.

• Interpret civil construction and architectural plans and specifications, and perform the required calculations in the field to support accurate construction layout.

• Perform construction staking and layout for a variety of project types, ensuring that field work aligns with design documents and project requirements.

• Create clear, legible, and accurate field notes that document survey methods, observations, and results.

• Upload and download data files and photographs, maintaining organized and complete digital records of field work.

• Set up, maintain, and operate all field survey equipment, vehicles, and supplies, ensuring they remain in good working condition.

• Follow and promote safe work practices in accordance with the Health and Safety Plan and project-specific safety requirements.

• Attend occasional meetings in local offices to coordinate with project teams and review project requirements and progress.

• Use a company-provided truck during the workday to travel to and from project sites and transport survey equipment.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a surveyor or survey crew chief.

• Hands-on experience with construction staking and layout for civil and architectural projects.

• Experience performing boundary and topographic surveys.

• Proficiency with Leica or Trimble robotic total stations, laser scanners, GPS equipment, and data collectors.

• Ability to review and understand civil construction and architectural plans and specifications.

• Ability to perform basic mathematical and trigonometric calculations in the field.

• Willingness to work in all weather conditions and in a variety of field environments.

• Possession of a valid driver’s license with an insurable driving record.

• Field surveying experience using GPS, total stations, and related survey instruments.

• Experience with construction stakeout and survey crew leadership.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• 5 or more years of field surveying or survey crew chief experience.

• Survey CAD experience, including tools such as AutoCAD, Civil 3D, or similar survey CAD platforms.

• Experience supporting both private and public sector projects.

• Experience with state department of transportation (such as MDOT) projects.

• Interest in or ability to obtain a Professional Surveyor License.

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, construction, or a related field.

• Experience with land development projects and construction staking for diverse project types.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when documenting and managing survey data.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including engineers, architects, and construction professionals.

Work Environment

This position is heavily field-focused, with the majority of time spent on active job sites rather than in the office. You will work outdoors in changing and sometimes challenging weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, and precipitation. Typical work hours range from approximately 45 to 50 hours per week, with some weekend work as needed and flexibility in scheduling based on project demands. You will attend occasional meetings in local Metro Detroit offices to coordinate with project teams. The role involves frequent use of advanced surveying technologies such as robotic total stations, GPS equipment, laser scanners, data collectors, and survey CAD tools. A company truck is provided for use during the workday to travel between projects and transport equipment. The overall environment supports long-term project continuity, with multiple years of planned work and diverse project types that contribute to strong job stability and ongoing professional growth.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pontiac, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $36.00/hr.

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Pontiac,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 24, 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.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.