Chief Surveyor

Job Description

Azar Design Co, a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, surveying, environmental, and construction management firm with over 45 years of experience, is seeking a Chief Surveyor responsible for performing and overseeing surveying services that support all phases of construction projects, from pre-construction through project closeout. The Surveyor establishes horizontal and vertical control, verifies construction layouts, performs as-built surveys, and ensures all work is completed in accordance with contract documents, project specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements. This role requires close coordination with project managers, engineers, contractors, inspectors, and owners to ensure accurate field data and successful project delivery.

***This role requires flexibility to work on projects located in New York City and throughout New York State, based on business and project needs. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience***

Key Responsibilities

• Perform construction staking and layout for buildings, roadways, bridges, utilities, airports, rail, site development, and other civil infrastructure projects.
• Establish and maintain horizontal and vertical control networks using GPS, robotic total stations, digital levels, and conventional surveying equipment.
• Supervise, direct, and coordinate the daily activities of Field Instrument Operators, Rod Persons, and Survey Field Crews to ensure accurate and timely completion of surveying assignments.
• Assign field survey tasks, monitor productivity, and verify the accuracy and quality of field data collected by survey personnel.
• Verify construction layout for foundations, structural elements, utilities, grading, paving, drainage systems, retaining walls, and site improvements.
• Conduct topographic, boundary, route, right-of-way, utility, and existing conditions surveys.
• Perform as-built surveys and prepare record drawings documenting completed construction.
• Review engineering plans, specifications, shop drawings, and survey control information to ensure accurate field implementation.
• Coordinate survey activities with project managers, resident engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and design teams.
• Monitor construction tolerances and verify compliance with design elevations, alignments, dimensions, and project specifications.
• Support quantity verification, earthwork calculations, and volume computations.
• Collect, process, and manage field survey data using survey software and CAD platforms.
• Prepare field notes, survey reports, sketches, calculations, and documentation for project records.
• Perform quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) checks on survey data and construction layouts.
• Assist with utility investigations, subsurface utility engineering (SUE) coordination, and underground utility verification.
• Support roadway, bridge, transit, aviation, marine, water/wastewater, and building construction projects.
• Coordinate survey activities within active construction sites while maintaining compliance with project safety requirements.
• Ensure compliance with NYSDOT, NYC DOT, MTA, PANYNJ, NYCDDC, NYCDEP, DASNY, SCA, FAA, and other agency standards, as applicable.
• Maintain survey equipment, perform calibrations, and ensure proper operation of all instruments.
• Participate in project meetings and provide technical survey support throughout construction.

Required Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in surveying, Civil Engineering, Geomatics, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of construction surveying experience on vertical and/or heavy civil projects.
• Proficiency with Total Stations, GPS equipment, and electronic data collectors.
• Experience performing surveys in accordance with New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Land Surveying Standards.
• Flexibility to travel throughout New York State based on project assignments and operational needs.
• Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, construction plans, specifications, and survey control documentation.
• Working knowledge of construction layout, horizontal and vertical control, coordinate systems, and surveying principles.
• Experience operating laser scanning technology (LiDAR) and other advanced surveying instruments is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and technical documentation skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary project teams.
• OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Certification (OSHA 30 preferred).

Software/Instrument Proficiency with:

Trimble GPS

Leica Survey Equipment

Robotic Total Stations

Digital Levels

Data Collectors

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Carlson Survey

Trimble Business Center

MicroStation V8i with Bentley inRoads (preferred)

GIS software (preferred)