Survey Technician (Mid-Senior)

Why DOWL?

DOWL is a top-ranked, multi-disciplined consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in civil engineering and related services. Our in-house expertise spans Civil and Land Development, Construction-Related Services, Transportation and Structures, and Water and Environmental Services. At DOWL, you're valued. We support your growth, offer great benefits, and foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, and teamwork.

DOWL provides a comprehensive benefits package to support the health and financial well-being of our full-time employees and their families. DOWL offers a High-Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA) (including employer contribution). Other benefits include flexible spending account, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability insurance, dependent care account, employee assistance program, a 401(k) plan with discretionary employer contributions for matching, profit sharing, student debt repayment, paid time off, paid holidays. Paid Time Off (PTO) accrues at a minimum of 16 days per year and accruals begin on the first day of employment. Employees also receive nine paid holidays throughout the calendar year. For more details and eligibility, please visit Careers - DOWL.

The non-exempt, hourly range for this position is $28.83 - $43.25.

Survey and Geomatics

Join DOWL's Survey and Geomatics team to play a vital role in shaping infrastructure from the ground up. Our surveyors tackle an impressive variety of projects-from individual sidewalk ramps to expansive 200-mile-long corridors-bringing precision, efficiency, and foresight to every job. We pride ourselves on identifying potential challenges early in the process, enabling design teams and contractors to make proactive adjustments that keep projects running smoothly and on schedule. If you're detail-oriented, solutions-driven, and eager to work on impactful projects across diverse landscapes, we want you on our team.

Summary

DOWL is growing its PNW region and needs a versatile mid-senior level Survey Technician for our Vancouver office. The ideal technician will have a strong foundation in both field and office surveying, supporting licensed surveyors across topographic surveys, boundary surveys, legal descriptions, mapping, 3D scanning, and other technical tasks. They will also have a strong work ethic, solid organizational skills, and the ability to operate autonomously while maintaining alignment with supervisory direction; known for mastering core survey fundamentals and quickly absorbing new technical skills as project needs evolve.

Equally adept at managing client relationships with professionalism and clarity, fostering trust and ensuring expectations are consistently met. This professional will work collaboratively and closely with engineers, contractors, and clients to drive progress, resolve challenges, and maintain momentum across complex initiatives. Recognized for the ability to take constructive feedback, seek guidance when needed, and contribute positively to team dynamics. With strong interpersonal strengths and growing industry insight, this role is well-positioned to evolve organically into business development responsibilities, leveraging relationship-building, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a proactive approach to identifying new opportunities.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Software

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) - Proficient
• Market Sector Software - Developing
• Trimble Business Center
• Trimble Access
• CAD processing software
• Point Cloud extraction software

Technical Expertise

• Substantial understanding of field surveying equipment use, care, and storage
• Technical Expertise: Intermediate understanding of technical fundamentals
• Performs moderately complex design tasks independently
• Effectively divides projects into individual tasks
• Leads technical effort on small projects
• Conducts quality control of basic deliverables

Teamwork

• Team player who follows on large, complex projects, leads a small team on simple tasks, anticipates the needs of other technical disciplines, and takes responsibility for their results

Project Delivery

• Produces the following independently in the field, office, or both:
• Field data including: Clear and concise field notes, Basic equipment maintenance checks, Topographic data collection, Monument field recovery
• Produces the following under limited direction/oversight from others in the office:
• Basic boundary resolutions, Basic construction calculations, Control network planning, Point cloud extractions, Research of public records, Basic construction layout, Remote sensing data

Industry Standards and Regulations

• Understand and employ applicable industry or client standards such as the following:
• ALTA surveys
• Local platting, surveying standards
• ASPRS
• BLM cadastral surveys
• Client standards

Client Interaction

• Infrequent direct client interaction. Reads emails. Occasionally attends client meetings. Listens and prepares meeting minutes.

Other

• Other duties as assigned

Level of Work/Accountability

• Performs moderate to advanced levels of technical work on larger and more complex projects as assigned by the market sector. Operates with a moderate level of autonomy. May assist with some assistant project management tasks.

Education and/or Experience

• Associate's Bachelors Degree preferred
• Years of experience required: 4 years
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Field surveying and office production-specific certifications preferred
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver's license is required to support legitimate business purposes

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to create and interpret graphs and understand statistical analysis.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Able to cut brush using chain saw or machete. Able to dig with shovel or digging bars, use a jack hammer and sledgehammer, and drive in stakes and rebar (monuments).
• Able to walk and hike through rough terrain, snow, and ice. Able to routinely lift and carry between 30 and 50 pounds. May need to work at remote sites.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to moderately loud due to the proximity to construction sites and related equipment.