Assistant Surveyor - Rail Services (Travel Required)

Olsson; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Olsson is seeking an Assistant Surveyor to support rail services across the United States with extensive travel. You will work with experienced survey crews, gain hands-on training, and learn advanced surveying technology on active railroad projects.

The role emphasizes outdoor work, travel, and developing a long-term career in surveying, transportation, or geospatial fields. Candidates should be prepared for 80%+ travel and be based near an Olsson office location.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a crew.
• Ownership mindset and accountability for tasks.
• Commitment to safety and reliable field performance.
• Strong communication with crew and project teams.

Responsibilities

• Assist survey crews with daily field operations on railroad and transportation projects.
• Load, unload, transport, and maintain survey equipment and supplies.
• Set survey stakes, hubs, targets, prisms, and other field markers.
• Assist with GPS, total station, laser scanning, and other survey data collection activities.
• Follow railroad safety requirements and company safety procedures.

Skills

Team collaboration

Ownership of work

Safety consciousness

Effective communication

Willingness to travel

Tools

GPS

Total station

Laser scanning

Job description

Assistant Surveyor - Rail Services (Travel Required)

Company Description

We are Olsson. We engineer and design solutions that improve the world around us. As a company, we promise to always be responsive, transparent, and focused on results – for our people, our clients, and our company.

We’re a people-centric firm, so it’s no surprise our greatest asset is our people. The impact this creates is an environment that encourages our people to grow and be creative with their talents. This approach builds a culture that is uniquely Olsson. It allows us to grow our people as we grow our business. This, in turn, creates a lasting impact on the world around us.

Job Description

As an Assistant Surveyor, you will work alongside experienced Survey Crew Chiefs and survey professionals on active railroad and transportation infrastructure projects. This position provides hands‑on training, exposure to advanced surveying technology, and a clear pathway for long‑term career growth within the surveying profession.

If you enjoy working outdoors, traveling, learning new skills, and being part of a team that helps deliver critical infrastructure projects, we'd like to hear from you. Candidates may be based near any Olsson office location, as this role primarily supports rail projects throughout the United States and requires extensive travel.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist survey crews with daily field operations on railroad and transportation projects.
• Load, unload, transport, and maintain survey equipment and supplies.
• Set survey stakes, hubs, targets, prisms, and other field markers.
• Assist with GPS, total station, laser scanning, and other survey data collection activities.
• Follow established railroad safety requirements and company safety procedures.
• Work in a variety of outdoor environments and weather conditions.
• Travel frequently to project locations throughout the United States.
• Support project setup, site logistics, and daily field activities.
• Communicate effectively with crew members and project teams.
• Learn surveying procedures, equipment operation, and field techniques from experienced survey professionals.

This role requires extensive travel 80% or more throughout the United States, working in varying weather conditions and terrain.

Qualifications

You are passionate about:

• Working collaboratively with others.
• Having ownership in the work you do.
• Using your talents to positively affect communities.

You bring to the team:

• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 80% or more of the time, including overnight travel, extended project assignments, and occasional weekend work.
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, terrain, and environments, including active construction sites and railroad corridors.
• Ability to safely lift and carry survey equipment, tools, and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Strong work ethic with a demonstrated commitment to safety, reliability, and accountability.
• Ability to follow instructions, work effectively as part of a team, and maintain a positive attitude in changing field conditions.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with coworkers, clients, contractors, and railroad personnel.
• Basic computer skills and the ability to learn survey data collection technology and software.
• Willingness to obtain railroad safety certifications and comply with railroad operating requirements.
• Desire to learn the surveying profession and develop a long‑term career in the surveying, transportation, or geospatial industry.

Additional Information

Olsson specializes in engineering and design, client advisory services, planning, field services, and environmental. Improving the world has been our mindset from the very beginning, back when Olsson first opened for business in 1956. And it will be our mindset for years to come.

As an Olsson employee, you will:

• Be empowered to build your career with tailored development paths
• Have the possibility for flexible work arrangements
• Engage in work that has a positive impact on communities
• Participate in a wellness program promoting balanced lifestyles

• In addition, full‑time employees will receive our traditional benefits package (health care, vision, dental, paid time off, etc.) and the opportunity to participate in a bonus system that rewards performance.

Olsson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage qualified minority, female, veteran, and disabled candidates to apply and be considered for open positions. We do not discriminate against any applicant for employment or any employee because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, disability, age, military status, or other protected status.

Olsson understands the importance of privacy and is committed to protecting job applicants’ personal information. Pursuant to the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, the “CCPA”), this notice explains Olsson’s practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for job applicants residing in California. Please read this Notice carefully to understand our privacy practices.

For more information about the types of information we collect and how we use it in connection with your general access and use of our website, please review our general California Privacy Notice here .

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Olsson’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows.

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.