Civil Drafter

Actalent; Minnesota; On-site; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Civil Drafter / Office Survey Technician for a contract-to-hire role in Plymouth, MN. You will draft ALTA/NSPS surveys, plats, and certificates of survey for new homes and subdivisions, coordinating with field crews and engineers to ensure accurate survey data and documents.

You will produce clear drafting deliverables using Civil 3D and AutoCAD, interpret topographic data, and manage multiple projects in a professional office setting.

Qualifications

• 2+ years land surveying experience on residential or land development projects.
• 2+ years ALTA/NSPS survey experience and drafting survey documents.
• 2+ years drafting experience in a surveying or civil engineering environment.
• Proficiency with Civil 3D and AutoCAD for surveying and plats/certificates.
• LSIT certification preferred but not required.
• Experience in a surveying firm or team supporting land development.
• Background in residential land development and coordination with engineers.
• Familiarity with ALTA/NSPS standards and survey documentation best practices.
• Experience collaborating with engineers on grading and site layout plans.
• Ability to handle large-scale and custom developments.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare ALTA/NSPS surveys, preliminary and final plats, and certificates of survey for residential homes and subdivisions.
• Collaborate with field crews to ensure accurate data collection and transfer.
• Review field data for completeness and resolve discrepancies with staff.
• Coordinate with clients to understand project requirements and feedback.
• Produce drafting deliverables using Civil 3D and AutoCAD for residential/public projects.
• Interpret topographic data to support design and documentation.
• Maintain organized project files for surveys, plats, and certificates.
• Support survey and engineering teams with drafting tasks as needed.

Skills

Land surveying experience

ALTA/NSPS survey experience

Drafting experience

Topographic data interpretation

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Project management

Education

LSIT certification (preferred)

Tools

Civil 3D

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Civil Drafter / Office Survey Technician

Job Description

A civil drafter / office survey technician is needed to support a leading civil engineering firm focused on residential land development. In this role, you will draft and prepare ALTA/NSPS surveys, preliminary and final plats, and certificates of survey for new home construction, developed subdivisions, and custom home sites. You will primarily work on metro-area residential projects of varying size, with opportunities to contribute to public development projects as well.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare ALTA/NSPS surveys, preliminary plats, final plats, and certificates of survey for new home construction, developed subdivisions, and custom home sites.
• Create accurate survey certificates for housing developments and other new land development projects.
• Collaborate closely with field crews to ensure accurate collection, transfer, and use of survey data.
• Review incoming field data for completeness and accuracy and communicate with field staff to resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with civil engineers on layout and grading plans for residential land development projects.
• Coordinate with clients to understand project requirements and incorporate feedback into survey documents and plans.
• Produce clear, detailed drafting deliverables using Civil 3D and AutoCAD for residential and public development projects.
• Interpret topographic and land surveying data to support design and documentation.
• Maintain organized project files and documentation for surveys, plats, and certificates.
• Support the survey and engineering teams with additional drafting and survey-related tasks as needed.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 2 years of land surveying experience, including work on residential or land development projects.
• At least 2 years of ALTA/NSPS survey experience, including drafting and preparation of survey documents.
• Minimum 2 years of drafting experience in a surveying or civil engineering environment.
• Proficiency with Civil 3D for civil drafting and land development design support.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for survey drafting and preparation of plats and certificates.
• Hands-on experience with land surveying workflows and coordination between office and field crews.
• Ability to interpret and work with topographic data and survey measurements.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drafting and survey documentation.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with field crews, engineers, and clients.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a professional office setting.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• LSIT (Land Surveyor in Training) certification is preferred but not required.
• Experience working within a surveying firm or survey team that supports land development projects is highly desirable.
• Background in residential land development, including work with home builders or similar clients, is a plus.
• Familiarity with ALTA/NSPS standards and best practices for survey documentation.
• Experience partnering with professional engineers on grading and site layout plans.
• Ability to work both on large‑scale residential projects and custom, smaller developments.
• Interest in growing within a small, highly regarded civil engineering and land surveying team.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based, with most time spent drafting and creating survey certificates at a professional civil engineering and surveying office. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, with some flexibility as needed. You will work closely with a small, collaborative team that includes professional engineers (PEs), registered land surveyors, EITs, LSITs, and multiple field crews active during the summer. The environment emphasizes high-quality work in residential land development, exposure to both large‑scale and custom projects, and strong teamwork between office and field staff. Drafting and survey work is performed using Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and standard surveying tools and data, in a professional, business‑casual office setting.

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Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Plymouth, MN.

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