Civil/Survey CAD Technician

Actalent; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation or Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent in Birmingham, AL seeks a Civil/Survey CAD Technician to design, layout, and document pipeline and transmission projects. You will develop detailed drawings, alignments, and topographic maps using AutoCAD and Civil 3D, ensuring compliance with technical specs and client requirements.

Collaborate with engineers and surveyors to reflect field conditions, update drawings, and support construction. The role begins office-based with potential hybrid work after training, focusing on CAD

Qualifications

• Proficiency in AutoCAD for civil and survey drafting applications.
• Experience creating civil drawings including alignments, profiles, surfaces, cross sections, and pipe networks.
• Experience with topography and topographic surveys in a CAD environment.
• Understanding of land surveying concepts and their application to CAD drafting.
• Experience in civil drafting and design for construction or survey-related projects.
• Ability to translate field survey data into accurate technical drawings and maps.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drafting and documentation.
• Formal education related to CAD or a closely aligned technical field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lay out pipeline routes to conform to project specs and client requirements.
• Generate and edit pipeline alignments, profiles, surfaces, cross sections, and pipe networks using AutoCAD and related tools.
• Create technical drawings and topographical maps reflecting field conditions and project needs.
• Update drawings and datasets with new information from field surveys.
• Support updates to survey plats for long transmission pipeline projects and other linear infrastructure.
• Collaborate with engineers, surveyors, and technical staff to ensure accurate designs.
• Apply topographic survey knowledge to produce precise CAD deliverables.
• Assist with drafting and design tasks for civil construction and land survey projects.

Skills

Civil drafting

Survey drafting

Topographic mapping

Field data interpretation

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

CAD documentation

Education

Degree in CAD or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Civil 3D

Job description

Job Description

This role offers an opportunity for a Civil/Survey CAD Technician to support key pipeline and transmission projects, focusing on the design, layout, and documentation of linear infrastructure. You will use AutoCAD and, ideally, Civil 3D to develop detailed drawings, alignments, and topographic representations that meet technical specifications and client requirements. The position involves close collaboration with engineers and surveyors to ensure that designs accurately reflect field conditions and support successful construction.

Job Title: Civil/Survey CAD Technician

This role offers an opportunity for a Civil/Survey CAD Technician to support key pipeline and transmission projects, focusing on the design, layout, and documentation of linear infrastructure. You will use AutoCAD and, ideally, Civil 3D to develop detailed drawings, alignments, and topographic representations that meet technical specifications and client requirements. The position involves close collaboration with engineers and surveyors to ensure that designs accurately reflect field conditions and support successful construction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lay out pipeline routes to ensure they conform to project specifications and client requirements.
• Generate and edit pipeline alignments, profiles, surfaces, cross sections, and pipe networks using AutoCAD and related design tools.
• Create technical drawings and topographical maps that accurately represent field conditions and project needs.
• Update drawings and datasets with new information and data points gathered from field surveys.
• Support updates to survey plats for long transmission pipeline greenfield projects and other linear infrastructure.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, surveyors, and other technical staff to ensure construction projects are designed and documented correctly.
• Apply knowledge of topographic surveys and land surveying principles to produce precise and compliant CAD deliverables.
• Assist with drafting and design tasks related to civil construction and land survey projects as needed.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD for civil and survey drafting applications.
• Ability to create and modify civil drawings, including alignments, profiles, surfaces, cross sections, and pipe networks.
• Experience working with topography and topographic surveys in a CAD environment.
• Understanding of land surveying concepts and their application to CAD drafting.
• Experience in civil drafting and design for construction or survey-related projects.
• Ability to interpret and translate field survey data into accurate technical drawings and maps.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drafting and documentation.
• Relevant degree or formal education related to CAD or a closely aligned technical field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using Civil 3D; the ability to operate in Civil 3D is considered a strong plus.
• Experience supporting linear projects such as pipelines, transmission lines, or similar infrastructure.
• Experience in survey technology, land survey support, or survey technician roles.
• Familiarity with updating survey plats for long transmission pipeline greenfield projects.
• Experience collaborating with engineers and surveyors on civil and construction projects.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project requirements and workflows in a dynamic project environment.

Work Environment

The role begins in an office-based setting for the first few months to provide hands-on training and a thorough understanding of the operational processes and support requirements. During this period, you will work closely with the team to learn project standards, workflows, and design practices. After you demonstrate confidence and proficiency with the operational applications and project deliverables, you may transition to a hybrid work arrangement, reducing in-office days to a few times per week. The work environment centers on CAD-based design and drafting, primarily using AutoCAD and potentially Civil 3D, in a collaborative setting with engineers, surveyors, and other technical professionals.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Birmingham, AL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $30.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 Birmingham,AL. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 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 [e-mail] 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.