Entry-Level Surveyor

Prairie Engineers, P.C.; Columbia (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid health premiums

Employer-funded HRA

401k with 3% employer contribution

Paid holidays

4 weeks PTO (160 hours) per year

Bonus opportunities

Premium overtime pay

Job summary

Prairie Engineers, P.C. is seeking an entry-level Surveyor to join our Midwest and Mississippi River region team in multiple offices. You will gain hands-on field experience, mentorship, and exposure to diverse surveying disciplines while pursuing professional licensure.

The role includes extensive fieldwork, travel, and office duties such as calculations and plats, under licensed supervision, with growth toward licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in surveying or related field with licensure pathway in mind.
• Willingness to travel overnight around 80% of assignments initially, with lodging provided.
• Valid driver's license and insurable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Perform boundary, topographic, geodetic control, hydrographic, and other surveys.
• Operate GNSS receivers and robotic total stations; collect field data.
• Process data, perform calculations, and prepare plats, plans, and legal descriptions.
• Support state and federal projects across the United States.
• Collaborate with surveyors, engineers, and geospatial staff as skills grow.

Education

Bachelor's degree in surveying or related field

Tools

GNSS receivers

Robotic total stations

Field data collection equipment

Job description

Build Your Career in Surveying. Grow with Our Midwest and Mississippi River Region Team.

Launch your surveying career with Prairie Engineers and gain the hands‑on experience, professional mentorship, and technical knowledge needed to pursue Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) licensure in the states where we work.

Prairie Engineers, P.C., recognized as one of Zweig Group's Best Firms to Work For in each of the past five years, is seeking a motivated Entry‑Level Surveyor based in one of our offices in Hannibal, MO; Keokuk, IA; Columbia, IL; Springfield, IL; Hillsboro, IL; Vicksburg, MS; or Lenexa, KS. You'll work with experienced surveyors, engineers, and geospatial professionals on challenging state and federal projects throughout the Midwest, Mississippi River region, and across the country.

From boundary and topographic surveys to geodetic control, hydrography, LiDAR, and sUAS mapping, you'll gain exposure to diverse surveying disciplines and modern technologies. This full‑time position combines extensive fieldwork and travel with office assignments involving survey calculations, data processing, and preparation of professional survey plats, plans, and legal descriptions under the guidance of licensed surveyors.

It's an opportunity for someone who enjoys fieldwork, is eager to learn, and wants to help build a growing surveying practice while advancing toward professional licensure.

What You'll Do

• Perform boundary, topographic, geodetic control, hydrographic, and other specialized surveys.
• Learn to operate and become proficient with GNSS receivers, robotic total stations, and electronic field data collection equipment.
• Collect field measurements and verify their accuracy and completeness while following safety and quality standards.
• Perform calculations and process survey data in the office, checking and reducing field measurements.
• Prepare plats, plans, legal descriptions, and other survey deliverables.
• Support state and federal agency projects throughout the United States.
• Collaborate with surveyors, engineers, and geospatial specialists while taking on greater responsibility as your skills grow.

What You'll Bring

• Education and Licensure: A bachelor's degree in surveying or a related field, including education and coursework supporting a recognized professional land surveying licensure pathway. A demonstrated interest in pursuing professional land surveyor licensure is essential.
• Travel and Fieldwork: Ready for overnight travel on approximately 80% of work assignments initially, generally in trips of 10 days or less; comfortable working outdoors in varied terrain and weather. Prairie provides lodging and per diem.
• Driving Requirements: A valid driver's license and insurable driving record.
• Aptitude and Dependability: Interest in mathematics, technology, spatial reasoning, and practical problemsolving; attention to detail, safety awareness, initiative, and professional communication.

How you Align

• PeopleFocused: You value relationships and team growth and will help build a respectful team where everyone can contribute and develop.
• CanDo Attitude: You approach challenges positively and develop flexible, innovative solutions.
• Responsive: You communicate openly, proactively, and promptly.

Compensation

Base Salary: $55,000-$70,000 per year, plus premium overtime, based on location, education, experience, and job‑related knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Your Path Toward Professional Licensure

• Build your foundation: Gain experience with boundary and control surveys, GNSS fieldwork, computations, data processing, plats, and legal descriptions under licensed supervision.
• Work toward SIT certification: Prepare for the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, then apply for Surveyor‑in‑Training (SIT) certification in the appropriate state when you meet the Board's requirements.
• Develop qualifying experience: Take on increasingly responsible boundary surveying work under PLS supervision, including delegated responsible charge where appropriate, and document your experience.
• Pursue PLS licensure: Prepare for the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam and any state‑specific examination and pursue Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) registration once you meet the applicable Board's requirements.

Explore the Region and Beyond

Initially, the position involves overnight travel for the majority of work assignments with most trips lasting 10 days or less. Lodging and per diem for meals are provided. As your skills and experience grow, travel may decrease as you take on additional office responsibilities. Initial assignments include long‑term U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects throughout the Midwest and Mississippi River region (including Rock Island, St. Louis, and Vicksburg Districts), with additional state and federal assignments nationwide. Expect changing locations, long field days, and varied terrain and weather, balanced with office time to process data and prepare deliverables.

Why Build Your Career at Prairie Engineers?

• Licensure support: Mentorship, eligible training and enrollment fees, related travel expenses, and paid time for professional classes and licensing exams.
• Broad experience: Exposure to boundary and control surveys, hydrography, photogrammetry, LiDAR mapping, and complex federal projects.
• A team to learn from: Guidance from experienced survey party chiefs, survey technicians, CADD technicians, hydrographers, sUAS pilots, engineers, photogrammetrists, and LiDAR experts a collaborative team that invests in you.
• Growth opportunity: Join one of our Midwest or Mississippi River region offices and help build Prairie's surveying presence.

Competitive Benefits

• Fully employer‑paid premiums for employee health coverage.
• Employer‑funded HRA.
• 401k with 3% employer contribution once eligible.
• Paid holidays.
• Four weeks (160 hours) annual paid time off (PTO) for eligible employees.
• Bonus opportunities.
• Premium overtime pay.

All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information (including family medical history), or any other legally protected status. Candidates must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.