Senior Professional Land Surveyor, PLS

Dudek; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Dudek is seeking a Senior Professional Land Surveyor to lead surveying operations on large-scale projects in Southern California. The role blends advanced technical expertise with strong leadership to deliver accurate, compliant surveying solutions while partnering with clients and internal teams.

You will oversee project execution, develop high-performing teams, and contribute to business development, budgeting, and strategic planning in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• 18+ years of experience in surveying, geomatics, GIS, or related field.
• Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license required for the State of California.
• Bachelor’s degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geography, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Ability to work in field environments and travel as needed.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by day one.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex surveying projects from planning through delivery.
• Ensure work is completed accurately, on time, within budget, and in compliance with requirements.
• Define scope, schedules, and performance expectations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support broader project goals.
• Drive strategic planning, performance goals, and operational improvements.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Monitor team utilization and optimize workflows.
• Proactively manage project and operational risks.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of survey professionals.
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career growth.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and service expansion.
• Support proposals, cost estimates, and contract negotiations.
• Represent the team in client meetings and presentations.
• Provide technical oversight across surveying activities and deliverables.
• Drive adoption of new tools, technologies, and best practices.
• Oversee use and maintenance of survey equipment (GPS, UAVs, lidar).
• Promote continuous improvement in workflows and data practices.
• Establish and uphold QA/QC standards.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and client requirements.
• Conduct reviews and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain and promote strong safety practices.
• Oversee survey data quality, storage, and accessibility.
• Improve processes for data collection, processing, and integration.
• Support advancement of geospatial systems and automation.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license

Bachelor's degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geography, Civil Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

ArcGIS

GPS

UAVs

LiDAR

Job description

Overview

Location(s): Southern CaliforniaPractice/Department: Mapping and SurveyingWork Environment: HybridCompensation: $150,000-$200,000 annually*

Dudek’s journey began in 1980 with a vision to serve Southern California’s water and wastewater agencies.

Today, we are a 100% employee-owned firm supporting clients nationwide and delivering projects that improve and protect the built and natural environments of communities throughout the United States. Our work has been recognized by leading industry organizations, and we’ve been honored with multiple national Top Workplace Awards.

Our employee-owners are unified by a singular commitment to supporting projects that address key societal issues, such as the transition to renewable energy, infrastructure hardening and repair, environmental protection, and community resilience.

Learn more about ouraward-winning culture, thebenefits and perksof being aDudekian, and theprojectsyou will have the opportunity to shape.

Position Overview

Who You Are

As anemployee-owner, you embrace accountability, working safely, and collaboration while thinking resourcefully and independently.

Like all Dudekians, you are curious andsolution-oriented, with the ability to adapt quickly to changes and approach challenges with a spirit ofinnovation.

HowYou’llMake an Impact

The Senior Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) is a senior leader responsible for driving the strategy, performance, and growth of surveying operations across large-scale and complex projects. This role blends advanced technical expertise with strong leadership to deliver accurate, high-quality, and compliant surveying solutions.

This leader oversees project execution, develops high-performing teams, and partners closely with clients and internal stakeholders. The Senior Professional Land Surveyor also plays a key role in business development, operational excellence, and advancing technologies that strengthen capabilities and competitive advantage.

This role will be based out of one of our Southern California offices as a hybrid role.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Planning and Execution

• Lead complex surveying projects from planning through delivery.
• Ensure work is completed accurately, on time, within budget, and in compliance with requirements.
• Define scope, schedules, and performance expectations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support broader project goals.

Operational Leadership and Strategy

• Drive strategic planning, performance goals, and operational improvements.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Monitor team utilization and optimize workflows.
• Proactively manage project and operational risks.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of survey professionals.
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career growth.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment.

Client Engagement and Business Development

• Build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and service expansion.
• Support proposals, cost estimates, and contract negotiations.
• Represent the team in client meetings and presentations.

Technical Leadership and Innovation

• Provide technical oversight across surveying activities and deliverables.
• Drive adoption of new tools, technologies, and best practices.
• Oversee use and maintenance of survey equipment (GPS, UAVs, lidar, etc.).
• Promote continuous improvement in workflows and data practices.

Quality Assurance, Compliance, and Safety

• Establish and uphold QA/QC standards.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and client requirements.
• Conduct reviews and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain and promote strong safety practices.

Data and Systems Management

• Oversee survey data quality, storage, and accessibility.
• Improve processes for data collection, processing, and integration.
• Support advancement of geospatial systems and automation.

Minimum Qualifications

• 18+ years of experience in surveying, geomatics, GIS, or related field.
• Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license required for the State of California.
• Bachelor’s degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geography, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Ability to work in field environments and travel as needed.
• Must possessa valid driver’s license and have active personal automobile liability insurance by the first day of employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) license preferred to have one or more of the of following: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, or Nevada.
• Advanced experience with surveying technologies (GPS, UAVs, lidar).
• Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, ArcGIS, and related tools.
• Strong leadership, client management, and business development experience.
• Background in budgeting, operations, and strategic planning.

Compensation:

$150,000-$200,000 annually*

*Final agreed-upon compensation will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s related experience, education, certifications, skills, and work location. Successful candidates must pass a pre-employment drug test and background check prior to beginning employment.

Working Conditions

• This job operates in a remote or office-based environment and this role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, printers, etc.
• This job requires occasional project site visits, based outdoors which can include excessive noise, uneven walking surfaces, extreme weather, and moving vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. This job requires the following:

• Working on a computer, sitting, or standing for long periods of time in an office or remote office setting.

• Employees must be capable of bending, squatting, climbing ladders, and lifting up to 35 lbs. unassisted; 50lbs in a team lift (two or more employees).

• This job requires attending meetings, both in person and virtually as well as speaking on the phone with government agency representatives, members of the public, and others. Speaking, hearing and listening are required.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Outdoor activity may involve walking/trekking in uneven terrain over long distances in extreme weather conditions for extended periods of time.

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Dudek Talent Community

Dudek is committed to creating a workplace where all employees, regardless of their background, feel valued, respected, and have equal opportunities to succeed. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our business success, and we are dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone can thrive. We are committed to fair and equitable processes, based on merit, free from any discrimination.

Dudek is genuinely committed to equal employment opportunities within our company and on our project teams. Dudek is also committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities. This commitment applies to all persons involved in Dudek’s operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of Dudek, including supervisors and coworkers. Equal employment opportunities will be extended to all persons (including those with disability and veteran status) in all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination. Any employee who violates this policy and Dudek’s commitment to equal employment opportunities will be subject to disciplinary action.

Dudek is a U.S.-based employer. All positions are based in the United States and require U.S. work authorization.