SONAR Surveys Engineer

NCDOT; North Carolina; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

NC Department of Transportation seeks an Engineer III (NS) to lead SONAR surveying projects, process underwater data, and deliver precise geographic information for highway and structure design. The role requires expertise in civil engineering and geomatics, with emphasis on marine environments and data-driven decision making.

Successful candidates will supervise teams, coordinate with other divisions, and ensure compliance with department procedures while advancing open-water survey initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and four years of progressively responsible experience or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Work with specialized SONAR hardware and software to create surface models of underwater landforms.
• Direct and supervise engineers and technicians in collecting, processing, and delivering data.
• Serve as primary contact for data users across divisions relying on data for design and analysis.
• Ensure compliance with geomatics engineering operations and policies.

Skills

Civil engineering

Geomatics engineering

Route location surveying

Underwater Bathymetric surveys

SONAR data processing

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

Hypack

Bentley CADD

Job description

## SONAR Surveys EngineerApply: Carteret County, NC: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: October 30, 2026 (17 days left to apply): JR-126124**Agency**Dept of Transportation**Division**State Hwy Administrator - Div of Hwys**Job Classification Title**Engineer III (NS)**Position Number**60025220**Grade**NC20**About Us**It’s the mission of the NC Department of Transportation to connect people, products and places safely and efficiently with customer focus, accountability, and environmental sensitivity to enhance the economy and vitality of North Carolina. We encourage you to consider joining NCDOT where our work not only serves the citizens of North Carolina but has an impact on our world through all modes of transportation.**Description of Work**Please note that all positions close at 12:00 AM on the posted closing date. You must apply by 11:59 PM prior to the posted closing date. The primary purpose of the Location and Surveys Unit is to provide Statewide engineering and geomatics analysis in the development of transportation facilities and acquisition of property in accordance with the best professional engineering and surveying practices consistent with all laws and regulations governing the State Highway System. In this role you will be: •Working with specialized technology for acquiring, processing, mapping, and delivering data used in highway and structure design, construction, and maintenance, as well as in open water navigational channel design and maintenance. •Using highly accurate SONAR (Sound Navigation And Ranging) survey hardware and software to create precise surface models of underwater landforms such as lake, river, and inlet floors. •Use of specialized equipment and associated data collection, processing, and application methods are complex and non standard for NCDOT engineers and land surveyors. •Use of strong working knowledge of specialized SONAR technology in addition to extensive knowledge of standard CADD and land survey principles and procedures. •Working work with and supervising other engineers and technicians while collecting, processing, and delivering complex data for design and analysis using specialized SONAR hardware and software. •Making decisions on complex issues related to data collection, processing, and delivery, and will direct others in preparing, using, and analyzing the collected data. •Serve as the primary contact for users across other Divisions, Units, and Departments who rely on the collected data for engineering design and analysis involving structures, highways, construction, maintenance, and open water navigational channels. Must be able to legally operate a motor vehicle to transport workers and equipment to and from surveying sites, transport sonar boat to job site, attend scoping meetings, attend required training, attend staff meetings and respond to emergency requests/events.**Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences**Salary Grade and Salary Range: NC20 $70,478 to $123,336**Management prefers applicants with the following:*** Experience with the principles and practices of Civil Engineering and Route Location Surveying including geomatics engineering and underwater bathometric surveys.* Experience with Side Scan SONAR technology and experience processing SONAR data using Hypack software to create maps of the processed data utilizing Bentley CADD software.* Experience directing and managing others in SONAR survey activities associated with acquisition and processing of data, on multiple projects, to be used by various other groups in NCDOT.* Experience in ensuring compliance with Department/Unit procedures in geomatics engineering operations and policies.* Experience with NCDOT’s operations, especially in marine environments including knowledge of NCDOT structures and scour concerns, especially in the coastal region of the state. **Minimum Education and Experience**Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details. Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field of engineering from an appropriately accredited institution and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. May require registration as a professional engineer by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.**In accordance with the Governor’s** **Executive Order 303****, our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated or justice-involved. We invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified.**