Survey Party Chief

AES Consulting Engineers; Chesapeake, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AES Consulting Engineers is seeking a full-time Survey Party Chief for our Chesapeake office. Candidates will lead field crews and perform boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, utility, and construction stakeout surveys under the direction of a Licensed Land Surveyor or Survey Manager.

Proficiency with robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS, and data collectors is required. Responsibilities include interpreting plans and design documents, operating survey equipment, collecting field data, performing

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in surveying, geomatics, or civil engineering a plus.
• Experience as Survey Party Chief or similar role (3–5+ years) preferred.
• Proficiency with robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS, and data collectors.
• Ability to interpret plans, plats, deeds, and construction drawings.
• Strong leadership, communication, and outdoor work capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead field crews to perform boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, utility, and construction stakeout surveys.
• Operate and maintain robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS units, data collectors, and related equipment.
• Collect field data for plats, base maps, and engineering drawings.
• Perform construction layout for grading, utilities, roads, and drainage facilities.
• Review field notes and data for completeness before submission.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Detail-oriented

Field safety

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associates or Bachelors in surveying/geomatics/civil engineering a plus

Tools

Robotic total stations

GPS/GNSS equipment

Data collectors / Trimble

AutoCAD Civil 3D (in-office survey designer)

Job description

AES Consulting Engineers is seeking a full-time Survey Party Chief for our Chesapeake office. Candidates for this position will work under the direction of a Licensed Land Surveyor or Survey Manager, assisting in performing field data collection as well as a wide variety of land surveying activities, utilizing Robotic total stations, GPS and other surveying instruments in an outdoor field setting.

Responsibilities:

• Lead field crews in performing a variety of land surveying tasks.
• Conduct boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, utility, and construction stakeout surveys.
• Interpret project plans, plats, and design documents to ensure survey work aligns with engineering intent and client requirements.
• Operate and maintain modern survey equipment, including robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS units, data collectors, and digital levels.
• Collect accurate field data for use in preparing plats, base maps, and engineering design drawings.
• Perform construction layout for grading, utilities, roadways, stormwater management facilities, and building footprints.
• Review and verify field notes, sketches, and electronic data for completeness and accuracy prior to submission.
• Ensure equipment is properly maintained, calibrated, and inventoried to support field operations.

Qualifications:

• Proficiency in operating robotic total stations, GPS/GNSS equipment, and data collectors (Trimble or similar systems).
• Strong understanding of boundary, topographic, construction, and ALTA/NSPS survey methods and standards.
• Ability to interpret engineering plans, plats, deeds, and construction drawings accurately.
• Working knowledge of coordinate systems, elevations, and horizontal/vertical control principles.
• Experience with site development and construction layout for grading, utilities, and infrastructure projects.
• Ability to work outdoors year-round in a variety of field conditions and terrain.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to mentor and direct field crew members.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy, safety, and quality.

Required:Candidate will have 3-5+ years of experience as a Survey Party Chief. High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in surveying, geomatics, or civil engineering a plus. Must possess a valid Virginia Driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record.
Preferred: Candidate will have the ability to work as an in-office survey designer, process field data using AutoCAD Civil 3D, have strong math skills, be reliable, detail-oriented and possess a willingness to team and learn.

We offer a competitive salary and generous benefits package.

A 100% employee-owned company, AES has served land development and municipal clients since its founding in 1980. Our team includes engineers, surveyors, landscape architects, CAD-designers, party chiefs, field staff, and administrative professionals.

At AES, teams are built to provide staff with the greatest variety of projects and clients with the most skillful and experienced professionals. We do not group our teams based on project-type, design-type, or client-type. In a given day, week or month, a team, including entry-level-professionals, may work on a 300-unit single family subdivision phase, a church parking drainage repair solution, a mixed-use development, and a 200-unit apartment complex. We believe this provides our employees with the greatest week-to-week variety, ensures our clients have access to a team of professionals with diverse work experience, and develops our engineers, surveyors and landscape architects into better licensed professionals.

Our talented and experienced people serve our clients by designing a wide variety of projects including single-family and townhome subdivisions, multifamily and apartment complexes, hotels and hospitality facilities, mixed-use developments, office and retail parks, banking and restaurant sites, senior living centers, schools, places of worship, industrial and warehousing centers, healthcare campuses, military facilities, farming and agriculture parcels, and municipal centers.