Survey Technician Los Angeles, CA

Description

David Evans and Associates is looking for an experienced Office Survey Technician in Los Angeles, California. The role supports surveying and geomatics projects across Southern California, including boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, right-of-way, and construction survey work.

This is primarily an office-based technical role involving survey data processing, CAD mapping, point-cloud feature extraction, boundary research, survey calculations, legal descriptions, exhibits, and plats. You will work closely with Survey Managers, Project Surveyors, and other professionals to produce accurate survey deliverables.

The position is a good match for an experienced survey professional who is comfortable with AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, and point-cloud data. The employer also values knowledge of California mapping standards and offers opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and career growth.

Job at a Glance

Job Title	Office Survey Technician
Company	David Evans and Associates, Inc.
Location	Los Angeles, California
Job Type	Full-Time
Experience	Minimum 6 years of survey field and/or office experience
Industry	Surveying and Geomatics
Job Category	Surveying / Engineering
Main Focus	Survey data processing, CAD mapping, point-cloud extraction, and technical survey deliverables
Salary	$40–$45 per hour

Detailed Role Requirements & Responsibilities

Survey Mapping and Drafting

A major part of the role is preparing technical mapping and drafting deliverables for different types of survey projects.

You will:

• Prepare mapping and drafting for boundary surveys
• Support topographic survey projects
• Prepare deliverables for ALTA/NSPS surveys
• Support right-of-way survey work
• Prepare materials for construction survey projects
• Develop accurate CAD-based mapping deliverables
• Prepare technical exhibits and plats

Survey Data Processing

The position involves processing survey information and turning collected data into usable technical deliverables.

Responsibilities include:

• Processing survey data
• Extracting features from point clouds
• Developing CAD-based mapping
• Reviewing and organizing survey information
• Producing accurate technical outputs
• Using survey-processing software to support project delivery

Boundary Research and Analysis

You will also assist with research and analysis related to property boundaries.

This can include:

• Researching survey records
• Assisting with boundary analysis
• Supporting boundary determinations
• Performing survey calculations
• Analyzing procedures under the direction of a licensed Professional Land Surveyor
• Preparing legal descriptions
• Preparing exhibits and plats

Point-Cloud Processing

Point-cloud data is an important part of the position.

You will use point-cloud information to extract relevant features and help create accurate mapping deliverables. Experience with point-cloud extraction is specifically required, while additional experience with TBC, TopoDOT, and Cyclone can strengthen an application.

Project Collaboration

The Office Survey Technician will work closely with experienced surveying professionals.

The role involves collaboration with:

• Survey Managers
• Project Surveyors
• Project Managers
• Other surveying and geomatics professionals

This provides an opportunity to contribute to projects while continuing to develop technical surveying skills.

Required Skills and Experience

The core requirements include:

• At least 6 years of survey field and/or office experience
• Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Proficiency with MicroStation (ORD)
• Experience with point-cloud extraction
• General engineering plan-reading skills
• Strong written communication skills
• Strong verbal communication skills

Knowledge of California mapping standards, the California Subdivision Map Act, and local agency requirements is preferred.

Skills That Can Strengthen Your Application

The employer lists several additional qualifications that can make an application stronger:

• Associate degree in Land Surveying
• Associate degree in Civil Engineering
• Associate degree in drafting
• LSIT certification
• Trimble Business Center (TBC)
• TopoDOT
• Cyclone
• MicroStation (ORD)
• Point-cloud processing
• Point-cloud feature extraction
• Knowledge of California mapping standards
• Familiarity with the Subdivision Map Act
• Knowledge of local agency requirements

These should be presented as additional qualifications rather than requirements unless you already have them.

Industry Context & Career Advice

Survey technicians play an important role in construction, engineering, land development, transportation, and other projects that depend on accurate measurements and mapping. Modern surveying increasingly combines traditional surveying knowledge with technologies such as LiDAR, point clouds, CAD, and digital data processing.

This position reflects that shift. Along with traditional survey knowledge, the employer wants someone who can process digital survey data and turn it into accurate mapping and technical deliverables. David Evans and Associates describes its surveying and geomatics work as including aerial LiDAR, topographic surveys, construction surveys, and BIM modeling.

For your resume, do more than list surveying software. Explain how you used AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation, point clouds, or survey-processing tools on actual projects. If possible, mention the types of surveys you supported and the deliverables you produced.

Knowledge of California-specific surveying requirements can also help distinguish your application because the employer specifically identifies California mapping standards, the Subdivision Map Act, and local agency requirements as preferred knowledge.

What to Highlight on Your Resume

For this position, make the following experience easy to find:

• 6+ years of survey field and/or office experience
• AutoCAD Civil 3D
• MicroStation (ORD)
• Point-cloud extraction
• Point-cloud processing
• Survey data processing
• CAD-based mapping
• Boundary surveys
• Topographic surveys
• ALTA/NSPS surveys
• Right-of-way surveys
• Construction surveys
• Survey calculations
• Boundary research
• Legal descriptions
• Survey exhibits
• Plats
• Engineering plan reading
• California mapping standards
• Subdivision Map Act knowledge
• TBC
• TopoDOT
• Cyclone
• LSIT, if applicable

Try to connect each technical skill to a real project. For example, instead of simply listing “AutoCAD Civil 3D,” explain what types of survey drawings or mapping deliverables you produced with it.

A stronger resume bullet could be:

Processed survey data and developed CAD-based mapping for boundary, topographic, ALTA/NSPS, and construction survey projects using AutoCAD Civil 3D and point-cloud extraction workflows.

Only use this wording if it accurately reflects your experience.

Interview Preparation

Tell us about your survey experience.

Be ready to explain the types of survey projects you have worked on, your responsibilities, and whether your experience has primarily been in the field, office, or both.

How do you process survey data into a final mapping deliverable?

Explain your workflow from receiving survey data through processing, quality checking, CAD drafting, feature extraction, and preparing the final deliverable.

What is your experience with AutoCAD Civil 3D?

Prepare specific examples of survey projects where you used Civil 3D and explain the types of drawings or deliverables you created.

How have you worked with point-cloud data?

Discuss the software you have used, how you extracted features, and how you checked the resulting data for accuracy.

What is your experience with MicroStation?

If you have used MicroStation or ORD, explain the types of projects and deliverables where you used it.

How would you approach boundary research?

Think about how you review available records, previous survey information, maps, and other relevant documentation before supporting a boundary determination.

What California surveying standards are you familiar with?

Review the California mapping standards, Subdivision Map Act, and relevant local agency requirements if these areas are part of your experience.

Tell us about a difficult survey project.

Choose an example that demonstrates your technical problem-solving ability. Explain the challenge, your role, the tools you used, and how you helped deliver an accurate result.

Advice for Applicants

This position is aimed at an experienced survey professional, so your resume should make your six or more years of relevant experience immediately clear. Do not bury your surveying background below unrelated experience.

Your technical skills are particularly important. Put AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation (ORD), and point-cloud extraction in a prominent position if you have experience with them. These are core requirements for the role.

If you have an Associate degree in Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, or drafting, an LSIT certification, or experience with TBC, TopoDOT, or Cyclone, include those qualifications as well. They can strengthen your application but should not be presented as mandatory if you do not have them.

The position also offers professional development, continuing education and training support, mentorship, and potential career advancement. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, PTO, holiday pay, a 401(k), and employer contributions to an HSA and Lifestyle Spending Account.

The strongest application will show that you can process complex survey data, produce accurate mapping and technical deliverables, work confidently with modern surveying software, and collaborate with surveyors and project managers.