Survey Engineering Technician Journey

Purpose

To perform technical surveying duties for property, construction, precise surveys including engineering, deformation and as-built surveys, and topographical survey functions. These functions involve solutions to complicated mathematical problems and resolving discrepancies in surveying data.

Nature and Scope

This series is assigned to Distribution Services, COE, Electric System Design department. Positions are distinguished by the level of skill and technical knowledge applied; complexity of tasks; guidelines available; authority to make commitments; and level of decision making authority. Positions in this series may have supervisory responsibilities over lower level positions. These positions typically report to licensed surveyors or registered engineers. They are required to work in adverse conditions including busy highways and street intersections, extreme weather conditions, and remote areas. They work under general supervision, but depending on assignment and classification level, may work independently under general direction. Definition of Level:

• The Engineering Rod/Chain Aid and the Survey Engineering Technician are considered slant line classes. The capable employee who satisfactorily learns to perform the second level work may progress from the entry level.
• Engineering Rod/Chain Aid -This is the entry level in the surveying classification series. Individuals in this class are members of a crew performing field survey work under a variety of conditions under close supervision. This class is distinguished from the Survey Technician class, which involves operation of surveying instruments and providing general directions to lower level engineering aids. The capable entry-level employee will learn to perform increasingly important and complex assignments, which will eventually lead to performing the second level duties.
• Survey Engineering Technician -This is the second level in the surveying classification series. Individuals in this class perform skilled surveying duties both in the field and the office. Although work assignments may vary from crew to crew, individuals operate and maintain a variety of technical surveying instruments; make and check mathematical calculations, and may direct other survey technicians and engineering aids. This class is distinguished from Chief of Party/Office Survey Technician classes which are involved in the planning and directing the work of a survey party in addition to performing the more difficult surveying duties and resolving discrepancies.
• Senior Survey Engineering Technician/Office -This is the journey level office position in the surveying classification series. Individuals in this class perform technical analysis of surveyed data, resolve discrepancies, solve complicated mathematical problems and make recommendations to or requests of other departments, agencies or engineering firms. This class is given the authority for independent actions based on experience, ability, and aptitude.
• Senior Survey Engineering Technician/Chief of Party - This is the journey level field position in the surveying classification series. In addition to performing the more difficult surveying and computing tasks including performing technical analysis of surveyed data, resolving discrepancies, solving complicated mathematical problems and making recommendations to or requests of other departments, agencies or engineering firms the Chief of Party plans and directs the daily activities and ensures the safety of a field survey party in making property, construction, precise, preliminary and topographical surveys.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Assists in determining lines, points, elevations, and distances for property, construction and topographic surveys, and triangulation and precise traverses.
• Uses graduated steel tape, spring balance, plumb bob, hand level, and various electronic measuring accessories to accurately measure distances between points.
• Holds a graduated rod to take elevation readings.
• Makes elementary field calculations and checks calculations made by others.
• Drives stakes and places marks; assists in locating stakes, hubs, turning points, benchmarks, and monuments.
• Clears brush and other obstructions from survey line.
• Drives crew and equipment to and from field assignments.
• Cleans and maintains tools; keeps an adequate supply of stakes and other material as needed.
• Sets up traffic warning devices and acts as flagperson for the safety of the crew when working in hazardous traffic situations.
• Sets up, operates, cleans, adjusts, and performs routine maintenance on surveying instruments such as transits, theodolits, levels, global positioning survey systems GPS, and electronic distance measuring instruments.
• Uses surveying instruments to determine points, lines, elevations, and distances for property, construction, triangulation, precise traverse, and topographic surveys.
• May assist in searching records and compiling data for field crews; may review field books, legal descriptions and resolve discrepancies as required
• Performs related duties similar in scope and function as required.
• Transcribes observed and computed data onto standardized forms; maintains records; checks data, field sketches, field books, and calculations for accuracy.
• Makes calculations using hand-held calculators or personal computer on surveying data such as temperature corrections, slope reduction, triangulations, precise traverse, closures, and areas.
• Reviews records, deeds and plans and interprets maps, drawings, and diagrams; makes rough field sketches as required.
• Assists in training lower level technicians and engineering aids, and in directing their work on the survey crew.
• Performs basic duties on a survey crew, such as clearing brush, determining and setting markers, taking routine measurements, assessing potential job site safety hazards.
• Assists in locating and identifying monuments, benchmarks, property markers, and other reference points required for survey control.
• Locates underground electrical facilities using metrotech equipment.
• Assists in checking right-of-way drawings using AutoCAD and Autodesk civil/survey AEC tools and software as needed.
• Other Duties
  • May make simple notes of work done to include measurements, distances, spring tension on tape, and temperature at time of reading.
  • May occasionally operate a transit or level for either training or relief purposes to expedite the work of a survey party.
  • May assist in planning the method and procedures to be used in various surveying assignments. May maintain records of instrument readings.
  • May assist in searching records and compiling data for field crews; may review field books, legal descriptions and resolve discrepancies as required

Job Description with the full listing of duties can be accessed here:

Required Education

Required Experience Qualifications

• Two years surveying experience.
• Supplemental trigonometry classes.

Required Licenses/Certificates

• Valid California Driver's License:
  • Before any candidate can be appointed, the candidate must meet SMUD's driving standard by not having more than two moving violations within the last two years.
  • This position requires some driving. The employee is required to have a valid drivers license and will be required to take part in the DMV Pull notice program, in which SMUD requests and reviews the employee's DMV record.

Knowledge Of

Proper English usage, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and spelling; Primary program objectives and functions of assigned area; SMUD mandated workplace/field safety training; Mathematics to perform arithmetic, trigonometric, and basic statistical computations; Relevant SAP modules; Minimum Requirements: Survey Engineering Technician - In addition to the above, OSHA mandated fall protection and rope assisted climbing repelling; Basic land, topographic, and construction surveying principles and practices; Complex surveying principles, practices, and equipment as applied to property, topographic, and construction surveying; Mathematics through trigonometry; Computer software and its application to surveying including AutoCAD/Softdesk, TINs and DTMs; Hand held calculators Hewlett Packard with SMI survey program software; Global Positioning System (GPS) and related Global Positioning (GP) software; Leica TCA 2003 total station calibration software; Related SAP modules; Word, Excel, Access; May require knowledge of adjustment and preventative maintenance of common survey instruments and equipment.

Skills To

Communicate effectively and clearly in English in person and by telephone with other staff; Perform routine technical and administrative work Read and interpret maps and construction drawings; Meet and deal tactfully with contractors, estimator's representatives, regulators, property owners and SMUD's employees; Read calibrated graduations Learn to set up, operate, and clean survey instruments; Use hand tools for cutting brush and setting stakes; Follow safety procedures, and maintain a safe work environment at all times; Interpret and apply policies, procedures, standards and requirements related to area of responsibility; Understand and follow complex or brief oral and written instructions; Perform multiple and diverse tasks concurrently in a highly pressurized work environment; Work cooperatively with diverse personalities in a team-oriented environment; Meet the physical requirements necessary to successfully perform required job duties; Use relevant SAP, word processing, Excel, Access software; Use a variety of business office equipment. Minimum Requirements: Survey Engineering Technician - In addition to the above, perform a wide range of responsible surveying and engineering functions safely and accurately; Accurately calculate and interpret maps and construction plans; Perform technical work with rod and chain Set up, operate, clean, adjust and perform routine maintenance on survey instruments; Communicate effectively in writing, including writing reports in a clear and concise manner; Direct the work of other surveying technicians and engineering aides; Use and modify designated software programs and data bases; Research SMUD, Sacramento County, and City records, to prepare job packages; Establish and maintain effective office procedures, records, sketches, note keeping and filing systems; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with SMUD engineering staff, contractors, contractor's representatives, and property owners; Perform rope work, safety harness work, repelling, slope staking Train users in designated software/data base use, survey methods and procedures; Maintain and administer confidential records and information.

Desirable Qualifications

• AutoCAD Experience
• Certificate of registration as a Land Surveyor-in-Training (L.S.I.T.)
• UAS Remote Pilot Certification

Physical Requirements

• Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Fall protection training.
• Strength and stamina to carry survey equipment for distances up to a mile over steep and rugged terrain.
• Willing to work overtime as needed.