Senior Land Surveyor

Senior Land Surveyor

Salary

$117,561.60 - $158,537.60 Annually

Location

Orange County

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

1719SM-0626-080 (O)

Department

OC Public Works

Opening Date

06/23/2026

Closing Date

7/7/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

CAREER DESCRIPTION

SENIOR LAND SURVEYOR

SALARY INFORMATION

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidates qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment is open to the public and is being held to establish an eligible list to fill current and future Senior Land Surveyor vacancies within OC Public Works and/or other County of Orange agencies. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the recruitment will close on

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM (PT).

OC PUBLIC WORKS

OC Public Works (OCPW) provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities, and to other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to protect and enrich the community through the sustainable delivery of projects and services. OC Public Works' guiding principles are safety, integrity, quality, teamwork, and adaptability.

OCPW is a unique County department comprised of ten (10) service areas: Administrative Services, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures; OC Construction; OC Development Services; OC Environmental Resources; OC Facilities Design & Construction and CUF; OC Facilities Maintenance; OC Fleet Services; OC Infrastructure Programs; OC Operations & Maintenance.

OC Construction

OC Construction provides project management and construction management services for projects on OC Public Works Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Maintenance Improvement Program (MIP) as well as OC Parks and other County department projects. OC Construction focuses on horizontal projects such as roads, bridges, bikeways, and flood control channels.

For more information on OC Public Works click here.

For more information on the County of Orange click here.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OC Public Works has an opportunity for a Senior Land Surveyor within the Field Services Unit under the OC Construction Service Area. Senior Land Surveyors plan, organize and direct complex surveying work. This position performs a full range of supervisory activities and serves as the project lead directing large survey projects or multiple small projects through subordinate Surveyor IIIs. This position takes place primarily within an office setting, but on occasion the incumbent will report to the field.

The range of activities include, but are not limited to, the orchestration of field survey crews, office staff, management of consultants, budget analysis, proposal composition, and periodic evaluations of staff, as well as:

• Planning, assigning, and reviewing the work of survey teams
• Checking for accuracy and compliance with technical and legal survey procedures
• Evaluating employee performance, developing and providing employee training and recommending action on merit increases
• Identifying, analyzing, and arbitrating complex boundary problems involving discrepancies, overlaps, or gaps between ownership lines
• Discusses solutions with developers, sub-dividers, engineers, surveyors, title officers and city surveyors/engineers to resolve boundary problems
• Assigning projects to teams and serves as the project leader over multiple survey parties working together on special projects
• Preparing detailed technical reports on surveying projects or studies
• Review maps and other survey documents submitted by the public, including private engineers and surveyors
• Working with various Project Managers, Engineers, and Land Development teams to formulate comprehensive strategies in providing Surveying support through all phases of County projects
• Preparing proposals and contracts along with managing consulting augmentation

CORE COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate will possess the experience and/or education listed below, as well as the skill and demonstrated ability to effectively manage resources, personnel, schedule and budget on a wide variety of complex projects.

In addition to the requirements listed under the minimum qualifications, the successful candidate must also possess the following core competencies:

Technical Knowledge

• Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of land surveying including, but not limited to, boundary determination, topographic surveys, legal descriptions, construction, right-of-way engineering, and hydrographic surveys
• Principles of algebra, geometry and trigonometry as used in office and field survey analysis
• Laws, rules and regulations regarding subdivisions of land, boundary locations, mapping and surveying practice
• Experience with software such as Civil 3D, Trimble Business Center, Bluebeam, Least Square Adjustment software, ArcGIS and other related surveying software
• Technical report writing and correspondence preparation
• Ability to review, approve and adjust results of survey data to ensure conformance to acceptable surveying principles
• Read and interpret civil engineering drawings, maps, specifications, legal descriptions, survey field data and survey records, identifying and resolving issues with design and/or staking calculations
• Review and prepare complex technical reports and correspondence
• Attention to detail and accuracy of work performed
• Monitor team members and enforce safety guidelines
• The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of the Subdivision Map Act, PLS and possess extensive experience in map checking and/or map preparation

Leadership & Supervision

• Ability to supervise the work of a large technical staff through subordinate supervisors
• Determine need, plan, and evaluate staff training programs
• Effectively instruct subordinates in work methods and department procedures and policies
• Influences, motivates, guides, and directs others toward meeting business objectives, while encouraging openness, creativity, and innovation
• Coaches, mentors, challenges, and works collaboratively with direct reports to align personal development and goal achievement with business objectives and organizational vision

Effective Communication

• Accurately and concisely exchanges information with others, both orally and in writing
• Effectively follows written and oral instruction and is able to give instructions to others
• Actively listens to others for full understanding of what is being communicated; comprehends and interprets technical material related to the job
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with engineers, developers, contractors and the general public
• Records project information to ensure accurate reporting

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Click here to view the minimum qualifications for Senior Land Surveyor.

Experience and Education

Two (2) years as a Surveyor III for the County of Orange.

Or

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel.

Education or training that can be directly related to the required knowledge and abilities may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience at the rate of three (3) college semester units for one (1) month of experience.

NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

LICENSE REQUIREMENT

Possession of a valid Land Surveyors License, or valid pre-January 1, 1982 Registration as a Civil Engineer authorized to practice surveying, issued by the California State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

A California driver license, Class C, is required by date of appointment.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical and Mental Requirements

Frequent sitting for extended periods; occasional walking or standing; occasional driving may be required, depending upon assignment; occasional pushing/pulling; occasional bending, kneeling, and squatting; occasional lifting up to 25 pounds; constant use of good overall vision for reading/close up work; frequent use of color perception and eye/hand coordination; frequent repetitive motion from writing and using a computer keyboard and mouse; occasional grasping, holding, and reaching; and frequent hearing/talking to others on the telephone and in person. Frequent decision making and concentration, often in a high-profile project schedule driven atmosphere.

Environmental and Working Conditions

This position takes place primarily within an office setting, but on occasion the incumbent will report to the field. Incumbents may be required to act on behalf of the Division Manager to interact and communicate with members of the public and business partners.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%)

Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidates rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidates qualifications for the job.

Based on the Departments needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference (VEPP)

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

Questions? For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Brian Quinlan at (714) 667-9750 or by email at brian.quinlan@pw.oc.gov.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Non-Management Benefits

In addition to the Countys standard suite of benefits, such as a variety of health plan options, annual leave and paid holidays--we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as a Health Care Reimbursement Account, 457 Defined Contribution Plan and Annual Education and Professional Reimbursement. Employees are provided a Retirement Plan through the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS).

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

01

INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide on this questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your level of expertise during the recruitment process. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. If you do not have the experience in an area, please answer "N/A". Statements such as "see application" or "see resume" will not be accepted in lieu of a response. All employers, education, and/or training referenced on this questionnaire must be listed in your application. Do you understand these instructions?

• Yes

02

Please choose the option which best describes your experience as it relates to the position:

• Two (2) or more years of experience as a Surveyor III with the County of Orange
• Five (5) years or more of progressively responsible experience managing survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel.
• More than four (4) years, but less than five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel.
• More than three (3) years, but less than four (4) years of progressively responsible experience managing survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel.
• Less than three (3) years of progressively responsible experience managing survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel.
• No Experience

03

In reference to question #2, if substituting relevant education for required professional work experience, a copy of your unofficial transcript showing successful course completion must be attached to your application. Please attach the required documents to avoid disqualification in the recruitment process. Education or training that can be directly related to the required knowledge and abilities may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required experience at the rate of three (3) college semester units for one (1) month of experience. NOTE Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Services (N.A.C.E.S.)

• I understand and have attached the required documentation
• I will not be substituting education for the required professional work experience.

04

Please enter the number and expiration date of your valid Professional Land Surveyors License (PLS), or active Certificate of Registration as a Civil Engineer authorized to practice surveying, issued by the California State Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors & Geologists. If you do not possess a license or certificate, please enter N/A.

05

Please describe your experience managing/supervising survey crews, survey office teams, and/or civil engineering personnel. In your response, please provide your job title, duties, and level of responsibilities, including the number of staff supervised and length of time spent in this capacity. Also include any other information that will help in evaluating your management or supervisory experience.

06

Name and describe the types of surveying/mapping related software and computer applications you have used. Be detailed in your response and include your level of proficiency (basic, intermediate, advanced, expert) and examples of how it was used.

07

Please describe your experience developing work plans, schedules, budgets, or resource allocation strategies for survey operations.

08

Please describe your experience coordinating with outside agencies, consultants, utility companies, contractors, and public stakeholders.

Required Question

Employer County of Orange

Address 400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone 714-834-2555

Website https://hrs.oc.gov