Senior Survey Technician

Job Summary:

This is an advanced and experienced Survey Technician position responsible for providing technical assistance and leadership in the Survey and Land Management Division of the Public Works Department. Work is performed independently under general supervision and is reviewed primarily in terms of results attained.

Qualifications:

This position requires five years of land surveying and/or mapping experience with increasing responsibility. Graduation from an approved 18-24 month technical college or two year college degree in land surveying or civil engineering may substitute for one year of the required experience.

Field Qualifications

• Promote a diverse, culturally competent, and respectful workplace;
• Considerable knowledge  of land title and survey practices; boundary control; legal principles and practices of land surveying to solve complex surveying problems; land surveying standards and the basis for their development.
• Considerable knowledge of land surveying equipment such as survey controllers, total stations, data collectors, and GNSS/GPS equipment; datum transformations and the Minnesota County Coordinate System.
• Ability to adapt and improvise in areas not specifically covered by guidelines or standards, to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to present technical opinions and conclusions in a clear and convincing manner.
• Ability to train survey technicians in appropriate land surveying techniques and coordinate their activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with private land surveyors, citizens, technicians and other county departments.

Office Qualifications

• Working knowledge of public records, applied mathematics and property descriptions; considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of land surveying;
• Knowledge of parcel mapping and cartographic principles;
• Knowledge of computer programming principles;
• Considerable knowledge of computer graphics systems, operation and capabilities to include:  digitizers, plotters, terminals, and data communications;
• Thorough knowledge of the Windows operating system and PC networks;,
• Ability and skill in performance of ESRI software operation in both graphic and database functions.
• Ability to coordinate development of a county-wide parcel map database;
• Ability to exercise independent judgment to effectively work with a variety of persons at all levels of government and the public sector, to analyze and resolve problems,
• Ability to write programs in database management and interactive graphic areas.

Duties:

• Leads survey and land information projects.  Leads other technicians to ensure that survey projects are conducted and completed properly. Helps determine work priorities, recommends and conducts ongoing training, solves problems, and review work progress. Explains standards, rules and regulations affecting projects.
• Performs complex survey and mapping tasks that require an advanced understanding of legal descriptions, coordinate geometry, and CAD/GIS software; along with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Examines proposed subdivision plats, right-of-way plats, Common Interest Community plats, and Registered Land Surveys for mathematical accuracy, compliance with state statutes, professional standards, and county policies.  Prepares reports to professional surveyors outlining required or recommended action.

Field Duties:

• Determines method used through research and mathematical analysis for the perpetuation and preservation of United States Public Land Survey corners to ensure the validity and positional accuracy of corners used by both public and private land surveyors.
• Compiles information on angles, distances, reference points, found monuments and various topographic features; analyzes and adjust survey data; resolves issues with contractors, landowners, engineers, utility companies or other agencies to preserve boundary markers and survey control points;
• Researches deeds, certificates of survey, plats, and other property ownership information to assist in the determination of land boundaries and for use in preliminary design of projects areas.  Utilize coordinate geometry software to compute deeds, plats, and field survey data for use in the analysis of land boundaries;
• Works with contractors, inspectors, clients and parties affected by projects to maintain objectives and schedules;
• Prepares parcel maps, survey worksheets, Certificates of Survey and boundary survey maps using computer aided drafting techniques (AutoCAD and ArcGIS);
• Conducts research and analysis of survey records and field evidence to prepare Certificates of Location of Government Corner per state statutes and presents findings and recommendations to the Assistant County Surveyor;
• Responsible for establishing horizontal and vertical control used in complex surveys including retracement, boundary, right-of-way, topographic, record plans, cross-sections, and all types of construction staking; Utilizes advanced survey equipment including robotic total stations and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS/GPS);
• Sets boundary corners and highway right-of-way monuments;
• Serves as survey Party Chief.  Reviews and interprets construction plans, provides input to design staff and compiles field notes. Performs data collection and field surveying functions, including preliminary surveys, alignment surveys, construction staking, and quantity measurements. Identifies and resolves field problems and coordinates field changes with construction and design staff.  Participates in meetings  regarding progress of construction projects and set priorities for field staking needs.
• Maintains knowledge of advancements in survey technology and equipment to ensure cost-effective survey and data collection practices.
• Responsible for determination and implementation of appropriate work zone traffic control to ensure safe work zones for both workers and drivers;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Office Duties:

• Compiles information from various county land records to maintain the Washington County parcel map geodatabase and centerline dataset utilizing CAD/GIS software.  Performs various checking and verification procedures to ensure the accuracy, security and integrity of the parcel map geodatabase.
• Designs, develops and distributes survey related computer applications for GIS databases and web based development, utilizing object oriented programming and scripting languages. Reviews and interprets survey archives, land records, horizontal and vertical field control, aerial photography and vector analysis. Enters data by importing tabular results, using coordinate geometry, digitizing and scanning.
• Provides technical expertise, to county staff and to the public, reviewing legal descriptions and survey information.  Prepares graphic depictions of property boundaries.  Edits proposed tax legal descriptions to maintain accuracy and integrity of the parcel map database in relation to recorded documents. Utilizes advanced understanding of legal descriptions, coordinate geometry, vector analysis and conversion.  Maintains the uniform street naming and property numbering system; coordinates with 911 indexing to maintain the integrity of emergency services in conjunction with the sheriff.
• Provides internal technical support to users in the operation of specialized survey applications and databases developed in-house.  Provides assistance with computer hardware, software and peripheral equipment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned, including field work assignments

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