Civil Drafter

Civil Drafter / Office Survey Technician

A civil drafter / office survey technician is needed to support a leading civil engineering firm focused on residential land development. In this role, you will draft and prepare ALTA/NSPS surveys, preliminary and final plats, and certificates of survey for new home construction, developed neighborhoods, and custom home sites. You will primarily work on metro-area residential projects of varying size, with opportunities to contribute to public development projects as well.

Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare ALTA/NSPS surveys, preliminary plats, final plats, and certificates of survey for new home construction, developed neighborhoods, and custom home sites.
• Create accurate survey certificates for housing developments and other new land development projects.
• Collaborate closely with field crews to ensure accurate collection, transfer, and use of survey data.
• Review incoming field data for completeness and accuracy and communicate with field staff to resolve discrepancies.
• Partner with civil engineers on layout and grading plans for residential land development projects.
• Coordinate with clients to understand project requirements and incorporate feedback into survey documents and plans.
• Produce clear, detailed drafting deliverables using Civil 3D and AutoCAD for residential and public development projects.
• Interpret topographic and land surveying data to support design and documentation.
• Maintain organized project files and documentation for surveys, plats, and certificates.
• Support the survey and engineering teams with additional drafting and survey-related tasks as needed.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 2 years of land surveying experience, including work on residential or land development projects.
• At least 2 years of ALTA/NSPS survey experience, including drafting and preparation of survey documents.
• Minimum 2 years of drafting experience in a surveying or civil engineering environment.
• Proficiency with Civil 3D for civil drafting and land development design support.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for survey drafting and preparation of plats and certificates.
• Hands-on experience with land surveying workflows and coordination between office and field crews.
• Ability to interpret and work with topographic data and survey measurements.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in drafting and survey documentation.
• Effective communication skills for collaborating with field crews, engineers, and clients.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a professional office setting.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• LSIT (Land Surveyor in Training) certification is preferred but not required.
• Experience working within a surveying firm or survey team that supports land development projects is highly desirable.
• Background in residential land development, including work with home builders or similar clients, is a plus.
• Familiarity with ALTA/NSPS standards and best practices for survey documentation.
• Experience partnering with professional engineers on grading and site layout plans.
• Ability to work both on large-scale residential projects and custom, smaller developments.
• Interest in growing within a small, highly regarded civil engineering and land surveying team.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based, with most time spent drafting and creating survey certificates at a professional civil engineering and surveying office. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, with some flexibility as needed. You will work closely with a small, collaborative team that includes professional engineers (PEs), registered land surveyors, EITs, LSITs, and multiple field crews active during the summer.

The environment emphasizes high-quality work in residential land development, exposure to both large-scale and custom projects, and strong teamwork between office and field staff. Drafting and survey work is performed using Civil 3D, AutoCAD, and standard surveying tools and data, in a professional, business-casual office setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Plymouth, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $36.00/hr eligibility…