Instrument Person

TRC Companies, Inc. • Milwaukee, WI

1d

About The Position

The Instrument Person operates and maintains survey instrumentation for low-tech surveying activities, including profile surveys, line locations, pipeline re-staking, line clearing and locating, loop line setup, and river and road crossings. The role performs assigned survey work such as turning angles, measuring distances, and collecting survey data, and works closely with the Survey Party Chief to carry out survey methods and project requirements. The Instrument Person may orient and assign work to survey personnel, monitor their performance and documentation, and provide guidance to help meet project schedules, budgets, quality requirements, and objectives. In the Survey Party Chief’s absence, this position assumes leadership of the survey team.

The position helps implement project execution plans and survey policies, procedures, safety and emergency-response requirements, and quality controls. It supports personnel and equipment planning, field documentation and records management, scope and schedule tracking, communications about progress and issues, and preparation of survey completion documentation. The role also maintains field notes, processes and translates survey data, adjusts survey work for obstructions, and is responsible for the initial quality and handling of collected survey data.

Work is performed outdoors across varied terrain and extreme weather conditions. The job requires walking 2–10 miles per day while carrying supplies and equipment, and may involve clearing lines with a machete, brush axe, or chain saw. Travel and relocation to domestic or foreign locations may be required. Compensation is listed at $15.00–$19.75 per hour and varies based on experience, education, skill level, geographic location, and other compensable factors.

Requirements

• At least two years of surveying experience, including previous Instrumentman experience.
• Knowledge of electronic data collection methods for cross-country pipeline surveying.
• Knowledge of survey instrumentation operating procedures and survey data collection techniques.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Good oral communication skills and the ability to write clearly and concisely for reports, field notes, specifications, and correspondence.
• Basic mathematical knowledge, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Ability to identify and solve organizational, business-related, technical, and administrative problems.
• Effective problem-solving skills, particularly when dealing with conflicting personalities.
• Creativity, foresight, and mature judgment to identify potential problem areas and address them early.
• Good working knowledge of TRC project operations.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory skills.
• Ability to travel as required by job requirements.
• Proficiency in PC operation, including spreadsheet and word-processing programs.
• Ability to walk 2–10 miles per day while carrying supplies and equipment.
• Ability to clear line with a machete, brush axe, or chain saw.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied terrain and extreme weather and to deal with wildlife, including bears, snakes, spiders, and insects.
• Must be at least 18 years of age and pass pre-employment and random drug tests.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS) knowledge preferred.
• ACSM Survey Technician Certificate preferred.
• Experience in database operations and use of engineering programs preferred.

Responsibilities

• Implement the written execution plan for survey activities, including scope, schedules, budget, staffing structure, equipment, objectives, milestones, documentation, and procedures for scope changes, safety, emergency response, and quality.
• Assist the Survey Party Chief in requesting the personnel and equipment needed for survey activities.
• Orient survey personnel on project planning, policies, procedures, safety, emergency response, quality, and documentation requirements; assign tasks and explain how required records and reports should be completed and submitted.
• Monitor survey personnel’s work, documentation, conduct, work ethics, and interactions; provide guidance, coaching, motivation, or discipline as appropriate.
• Monitor survey tasks for compliance with project requirements and identify scope changes or schedule and budget variances; implement and document necessary changes where possible.
• Monitor document-control and filing systems to ensure project documents, records, and reports can be stored and retrieved readily.
• Communicate survey progress and issues, including possible resolutions, to the Survey Party Chief.
• Guide and supervise survey personnel on documentation, progress and cost tracking, time and expense reporting, and proper completion and storage of project records.
• Implement project safety and emergency-response requirements and maintain related documentation.
• Assist with preparing and submitting the complete survey documentation package at project completion.
• Maintain field notes according to TRC Guidelines for Field Surveys.
• Perform assigned survey activities and adjust surveying work for obstructions that were not identified during route reconnaissance.
• Process survey data and coordinate with the Survey Party Chief on data translation for preliminary alignment maps and plats.
• Maintain and operate survey instrumentation during collection of survey data.
• Assist with project survey activities and lead the survey team when the Survey Party Chief is absent.
• Take first-line responsibility for collected survey data and ensure company and project surveying procedures are followed to produce quality work.
• Assist with indoctrinating survey personnel on company and project survey procedures before and during field work.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance.
• 401(k) package with traditional and Roth IRA options and company match.
• Paid time off of 15 to 25 days per year, contingent on full-time or part-time status and seniority.
• At least 8 paid holidays per year for full-time employees.
• Paid sick, family, and disability leave in accordance with the laws of the employee’s state of residence.
• Potential eligibility to participate in the Company’s annual Discretionary Bonus Program, subject to company, business segment, and individual performance against applicable key performance indicators.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed