LiDAR Technician

Trilon Group•Nashville, TN

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The LiDAR Technician is an office-based production role responsible for extracting and compiling CAD features from mobile and aerial LiDAR point cloud datasets in support of transportation infrastructure projects. Working primarily within Bentley OpenRoads Designer, the technician interprets LiDAR data to produce accurate, standards-compliant CAD deliverables including roadway geometry, drainage features, structures, and transportation assets. This role requires strong spatial reasoning, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain consistent production output within project schedules.

Requirements

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Geomatics, Surveying, Civil Engineering Technology, GIS, or a related field; equivalent professional experience considered
Minimum 2 years of experience in CAD-based feature extraction, survey drafting, or geospatial production work
Prior experience working with LiDAR point cloud data in a production or technical capacity
Demonstrated proficiency in Bentley OpenRoads Designer for CAD drafting, terrain modeling, and feature extraction workflows
Experience navigating and interpreting 3D LiDAR point clouds to identify and extract physical features
Working knowledge of civil/survey CAD standards including feature coding and level/layer management
Familiarity with transportation feature types and standard highway cross-section elements (travel lanes, shoulders, ditches, curbs, etc.)
Ability to read and interpret survey control data, project datasheets, and client feature dictionaries
Strong attention to detail and spatial reasoning skills; ability to interpret complex 3D environments from point cloud data
Ability to maintain focused, high-quality production output over extended periods at a workstation
Effective written and verbal communication skills for coordinating with project team members

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience with Bentley OpenRoads Designer specifically for LiDAR-based existing conditions extraction on DOT or transportation projects
Familiarity with point cloud viewing and processing tools such as TopoDOT, TerraSolid, or Trimbe Business Center
Experience producing deliverables for FHWA, state DOT, or toll authority projects with awareness of applicable CAD submission standards
Understanding of photogrammetric workflows and experience correlating point cloud data with rectified aerial imagery or 360° ground-level photography
Exposure to corridor modeling concepts in Bentley OpenRoads (templates, parametric constraints, terrain references)
Experience with drainage feature extraction or utility mapping from subsurface and surface LiDAR datasets
Survey or GIS background providing context for real-world geometry interpretation and accuracy expectations

Responsibilities

Extract and compile roadway features from mobile and aerial LiDAR point clouds in Bentley OpenRoads Designer and TopoDOT, including edge of pavement, lane lines, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and medians
Delineate drainage features including ditches, inlets, culverts, headwalls, and stormwater infrastructure from point cloud data
Extract bridge and structure geometry including deck edges, parapets, wingwalls, and approach slabs
Identify and map transportation assets such as guardrail, sign structures, light poles, utility poles, signal masts, and retaining walls
Capture ground surface breaklines and generate existing ground terrain models (DTMs/DEMs) in support of corridor design
Navigate and manipulate large-format LiDAR point clouds using point cloud display tools within Bentley OpenRoads and supplemental viewers (e.g. TopoDOT, Terrascan, Trimble Business Center or similar)
Cross-reference LiDAR data with aerial imagery, ground photography, and project reference data to resolve ambiguous features
Perform self-QC of extracted CAD features for positional accuracy, completeness, and adherence to project feature coding standards
Review deliverables against client-provided data dictionaries, CAD standards, and DOT submission requirements prior to internal QC handoff
Log and communicate data gaps, occlusions, low-density zones, or anomalies to the project lead for resolution
Maintain consistent daily and weekly production output aligned with project deadlines and resource plans
Organize and manage project file structures, version control, and deliverable archiving per company CAD standards
Coordinate with project managers, survey leads, and QC reviewers to clarify scope, feature priorities, and delivery formats
Participate in project kickoff meetings and internal QC reviews; incorporate feedback efficiently into production workflows
Assist in developing and refining internal extraction workflows, feature coding standards, and CAD template libraries