Surveyor II

American Bureau of Shipping • Spring, TX

7d

About The Position

The Surveyor II – Robotics & Inspection is an intermediate-level position within the Technology department. Rather than performing traditional field survey activities, this role leverages practical survey and inspection experience to help design, test, and implement robotics, remote inspection solutions, and digital applications that enhance ABS survey and assessment processes.

The primary focus of this position is to support the development and deployment of robotic and digital technologies for welding and structural condition assessment, drawing on first-hand knowledge of shipyard weld inspections, structural tank surveys, and classification/statutory requirements, to ensure these solutions are practical, efficient, and aligned with ABS Rules and client needs.

Requirements

• Qualifications from a tertiary institution within a relevant field of engineering or physical science (minimum two (2) years program); or
• Qualifications from a marine or nautical institution and relevant seagoing or shipboard experience as a certificated ship officer; and
• Experience performing surveys or inspections in the marine/offshore industry, such as: Shipyard weld inspections and weld quality assessment; and/or Structural tank surveys (e.g., cargo/ballast tanks, hull structures, internal spaces); and
• Typically, three (3) or more years of experience as a Surveyor I or equivalent inspection role, or five (5) or more years in an engineering or survey capacity within the marine or related industry.
• Appropriate certification and/or licenses in areas such as welding inspection or NDT are advantageous.
• Practical understanding of shipyard welding practices, weld quality assessment, and structural tank survey methods, including common defects, critical locations, and safety considerations.
• Working knowledge (or the ability to develop one) of ABS Rules and Guides, statutory regulations, and standard survey procedures.
• Genuine interest in robotics and remote inspection technologies, and motivation to help translate survey practice into technology‑enabled solutions.
• Interest and aptitude in data analytics and digital tools, including using digital platforms, mobile apps, or dashboards to collect and interpret survey data.
• Experience with, or strong interest in, building or supporting digital applications (e.g., requirements gathering, testing prototypes, providing structured feedback to developers); experience with low‑code tools (e.g., Power Apps, Power BI) or similar platforms is a significant plus.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and understand ship structures, systems, and typical areas of inspection focus.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to connect field practices to technical and digital requirements (e.g., what data needs to be captured, how it should be structured, and how it will be used).
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey survey‑related insights and requirements to engineers, developers, and operational stakeholders.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams (Technology, Engineering, Digital, and Operations) and maintain strong working relationships with internal customers.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a working knowledge of the ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management Systems as they apply to technology development and pilot deployments.
• This role is primarily office and lab-based within the Technology department, with occasional visits to shipyards, vessels, or test environments to support pilots, demonstrations, or trials of robotic and digital solutions.
• When visiting industrial sites, the role may involve exposure to industrial environments, potential injury risks, and varying weather conditions, and may require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in accordance with ABS safety procedures.
• Where allowed by local laws, a pre-employment physical examination is mandatory.
• The role of surveyor/auditor requires sufficient physical strength, stamina, agility, and both visual and auditory acuity to perform the listed duties effectively.
• The ability to climb vertical ladders up to nine meters and navigate steep steps is essential.
• Shall be capable of working at heights on various staging and lifting equipment.
• Shall be able to maneuver in tight spaces and work inside confined areas for extended periods, including kneeling and crawling.
• The role may involve exposure to industrial environments, potential injury risks, extreme weather conditions, and demanding physical activities.
• Shall be able to lift at least 25 lbs. / 11.34 kgs.
• The use of small tools and the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), in accordance with ABS safety procedures, may be required.
• Where allowed by local laws, the surveyor will be required to successfully complete an annual physical that will recertify that the individual can perform the physical actions required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with robotic or remote inspection platforms (e.g., drones, crawlers, robotic cameras, or other automated systems) used in marine or industrial environments.
• Familiarity with low‑code or no‑code tools for building or customizing digital applications and dashboards.
• Basic experience with data analytics or scripting (e.g., Excel macros, Python, or similar) to process and visualize inspection or survey data.
• Prior involvement in technology pilots, R&D projects, or digital transformation initiatives within a survey, inspection, or shipyard environment.
• Experience contributing to technical papers, presentations, or internal knowledge‑sharing related to survey methods, robotics, or digital tools.
• Experience with robotic or remote inspection platforms (e.g., drones, crawlers, robotic cameras, or other automated systems) used in marine or industrial environments.
• Familiarity with low‑code or no‑code tools for building or customizing digital applications and dashboards.
• Basic experience with data analytics or scripting (e.g., Excel macros, Python, or similar) to process and visualize inspection or survey data.
• Prior involvement in technology pilots, R&D projects, or digital transformation initiatives within a survey, inspection, or shipyard environment.
• Experience contributing to technical papers, presentations, or internal knowledge‑sharing related to survey methods, robotics, or digital tools.
• Experience with robotic or remote inspection platforms (e.g., drones, crawlers, robotic cameras, or other automated systems) used in marine or industrial environments.
• Familiarity with low‑code or no‑code tools for building or customizing digital applications and dashboards.
• Basic experience with data analytics or scripting (e.g., Excel macros, Python, or similar) to process and visualize inspection or survey data.
• Prior involvement in technology pilots, R&D projects, or digital transformation initiatives within a survey, inspection, or shipyard environment.
• Experience contributing to technical papers, presentations, or internal knowledge‑sharing related to survey methods, robotics, or digital tools.

Responsibilities

• Leverage your survey and inspection experience (e.g., shipyard welds, structural tank surveys) to define realistic use cases, workflows, and acceptance criteria for robotics, remote inspection, and digital survey tools.
• Support the development, testing, and qualification of robotic inspection methods (e.g., crawlers, drones, robotic cameras, humanoid robotics) and data-driven weld/structural condition assessment, providing practical feedback on coverage, usability, and data quality.
• Collaborate with Senior Engineers, Technology project leads, and Digital teams to plan and execute R&D and pilot projects, ensuring solutions align with ABS Rules, Guides, and survey practices.
• Contribute to the design, testing, and improvement of digital applications (e.g., analytics applications, internal tools) used for survey planning, execution, documentation, and data capture, representing the “voice of the surveyor.”
• Prepare clear technical documentation, procedures, and training materials; support internal training and change management efforts to help surveyors and engineers adopt robotics and digital survey technologies.

What This Job Offers

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