Project Surveyor - Right of Way Engineering

Initial Posting Date:

10/14/2026

Application Deadline:

11/04/2026

Agency:

Department of Transportation

Salary Range:

$6,717 - $10,414

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Project Surveyor - Right of Way Engineering

Job Description:

Professional Land Surveyor 1 – Project Surveyor – Right of Way Engineering
Oregon Department of Transportation
Delivery & Operations Division – Engineering & Technical Services Branch
Engineering Automation Section / Geometronics Unit
Salem

The role:

Our Engineering Automation Section is recruiting for a project surveyor to join our team! In this role, you will work collaboratively with others to support and promote the Delivery & Operations Division’s standards and expectations for right of way mapping and legal descriptions for conveyance documents. Apply today!

We provide a safe and reliable multimodal transportation system that connects people and helps Oregon's communities and economy thrive. We encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply for our positions.

Before applying, visit our applicant information website to learn more about our process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, you must apply through your employee Workday profile.

A day in the life:

• Coordinate with agency staff in response to work requests to determine limits of work, type and detail of maps and/or exhibits, expected budget and delivery dates.
• Make determinations regarding the width and/or alignment of the existing right of way.
• Advise other ODOT offices, state and federal agencies, local governments and the public regarding the location and extent of our existing property rights.
• Train consultants and region staff on division standards and expectations for right of way mapping and legal descriptions for conveyance documents.
• Coordinate the work activities required to prepare complex right of way and real property surveys and acquisitions.
• Ensure descriptions of real property legally convey the desired right and title to the state, local or public agency or private party.
• Review requests for an indenture of access rights or a grant of access rights.
• Prepare and oversee right of way engineering work products.
• Ensure right of way drawings conform to division standards, comply with state laws and recognized professional practices for land surveying and mapping.
• Prepare drawings and legal property descriptions.
• Maintain full and accurate right of way records.
• Serve as a technical resource and provide program support for right of way engineering.
• Establish and maintains professional and collaborative working relationships with all contacts.
• Work in an office environment with hybrid work options available and occasional travel required.
• To request a copy of the position description, which includes all duties and working conditions, please email [email protected].

What’s in it for you:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, flexible work schedules, paid leave and so much more. Learn more about working at the Oregon Department of Transportation and the benefits we offer.
• Comprehensive and equitable base salary offer within the listed range. Through an equal pay assessment, we will determine the salary offer using the information you provide in your submitted application materials. Please ensure your application materials are detailed, accurate and reflect your skills, experience (paid and unpaid) and education as they relate to the position when applying.
• The salary range listed is the non-PERS monthly salary range. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness opportunity!

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Minimum qualifications:

A valid professional land surveyor (PLS) license.

Note: If registered in another state, successful applicants will be required to obtain professional registration in Oregon within six months of hire.

Special qualifications:

Driving is an essential function of this position. You must have a valid U.S. driver license and an acceptable driving record. We will conduct pre-employment driving records checks on our final candidate(s). Your license does not have to be issued in Oregon to be considered.

What we’d like to see:

If you have these attributes, let us know in your application materials! It's how we will choose whom to move forward! You do not need to have all these qualities to be eligible for this position. We may also use transferable skills, experience and education to help us decide who will move forward.

• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience delivering opinions, training and presentations on property rights issues.
• Experience using personal computers and computer aided drafting and design (CADD) software.
• Experience writing and reviewing right of way centerline property descriptions and sketch maps.
• Experience determining property rights through research, evaluation and analysis.

How to apply:

• Complete the following required steps:
  • Fill out the application or attach a resume. Please contact the recruiter under the ‘Need help?’ section if you have any questions about how to fill out the experience fields or to attach a document. Your submitted experience fields or attached resume must include dates (MM/YYYY) for each employer.
  • Attach a cover letter. Your cover letter should clearly demonstrate how your experience and training relates to the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section above.
    • Your cover letter must be limited to no more than two (2) pages.
    • Please address your cover letter to Michael Nichols, State Surveyor / Engineering Automation Section Manager.
    • Generic cover letters that do not address the qualities that you have under the “what we’d like to see” section may receive lower scores than those that addressed the desired qualities.
    • You must upload your cover letter in the ‘Resume/Cover Letter’ section of the application.
  • Complete questionnaire. Answer the checkbox-style questions before submitting your application.
• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are a current State of Oregon employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.
• If you are a veteran or Oregon National Guard servicemember, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will be available after you submit your application. For privacy reasons, please do not attach your military service document(s) to your application or combine it with any other required document attachments.

Need help?

• For questions, call 971-273-8687 or email [email protected].

Additional information:

• We do not offer visa sponsorship. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US. We are not an E-Verify participating employer, and we are unable to proceed if E-Verify participation is required [e.g., STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) Extension].
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.
• We may use this recruitment to fill multiple or future vacancies.
• We will conduct name-based criminal background checks on final candidates, not including current ODOT employees. All applicants may be subject to additional pre-employment check(s) such as driver license, LEDS (Law Enforcement Data System), and/or education verification as required for the position.
• You will be represented by the Association of Engineering Employees of Oregon (AEE).

ODOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other class protected by state or federal laws in admission or access to our programs, services, activities, hiring, and employment practices. Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. For questions, concerns, or complaints regarding EEO/AA/ADA, contact 1-877-336-6368 (1-877-EEO-ODOT). This information can be made available in an alternative format by contacting ODOT Recruitment at 503-986-3700. Oregon Relay Service can be reached by calling 7-1-1.

Professional Land Surveyor, PLS, Land Surveying, Geomatics, Surveying Jobs