Professional Land Surveyor (PLS)

Join a Firm That's Growing While Staying True to Its Values

Ronald Johnson & Associates, PSC (RJA Engineering) is a full-service engineering, surveying, and consulting firm headquartered in Madisonville, Kentucky. Since our founding in 1970, we have built a reputation for delivering practical, high-quality solutions while maintaining the family-first culture that has defined our company for more than 50 years.

RJA Engineering continues to experience significant growth throughout Western Kentucky. We are seeking a motivated Professional Land Surveyor to join our collaborative surveying and engineering team. This position reports to the Vice President of Surveying.

Our survey department utilizes modern technology, including GNSS equipment, robotic total stations, UAVs, LiDAR, bathymetric equipment, and advanced data-processing software, to deliver a diverse range of projects for municipal, commercial, industrial, transportation, and land-development clients.

This position offers an experienced surveyor the opportunity to lead significant projects, mentor field and office staff, develop client relationships, and help advance the systems, technology, and technical standards of a growing regional surveying practice.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage boundary, ALTA/NSPS, topographic, construction layout, right-of-way, easement, bathymetric, and other surveying projects from proposal through final delivery.
• Serve as the Professional Land Surveyor responsible for the preparation, technical review, approval, signing, and sealing of survey documents when required.
• Perform or supervise boundary research, deed analysis, record research, and the evaluation of title, easement, right-of-way, and boundary matters.
• Resolve complex boundary, title, easement, and right-of-way issues using sound professional judgment and applicable surveying standards.
• Direct and mentor survey field crews and office personnel while promoting quality, safety, productivity, accountability, and client satisfaction.
• Review, analyze, and oversee the processing of survey data collected using GNSS equipment, robotic total stations, conventional surveying equipment, UAVs, LiDAR, and bathymetric systems.
• Review field notes, calculations, plats, legal descriptions, maps, and other survey deliverables for technical accuracy and compliance.
• Establish project-specific survey procedures, accuracy standards, and quality-control requirements.
• Prepare and review legal descriptions, plats, exhibits, survey reports, mapping products, and other professional deliverables.
• Develop project proposals, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, fee estimates, and resource plans.
• Monitor project performance, budgets, schedules, crew utilization, and quality metrics to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Coordinate with engineers, clients, contractors, attorneys, title professionals, public agencies, and other stakeholders to successfully deliver multidisciplinary projects.
• Maintain strong client relationships and support business-development efforts for surveying and related engineering services.
• Assist with staff planning, workload management, crew scheduling, and the development of field and office personnel.
• Mentor junior survey personnel, survey technicians, and prospective licensure candidates.
• Ensure compliance with Kentucky surveying standards, applicable statutes and regulations, professional standards of practice, and company quality-control procedures.
• Assist with the evaluation and implementation of emerging surveying technologies, software, equipment, and workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Professional Land Surveyor licensed in Kentucky, or currently licensed in another state and eligible to obtain Kentucky licensure by comity within 180 days of employment.
• Progressive professional surveying experience demonstrating the ability to independently manage projects, supervise field operations, and deliver technically sound survey products.
• Strong experience performing and managing boundary surveys and ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys.
• Experience managing survey projects from proposal and scoping through final delivery.
• Experience supervising field crews and reviewing the work of survey technicians and junior personnel.
• Strong knowledge of surveying principles, boundary law, deed interpretation, legal descriptions, easements, rights-of-way, and professional standards of practice.
• Working knowledge of Kentucky surveying standards and applicable regulations.
• Proficiency with Carlson Survey, Carlson GNSS, Trimble Business Center, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Carlson Civil, or comparable survey-processing and drafting software.
• Strong communication, organization, leadership, and project-management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff, engineers, contractors, attorneys, title professionals, and public agencies.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality professional work.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess several of the following qualifications; however, applicants are not expected to meet every preferred qualification:

• Five or more years of progressive professional surveying experience.
• Experience with UAV mapping, aerial photogrammetry, LiDAR, and point-cloud processing.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Experience with bathymetric surveying and related data-processing systems.
• Experience supporting transportation, municipal, industrial, commercial, and land-development projects.
• Experience preparing proposals, budgets, schedules, staffing plans, and project fee estimates.
• Experience working with public agencies, municipalities, transportation departments, or utility providers.
• Experience supporting business development and maintaining long-term client relationships.
• Experience mentoring survey interns, technicians, and prospective professional licensure candidates.
• Experience implementing survey quality-control procedures and improving field and office workflows.

Why Join RJA?

At RJA Engineering, you will find more than a job. You will join a collaborative team that values integrity, professionalism, innovation, accountability, and work-life balance.

We invest in our employees by providing modern equipment, advanced technology, continuing education, professional development, and an environment where your ideas and leadership can make an immediate impact.

This position provides an opportunity to lead diverse projects, develop long-term client relationships, mentor the next generation of surveying professionals, and help shape the future of a growing regional surveying practice.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and demonstrated capabilities.
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with a 3% company match.
• Health insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Professional licensing and continuing-education assistance.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Company-paid training and professional development.
• Company-provided technology, software, and equipment.
• Opportunities for advancement within a growing regional engineering and surveying firm.

Schedule

• Full-time.
• Monday through Friday.
• Typical hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Local and regional travel is expected based on project needs.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required.
• This position is primarily based in RJA Engineering’s Madisonville office and includes regular coordination with field survey crews.
• For the right candidate, limited hybrid work flexibility may be available based on experience, demonstrated effectiveness, project needs, client responsibilities, and team-coordination requirements.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $79,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Relocation assistance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $65,000 - $79,000