1

Geodetic Engineering Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Surveyor I/II/III/IV

Ventura, CA · On-site

$70K - $152K/yr

... field engineering surveys and boundary retracements; may supervise or assist in the supervision of the office staff who perform geodetic and photogrammetric calculations, mapping and legal ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Walnut Creek, CA · Hybrid

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Walnut Creek, CA · On-site

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Redwood City, CA · Hybrid

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Pleasanton, CA · On-site

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Pleasanton, CA · Hybrid

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

Survey Party Chief (Union)

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

$52.58 - $63.09/hr

... way, geodetic, and control surveys * Plan and execute field work; participate in pre-survey meetings with project managers, engineers, and contractors * Assign, prioritize, and monitor crew work ...

... geodetic evaluation. * Develop and maintain department-wide technical standards and QA/QC ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

... geodetic evaluation. * Develop and maintain department-wide technical standards and QA/QC ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction ... geodetic surveys, photogrammetry, and construction staking * Proficiency with modern surveying ...

BKF is a multi-service infrastructure consulting firm providing civil engineering, construction ... geodetic surveys, photogrammetry, and construction staking * Proficiency with modern surveying ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Geodetic Engineering information

See California salary details

$12

$31

$56

How much do geodetic engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for geodetic engineering in California is $31.14, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.90 and $37.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is geodetic engineering?

Geodetic engineering is a field of engineering focused on measuring and representing the Earth, including its gravitational field, shape, and location of features on its surface. Geodetic engineers use advanced surveying tools and techniques such as GPS, satellite imagery, and remote sensing to collect and analyze spatial data. Their work supports construction, mapping, navigation, land development, and scientific research by providing accurate geographic information. This expertise is crucial for projects like infrastructure development, land boundary determination, and disaster management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a geodetic engineer?

To thrive as a Geodetic Engineer, you need a solid background in mathematics, surveying, geospatial analysis, and engineering principles, usually supported by a degree in geodetic or geomatics engineering. Familiarity with GPS, GIS software, remote sensing tools, and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) licensure are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and attention to detail set exceptional professionals apart in this field. These competencies are crucial for delivering accurate measurements and spatial data that underpin infrastructure, mapping, and land development projects.

What are some typical challenges faced by geodetic engineers in fieldwork, and how can they be overcome?

Geodetic Engineers often face challenges such as difficult terrain, unpredictable weather conditions, and the need for precise measurements in remote locations. These obstacles can be managed by thorough site planning, using advanced GPS and remote sensing technology, and ensuring regular equipment calibration. Additionally, strong teamwork and clear communication with survey crews and project managers are essential to address logistical or safety issues quickly and efficiently.

What is the difference between Geodetic Engineering vs Surveying?

AspectGeodetic EngineeringSurveying
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Geomatics, Civil Engineering, or related; often professional licensureBachelor's in Surveying, Geomatics, or related; licensure varies by region
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, office, and research; large-scale projects like mapping and infrastructurePrimarily fieldwork; boundary, topographic, and construction surveys
Industry UsageUsed in mapping, navigation, and large infrastructure projectsUsed in land development, construction, and property boundary determination

Geodetic Engineering focuses on precise positioning and large-scale mapping, often involving satellite data and GPS technology. Surveying is more localized, concentrating on land boundaries and construction sites. Both roles require similar credentials but serve different project scopes and environments.

Is geodetic engineering in demand?

Geodetic engineering is in steady demand due to ongoing infrastructure development, land surveying needs, and advancements in GIS and GPS technologies. Professionals with strong technical skills and certifications in surveying and geospatial data are often sought after in construction, environmental, and urban planning sectors.

What are popular job titles related to Geodetic Engineering jobs in California?

For Geodetic Engineering jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Geodetic Engineering jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Geodetic Engineering jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Geodetic Engineering job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 82% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $64,765 per year, or $31.1 per hour.

Geophysical Software Engineer (5300C) - Berkeley Seismological Lab

Berkeley, CA • On-site

Other

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.

Departmental Overview

The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory conducts essential research on earthquakes and solid earth processes while collecting and delivering high quality geophysical data. It provides robust earthquake and hazard information including real-time alerts to the public, in collaboration with our partners. It also enables the broad consumption of earthquake information by everyone while educating and training students at all levels and from all backgrounds.

BSL operates a large network of seismic and geodetic stations as well as DAS systems across northern California. These stations/systems stream data in real time to our data center on Campus, where data is processed, analyzed and archived for the purposes of earthquake monitoring, earthquake early warning and scientific research. The BSL also operates the MyShake application, which provides earthquake early warning alerts to the public in the West Coast of the US. This is a geophysical software engineer position for the real-time processing and archiving of geophysical data as well as the delivery of real-time earthquakes products.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: September 14, 2026 - Open Until Filled

After the first review date, applications will be reviewed regularly until the positon is filled.

Responsibilities

20% Plans, designs, integrates, develops, tests, deploys, configures, operates, maintains and documents advanced geophysical data (e.g. seismic, geodetic, DAS) processing and archiving software, including in containerized and scalable cloud environments. Addresses integration issues with other state and national partners. Locally develops software components and sub-components to achieve fully integrated implementation.

20% Leads analyses of state-of-the-art solutions for geophysical data processing, including machine-learning-based approaches. Identifies, evaluates, recommends and leads implementation changes to existing software, or new software needed, researches and coordinates with internal and external stakeholders to identify solutions.

20% Develops and maintains continuous integration and deployment (CICD) pipelines for the maintained software. This includes maintaining and updating the build environment, tests, configuration, documentation and automatic notification system of build and testing issues. This also includes the development of extensive unit, integration, functional and end-to-end tests.

20% Plans, designs, integrates, develops, tests, deploys, configure, operates, maintains and documents state-of-health monitoring and alerting tools across multiple systems. Actively uses these tools to monitor in real time the performance of these systems including the timely production and delivery of earthquake products, troubleshooting and identification of metric issues and system optimization with the overarching goal of delivering timely and high quality products to our partners and data users. This also includes investigating complex performance anomalies, conducting root-cause analysis across interconnected components, and collaborating with external agency partners on system interoperability.

10% Manages and updates system configurations, performs system components upgrades and support operating system migrations.

10% Leads and participates in technical collaboration teams and working groups on geophysical data processing and archiving systems, data format exchange system interconnectivity concepts, design, and testing requirements.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in geophysics / computer science and / or equivalent experience.
  • Advanced knowledge on the design, development, testing, integration, configuration, operation and maintenance of complex geophysical processing, archiving and state-of-health monitoring software.
  • Experience with containerized and scalable cloud environments.
  • Knowledge of seismic processing pipeline components, SeisComP and machine learning algorithms.
  • Experience with CICD infrastructure.
  • Knowledge of Python and of C++ (desirable) programming languages and environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop migration and system implementation plans.
  • Experience with complex system troubleshooting.
  • Demonstrated ability to understand functional needs of the organization and how systems can support those needs.
  • Demonstrated ability to interface with technical and non-technical management on a regular basis.
  • Experience researching and evaluating new technology and solutions.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Ph.D. in Geophysics, Computer Science or related field
Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $106,675.92 to $140,000 yearly ($8,889.66 to $11,666.67 monthly). This is a 100% FTE career position eligible for full benefits. This position is FLSA Exempt and paid monthly.

Other Information

This position is governed by the terms and conditions in the agreement for the Technical Unit (TX) between the University of California and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE). The current bargaining agreement manual can be found at: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/tx/index.html

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

\"Misconduct\" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy

UC Anti-Discrimination Policy

Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

#J-18808-Ljbffr