1

Senior Survey Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Survey Project Manager / Survey Department Lead Full Time San Diego, CA Salary Range: Open ... Expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and related survey/engineering tools Technical Skills

Senior Survey Project Manager / Survey Department Lead Full Time Riverside, CA (Priority) San Diego ... Expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and related survey/engineering tools * Technical ...

Senior Survey Project Manager / Survey Department Lead Full Time Riverside, CA (Priority) San Diego ... Expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and related survey/engineering tools * Technical ...

Senior Survey Manager/Associate

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Land Survey ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

Senior Survey Manager/Associate

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Land Survey ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Land Survey ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Land Survey ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

SENIOR SURVEY MANAGER / ASSOCIATE - Irvine, CA What we're looking for? The Senior Land Survey ... Bachelor's degree in Geomatics Engineering, Civil Engineering, or equivalent years of experience in ...

Senior Survey Technician

Chico, CA ยท On-site

$40 - $49.23/hr

We are a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, surveyors and planners who have been serving ... of the Senior Survey Technician Position Work Environment Job environment includes indoor ...

We are a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, surveyors and planners who have been serving ... of the Senior Survey Technician Position Work Environment Job environment includes indoor ...

Senior Survey Technician

Chico, CA ยท On-site

$40 - $49.23/hr

We are a multi-disciplinary team of engineers, surveyors and planners who have been serving ... of the Senior Survey Technician Position Work Environment Job environment includes indoor ...

Senior Bathymetric Surveyor

Folsom, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $165K/yr

Y. Engineers is seeking an experienced Senior Bathymetric LiDAR Associate to help lead and grow our expanding advanced survey services. With the addition of our RIEGL VMY-2 Dual Scanner Mapping ...

Y. Engineers is seeking an experienced Senior Bathymetric LiDAR Associate to help lead and grow our expanding advanced survey services. With the addition of our RIEGL VMY-2 Dual Scanner Mapping ...

We specialize in engineering design, asset management, and geospatial data analytics to support ... With decades of expertise in design & topographic survey mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys ...

We specialize in engineering design, asset management, and geospatial data analytics to support ... With decades of expertise in design & topographic survey mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys ...

We specialize in engineering design, asset management, and geospatial data analytics to support ... With decades of expertise in design & topographic survey mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys ...

We specialize in engineering design, asset management, and geospatial data analytics to support ... With decades of expertise in design & topographic survey mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys ...

We specialize in engineering design, asset management, and geospatial data analytics to support ... With decades of expertise in design & topographic survey mapping, ALTA/NSPS land title surveys ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Senior Survey Programmer information

See California salary details

$13

$51

$70

How much do senior survey programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior survey programmer in California is $51.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.41 and $61.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior survey programmer?

Senior Survey Programmers are experienced professionals who design, program, and manage online surveys and questionnaires, often for market research or academic studies. They use specialized survey software and scripting languages to create complex survey logic, ensure data quality, and troubleshoot technical issues. In addition to programming, they often collaborate with researchers, project managers, and clients to understand study requirements and deliver accurate, reliable data. Their expertise helps ensure that surveys are user-friendly, efficient, and provide actionable insights. Senior Survey Programmers may also mentor junior team members and help standardize best practices within their organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior survey programmer?

To thrive as a Senior Survey Programmer, you need expertise in survey scripting languages (such as Confirmit, Decipher, or Qualtrics), strong logic skills, and a background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with data collection platforms, quality assurance tools, and experience with programming languages (like JavaScript or Python) are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective communication are essential soft skills for understanding client requirements and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure accurate, efficient survey delivery and data integrity, which are critical for successful market research projects.

What are some common challenges faced by senior survey programmers when managing complex survey projects?

Senior Survey Programmers often encounter challenges such as integrating advanced logic, ensuring data accuracy, and managing tight deadlines for multiple projects. They must collaborate closely with researchers and data analysts to translate survey objectives into functional questionnaires while troubleshooting any technical issues that arise. Balancing the need for customization with platform limitations, and ensuring a seamless respondent experience, are also frequent aspects of the role.

What is the difference between Senior Survey Programmer vs Data Analyst?

AspectSenior Survey ProgrammerData Analyst
CredentialsProficiency in survey software, programming languages (e.g., SAS, R), and data managementDegree in statistics, mathematics, or related field; proficiency in data analysis tools
Work EnvironmentMarket research firms, survey companies, or corporate research departmentsVarious industries including finance, healthcare, marketing, often in office settings
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in market research, social sciences, and survey-based researchUsed across industries for data interpretation, reporting, and decision-making

While both roles involve working with data, Senior Survey Programmers focus on designing and programming surveys, ensuring data collection accuracy. Data Analysts interpret and analyze data collected from surveys or other sources. The roles often collaborate but serve different stages of research projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Survey Programmer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Survey Programmer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Survey Programmer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Survey Programmer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Survey Programmer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,312 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Senior Survey Project Manager

ATALNT LLC

San Diego, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Senior Survey Project Manager / Survey Department Lead

Full Time

San Diego, CA

Salary Range: Open

If you are looking for a leadership role where you can make a significant impact and help shape the direction of a growing surveying practice, this is an opportunity to join a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team working on complex and landmark projects across Southern California.

This role is designed for a senior-level professional who will take ownership of strategic project delivery, client relationships, and team leadership while driving operational excellence across surveying and construction staking functions. The position offers strong visibility with executive leadership, along with meaningful influence over process, people, and project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead and oversee all aspects of surveying operations, including project execution, staffing, and workflow management

  • Manage key client relationships and serve as the primary point of contact for high-value projects

  • Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and technical oversight to survey teams and project staff

  • Oversee project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects

  • Review and approve proposals, cost estimates, and project scopes

  • Ensure quality control across all deliverables, including CAD drawings, legal descriptions, boundary analysis, and survey documents

  • Coordinate with public agencies, consultants, and contractors to ensure project compliance and success

  • Drive process improvements and efficiency across survey operations

  • Support business development efforts, including client engagement and proposal strategy

Leadership Responsibilities
  • Lead, mentor, and develop survey staff across multiple teams

  • Set performance expectations and oversee workload distribution

  • Manage staffing plans, project assignments, and production schedules

  • Support hiring, training, and performance management initiatives

  • Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture



RequirementsQualifications
  • 8+ years of progressive experience in land surveying, with significant exposure to both private land development and public works projects in California

  • 4+ years in a leadership or senior management capacity overseeing teams and/or departments

  • Strong knowledge of California surveying standards, jurisdictional requirements, and municipal processes

  • Proven experience managing large-scale or complex survey projects from initiation through completion

  • Strong client-facing and business development capabilities

  • Expert-level proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and related survey/engineering tools

Technical Skills
  • AutoCAD Civil 3D (advanced proficiency)

  • Bluebeam Revu

  • Microsoft Office Suite

  • Trimble Business Center (preferred)

  • Carlson Software (a plus)



Benefits
  • Competitive base salary 

  • Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Profit Sharing, Life and Disability Insurance, and Personal Leave

  • Leadership-level growth opportunity within a highly respected engineering and surveying environment

  • Company events, team-building activities, and executive engagement opportunities