O

Olsson

Engineering firm delivering community-focused designs.

Assistant Surveyor - Rail Services

Full-Time
No salary listed
Entry
Des Moines, IA, USA+11 moreMore locations: Fayetteville, AR, USA | Joplin, MO, USA | Lincoln, NE, USA | Dallas, TX, USA | Kansas City, MO, USA | Omaha, NE, USA | Fort Worth, TX, USA | Tulsa, OK, USA | Oklahoma City, OK, USA | Phoenix, AZ, USA | Springfield, MO, USA
In PersonFrequent travel of 80% or more throughout the United States, including overnight and extended project assignments.
Architecture & Civil Engineering

About the job

Requirements
  • A valid driver's license with a clean driving record is required.
  • Ability and willingness to travel approximately 80% or more of the time, including overnight travel, extended project assignments, and occasional weekend work.
  • Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, terrain, and environments, including active construction sites and railroad corridors.
  • Ability to safely lift and carry survey equipment, tools, and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Commitment to safety, reliability, and accountability is required.
  • Ability to follow instructions, work effectively as part of a team, and maintain a positive attitude in changing field conditions.
  • Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to interact professionally with coworkers, clients, contractors, and railroad personnel are required.
  • Basic computer skills and the ability to learn survey data collection technology and software are required.
  • Willingness to obtain railroad safety certifications and comply with railroad operating requirements is required.
  • Desire to learn the surveying profession and develop a long-term career in the surveying, transportation, or geospatial industry is required.
Responsibilities
  • Assist survey crews with daily field operations on railroad and transportation projects.
  • Load, unload, transport, and maintain survey equipment and supplies.
  • Set survey stakes, hubs, targets, prisms, and other field markers.
  • Assist with GPS, total station, laser scanning, and other survey data collection activities.
  • Follow established railroad safety requirements and company safety procedures.
  • Work in a variety of outdoor environments and weather conditions.
  • Travel frequently to project locations throughout the United States.
  • Support project setup, site logistics, and daily field activities.
  • Communicate with crew members and project teams.
  • Learn surveying procedures, equipment operation, and field techniques from experienced survey professionals.

About the company

Olsson is an engineering firm that designs and delivers infrastructure and environmental projects to improve communities. It provides civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering services across planning, design, permitting, and construction support, guiding projects from concept through construction. The work combines site assessments, calculations, modeling, and field implementation to create practical, buildable solutions for transportation, water, energy, and habitat projects. Olsson differentiates itself through its integrated, multi-discipline approach and close collaboration with clients, offering end-to-end services and a hands-on project delivery model that emphasizes constructibility and real-world outcomes. The company’s goal is to help communities function better by delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure and environmental improvements.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Lincoln, Nebraska

Founded

1956

Get referred to Olsson

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • January 2026 majority investment gives growth capital and Morgan Stanley platform access.
  • March 2026 Process Group acquisition expands energy, renewables, and food-and-beverage process work.
  • 35-office footprint positions Olsson to cross-sell from Lincoln into dense metro markets.

What critics are saying

  • A bad MSCP exit within 24 months can trigger talent flight and client defections.
  • Integrating The Process Group risks losing clients and key engineers after the March 2026 deal.
  • AECOM, WSP, and Stantec outscale Olsson, squeezing bids on federal and transportation projects.

What makes Olsson unique

  • MSCP-backed employee-owned firm with 35 U.S. offices and 2,000 staff.
  • Olsson spans infrastructure, water, power, industrial, federal, and technology clients.
  • The Process Group acquisition added chemical engineering and process design in March 2026.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Wellness Program
  • Performance Bonus
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

10%

1 year growth

8%

2 year growth

8%
Morgan Stanley
Jan 14th, 2026
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners Makes Majority Investment in Olsson, Inc. | Morgan Stanley

Investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) today announced a majority investment in Olsson, Inc. (Olsson).

PE Hub
Jan 13th, 2026
Morgan Stanley Capital Partners acquires majority stake in 2,000-employee engineering firm Olsson

Morgan Stanley Capital Partners has acquired a majority stake in Olsson, a Lincoln, Nebraska-based engineering and design firm, according to PE Hub. Founded in 1956, Olsson employs over 2,000 people and provides infrastructure engineering design and consulting services to public and private clients. The company serves markets including technology, transportation, water infrastructure, power, industrial and federal sectors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Intelligence360 News
Oct 6th, 2023
Olsson To Expand Into New Space In Irvine California.

Olsson to expand into new space in Irvine California. Olsson to expand into new space in Irvine California.Irvine, California — According to state and local development sources, Olsson plans to build out new space in Irvine. The company plans to occupy the new space at 250 Commerce # 220 in Irvine, on or about May 1, 2024. According to the company website We are Olsson, a nationally recognized, employee-owned engineering and design firm with a rich history of success. Founded in 1956 on the very mindset that drives us today, were here to improve communities by making them more sustainable, better connected, and more efficient. Simply put, we work to leave the world better than we found it

Omaha World-Herald
Jan 31st, 2023
OLSSON

Olsson closes deal to acquire Nielsen-Baumert Engineering, Inc.