Federal Project Manager

Who We Are

Founded in 1994, Surveying And Mapping, LLC (SAM) is a nationwide leader in geospatial and construction-phase solutions. With more than 50 offices and 1,600 professionals, we deliver the scale, technology, and expertise needed to support projects of any size.SAM streamlines project delivery through a single, coordinated team, offering in-house capabilities across land surveying, aerial mapping, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), utility coordination (UC), GIS, BIM, and construction engineering inspection (CEI).

By combining advanced technology, digital workflows, and decades of experience, we provide accurate, actionable data that helps clients move critical infrastructure projects forward with confidence.At SAM, you’ll be part of a team that values innovation, growth, and the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the built environment.

Your Impact at SAM

The Project Manager owns SAM's wide-area aerial lidar and remote sensing projects for federal clients, from task order award through final delivery and acceptance. The work centers on USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) and 3D Hydrography Program (3DHP) task orders under the GPSC contract, and on topographic, topobathymetric, and hydrographic programs for the USACE St. Louis District.

This is an autonomous, client-facing role. You will be the primary point of contact for your customers and be accountable for scope, schedule, budget and quality. You will drive work across every phase (flight planning and acquisition, ground and hydrographic survey, calibration, lidar and imagery processing, QA/QC, and delivery) and coordinate the internal teams and subcontractors who perform it. You will report to the Federal Operations Manager.

You will help us scale our rapidly-growing federal program by spotting capacity gaps early, recommending where the team needs to grow, and instituting repeatable project controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple concurrent federal aerial lidar and remote sensing projects from kickoff through final delivery, closeout and customer acceptance.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer project manager and contracting officer representatives on projects.
• Coordinate flight operations, survey crews, processing teams and subcontractors so work hands off cleanly between phases.
• Own project budgets, schedules and earned value; track cost, hours and percent complete and forecast estimate-at-completion. Handle all project status reporting and invoicing.
• Identify scope, schedule and cost risks early; develop mitigation plans and prepare change requests or requests for equitable adjustment when needed.
• Contribute to proposals, cost estimates, staffing plans and technical approaches for new USGS and USACE task orders.
• Communicate priorities, deadlines and changes to field, acquisition, processing and QC staff, and keep project tracking tools current.
• Assess workload against capacity and flag where the team needs additional staff, skills, equipment or subcontract support.
• Mentor technicians and team leads, and contribute to hiring and onboarding as the program grows. Will directly manage 8+ staff.
• Help develop and improve standard procedures, templates and project controls for the federal program.

What You Bring to SAM

• Bachelor's degree in Geography, GIS, Geomatics, Surveying, Civil Engineering, Remote Sensing or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in aerial lidar or remote sensing, including 3+ years managing projects with responsibility for budget, schedule and client communication.
• A demonstrated record of delivering wide-area lidar projects for federal clients (USGS 3DEP/GPSC, USACE, NOAA, FEMA or similar). Candidates should be ready to describe specific projects, their size, role, and outcomes against budget and schedule.
• Working knowledge of the full aerial lidar workflow: flight planning, ground control, calibration, classification, DEM and breakline generation, and accuracy assessment.
• Familiarity with the USGS Lidar Base Specification (LBS) and ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data.
• Proven ability to work independently, set priorities and make sound decisions with limited direction.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency with project tracking and scheduling tools (MS Project, Planner, Smartsheet or similar) and the Microsoft Office suite.
• Ability to travel up to 15%, if needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP, ASPRS Certified Photogrammetrist (CP), Certified Mapping Scientist – Lidar, or GISP certification.
• Experience with topobathymetric lidar, including integration with single-beam or multibeam hydrographic survey. Specifically on riverine, floodplain or navigation projects.
• Hands-on familiarity with TerraSolid, Bentley MicroStation, GeoCue LP360, Esri ArcGIS Pro or Global Mapper.
• Experience with federal contract mechanics: IDIQ task orders, modifications, CPARS, and FAR-based cost reporting.
• Experience managing subcontractors and teaming partners on multi-vendor contracts.
• A record of helping a team scale, including hiring, onboarding and standing up project controls.

Our Perks

• Health and Wellness Benefits: BlueCross BlueShield health insurance coverage begins the month after your hire date, with dental plans available and free vision coverage for employees, company-paid premiums for Long-term disability/Life Insurance (with HSA + FSA plans), SAM Cares program focused on holistic well-being
• Financial Benefits: Employee Referral Rewards Program of $1K, $2,500 or $5K, Fidelity retirement plans with a 5% company match, tuition reimbursement, optional cellphone stipend
• Work-Life Balance: Paid time off including vacation/sick/holidays, parental leave to support families
• Professional Development: Customized career development plan for licensing and certifications, Project Manager Business Academy, CAD Training Program, Individual Development Plans/Career Check-Ins, SAM WINS - our initiative for women-focused leadership and development, Milestone Anniversary Recognition, SAMbassador mentorship program
• Perks and Discounts: Access to “Perks at Work” for discounts on wellness + travel + leisure and everyday purchases, company-sponsored events, free office snacks
• Culture and Awards/Achievements: SAM Named 2026 Top Workplace USA for the fourth Year; 2026 SAM Ranks No. 92 on ENR Top 500 Design Firms