Grade Shooter/ Parking Lot Tech Full Time NEW

About True North Asphalt

True North Asphalt is one of Michigan’s leading providers of commercial and residential paving services, proudly serving the Metro Detroit region and beyond since 2001. Our work spans asphalt paving, concrete paving, site development, sealcoating, milling, and underground systems. We partner with the region’s largest property management groups and commercial real estate professionals, and our projects have included work for Home Depot, Family Dollar, Birmingham Schools, and many others.

Position Overview

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Grade Shooter & Parking Lot Layout Technician to join our field operations team. This is a critical, hands-on role responsible for ensuring that every parking lot and paved surface we build drains properly, is laid out accurately, and meets our high standards for quality and durability.

You do not need a civil engineering degree — but you do need a solid, practical understanding of civil engineering principles, particularly as they relate to surface drainage and site grading. We will provide hands-on training and support your continued growth. What we need from you is the knowledge, the work ethic, and the attitude to be a true key player on our crew.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate surveying instruments (total stations, automatic levels, GPS grade control equipment) to accurately shoot and establish grades across job sites
• Lay out parking lots from engineered plans, including stall dimensions, drive aisles, curb lines, islands, and accessible routes
• Interpret civil engineering plans, grading plans, and site drawings to translate design intent into field benchmarks and control points
• Verify and ensure positive surface drainage on all paved areas — preventing standing water, ponding, and drainage failures before pavement is placed
• Perform field measurements and quantity takeoffs to support accurate material ordering and crew coordination
• Set grade stakes, blue tops, and string lines to guide paving and grading crews
• Communicate grade information clearly to equipment operators, foremen, and project managers
• Identify and flag potential drainage or layout issues early and recommend corrective solutions
• Collaborate with project managers, estimators, and field crews to keep projects on schedule and on budget
• Support site measurement and field verification for estimating purposes on new project bids

Required Knowledge & Skills

Civil Engineering & Drainage Understanding

• Working knowledge of surface drainage principles — cross slopes, longitudinal slopes, and how water flows across paved surfaces
• Understanding of how to read contour lines, spot elevations, and drainage patterns on civil drawings
• Ability to recognize and solve potential drainage problems before paving begins
• Familiarity with ADA slope requirements for accessible parking areas and paths of travel

Field Layout & Surveying

• Experience operating optical levels, auto levels, or total stations in a field setting
• Ability to establish benchmarks, set control points, and transfer elevations accurately
• Comfortable reading and interpreting construction drawings, site plans, and grading plans
• Proficiency in field mathematics — calculating slopes, elevations, grades, and distances

Field Measurement & Quantity Work

• Ability to measure job sites accurately and document field conditions
• Experience taking field measurements for estimating or construction verification purposes
• Comfortable with basic calculations for area, volume, and material quantities

Preferred Qualifications and Abilities

• 2+ years of field experience in paving, site work, excavation, or civil construction
• Prior experience shooting grades with an optical level, total station, or GPS grade control system
• Experience laying out commercial parking lots or paved areas from engineered drawings
• Familiarity with asphalt or concrete paving operations
• Basic computer skills — ability to read PDFs, plans, and use field reporting apps
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record
• A strong work ethic and willingness to get their hands dirty — this is a field role and physical effort is part of the job
• Attention to detail — small errors in grade or layout become expensive problems quickly
• Problem-solving ability and able to think on your feet

Pay: From $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person