Lidar Production Manager

ABOUT US

Founded in 1866, The Sanborn Map Company (Sanborn) is one of the oldest continuously operating mapping and geospatial information technology companies in the US. Our work is highly visual, and our mapped data and applications are an essential part of today's information economy. We serve many industries and government departments and need to communicate effectively with them about our wide range of products and services. We remain at the forefront of the GIS and photogrammetry industry by offering high quality, technologically superior products and services backed by the industry's most experienced staff. We are looking for a talented individual to fill this role working in a collaborative environment ready to innovate workflow.

SUMMARY

The Manager of LiDAR Production is responsible for overseeing the production processes of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) systems and reports to the Director of Lidar in the Mapping Division of Sanborn. This role ensures that all production activities are carried out efficiently, safely, and within budget, while meeting the quality standards set by the company. The Manager will lead a team of production staff supervising, scheduling and performing activities required in producing Lidar data products. This position is also responsible for working with sales, flight operations, pricing and finance when required to support proposals, and reporting in addition to the planning and execution of data production for multiple projects across the country. This includes managing assigned staff and resources while maintaining procedures and workflows to meet and/or exceed company-wide standards for quality control and production timelines. The Manager of Lidar is responsible for troubleshooting data and workflow problems, managing software processes and working with quality control in coordination with other groups such as information technology, and program management. This position is also responsible for new developments in workflows, software, manuals, and training. The Manager also performs production work in these areas as required.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITES

• Oversee daily LiDAR production activities to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.
  
  
  
  • Noise Removal: Filtering and editing: Apply noise removal algorithms to eliminate erroneous points and manual editing to ensure the data is free from non-ground artifacts. Identify and remove outliers using USGS-specified methodologies.
  • Point Classification: Classify points into categories such as ground, vegetation, buildings, and water bodies using automated algorithms that meet USGS classification standards. Perform manual editing to refine classifications where automated methods fall short, ensuring high classification accuracy.
  • Ground Extraction: Extract ground points accurately to create a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) that meets USGS specifications. Use non-ground points to create a Digital Surface Model (DSM) and 3D models of structures and vegetation when required.
  • Feature Extraction: Identify and extract features like buildings, roads, and water bodies according to USGS extraction guidelines.
  • Derivative Product Creation: Create lidar derived products such as: Hydroflattened DEMs, Intensity Images, Maximum Surface Height Rasters, Swath Separation Images, DSMs, nDSMs, Contours, 2D and 3D buildings.
  • Reporting: Final lidar mapping report of processing steps including vertical accuracy, density, and statistics of the final point cloud.
  
  
  
  
• Develop and implement production schedules to meet customer demands and project timelines.

• Optimize production processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and lower costs.
• Develop, manage, and update project schedule and activity tracking including project timeline estimation and task assignments
• Troubleshoot and diagnose problems with datasets and workflows
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of production technicians and operators.
• Foster a positive and productive work environment that encourages teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide feedback to team members.
• Work with flight planning to improve data acquisition
• Support field operations when required to assess or diagnose potential quality concerns
• Review and revise quality control processes to meet customer requirements
• Develop standard processes and documentation required by customers for project execution
• Maintain complete and accurate documentation of project tasks, progress, scope changes and communication internally and externally.
• Coordinate with division management and program management to support key company objectives
• Optimize and prioritize resources to exceed key KPI's for project success
• Responsible for analyzing production costs, develop cost containment methods, efficiency monitoring, and oversee the departmental budget.
• Maintains safe and clean work environment in educating and supervising staff in the lidar production processes using company resources within the framework of established company policies and procedures.
• Ensures proper usage with staff and overall administration of lidar production systems, software systems, equipment, and identify enhancement opportunities.
• Proactively delivers a high degree of professionalism and enthusiasm to effectively mentor, motivate, and supervise staff.
• Work with and maintain good working relationships with subcontractors
• Provide training to subcontractors when required.
• Develop or revises standard operational and working practices and ensures department staff adhere to internal and external compliance and quality standards.
• Analyze and identifies new technology to enhance production processes, lower costs, improve efficiency, and improve product delivery.
• Provides information, reporting, and recommended actions to management in resolving issues, identifying enhancement opportunities, cost control, recordkeeping, and staff performance needs.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge through educational workshops, professional publications, networking, and professional affiliations.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages the assigned functions and related department production staff to include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and supervising work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and escalating complaints to management.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in GIS, Computer Science, or Engineering. or related field. Prefer master's degree and/or CMS

EXPERIENCE

Proven experience with LiDAR systems. A minimum of 4 years' experience in lidar calibration, lidar classification, and lidar product generation consistent with geospatial industry standards (ASPRS Specifications, FEMA, Specifications, and USGS Lidar Base Specifications). Knowledge of lidar processing technology, ABGNSS/IMU data and its use, lidar calibration techniques, lidar accuracy assessment and reporting. Familiarity of FGDC metadata standards. Must have the ability to supervise a group of technical non-exempt and exempt employees, maintaining a high degree of motivation and focus on department goals. Must be detail oriented, with the ability to multi-task and maintain organization in a changing environment. Good interpersonal, oral and written communication leadership and motivational skills with a strong commitment to quality required.

Position Location: Colorado Springs, CO

Annual Salary Range - $85,000 to $110,000

Sanborn offers a comprehensive health and wellness program which includes medical, dental, vision, 401k, holiday, PTO, EAP, disability and life insurance benefits.

TO APPLY: Visit our website: www.Sanborn.com under the Careers menu option to apply. We are accepting applications for this position until July 14, 2025. Sanborn is a Veteran/Disability Equal Opportunity Employer.