Sean shares valuable insights for aspiring surveyors interested in Construction Staking and Layout: “Witnessing the creation of new construction is extremely rewarding. Although it can be stressful work, the benefits to Utah’s communities are truly remarkable while observing the development of new infrastructure for businesses and housing. It’s crucial to recognize that these projects require a collaborative effort from a large diverse team. Never hesitate to seek guidance, ask questions, and continuously expand your knowledge.”
Why is being a civil engineer in Utah a great career? One of the most important reasons may well be that Utah’s growth isn’t slowing down. In fact, projected growth in Utah shows the population increasing from 3,284,823 in 2020 to 5,450,598 in 2060 — a 66% increase.
This strong, steady growth means more development across the state for highways, businesses, schools, and more. The engineers at Meridian Engineering are a talented and dedicated group that’s not just meeting Utah’s needs for expansion but delivering projects that are advancing engineering standards in the state.
To learn more about Meridian, the day-to-day of our engineering department, and why it’s a great place to work, keep reading for an inside look at our operation.
About Meridian Engineering
Meridian Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a civil, transportation, and land surveying firm. Located in South Jordan, Utah, our company is in the heart of the Salt Lake City metro area, the area that’s experiencing the most growth in Utah.
As a top full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm, our projects and people have gained the notice of industry leaders in Utah. Recently, for example, we’re proud to have worked on a few of Utah Construction & Design’s most outstanding projects for 2021: the Salt Lake County Kearns Library, ARUP Building 4, Architectural Nexus Office Renovation, and Jacobsen Construction Corporate Headquarters . In addition, one of Meridian’s own, Brad Mortenson, PE, PLS, won Utah Council of Land Surveyors’ 2021 Surveyor of the Year award, and held the nomination for 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year. Meridian is an exciting place to work for those looking to advance their career and learn from the best.
Jacobsen Construction HeadquartersSalt Lake County Kearns Library
Meridian provides a select number of services, which allows us to carefully control quality for exceptional results including:
Civil Engineering
Right-of-Way Design
Land Surveying
LiDAR Scanning
GIS/Mapping
Transportation Engineering
Let’s take a closer look at the Civil Engineering department.
Daily Life for Engineers at Meridian
As a streamlined team, every facet of a project — from utility planning to bioswell design — requires close collaboration. A typical day in our office sees project managers and principals working together with the rest of the team to push projects past the finish line.
At their desk, the civil planning and infrastructure design our engineers accomplish is done with Civil 3D software. This industry-wide software can support and improve the large-scale projects Meridian brings to life. Our engineers are often using Building Information Modeling to improve preliminary designs, adjusting designs in the model-based digital environment to problem solve for real-world issues, or documenting project goals, and site design tasks.
For project managers, site meetings often fill the calendar; regularly meeting with the architect, contractor, or other engineering teams guarantees smooth transitions and clear communication across complex projects.
At any given time, our Engineering Department also has interns and EITs (Engineers in Training) working toward their state licenses. Job training at Meridian comes with plenty of applied experience. Our all-hands-on-deck mentality means these team members get to meaningfully contribute to current projects to grow their engineering knowledge.
Why Meridian is a Great Place to Work
Our engineers love the challenge that civil engineering presents each day, but there are other reasons they love their jobs, too! Meridian makes sure our company is a rewarding place to work.
Perks & Benefits
Events – Meridian hosts bimonthly lunch and learn events for continuing education, and periodic company recreational events for our team members, including summer gatherings for both you and your family at fun locations like Hogle Zoo or Lagoon.
Spacious office space – Our new office features high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and fresh, modern finishes. It’s an inspiring and inviting place to work during the week …we even have a ping pong table.
Health Insurance & 401(k) – Our great benefits package offers health, vision, and dental insurance coverage as well as retirement savings plans with an employer match.
Career development – Our involvement with some of the top engineering associations benefits employees, too. Engineers are encouraged to attend trainings, events, and courses from the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Public Works Association or Utah Facilities Operation & Maintenance Association and Meridian covers the cost.
Flexible work week – Schedules are built for individual staff that are working to both fulfill clients’ needs and our employee’s needs.
Great Clients & Unique Projects
Meridian is not a cookie cutter firm; unlike some firms that specialize in one area, we do various types of projects for a range of clients. From private residences to 80-million-dollar commercial developments, we provide challenging and interesting work that’s packed with variety. Some of our most notable recent clients include Blue Sky, DFCM, State and Private Universities, Local K-12 School Districts, and some of the best architectural firms in the state.
Lodge at Blue Sky
A Generous Company Policy Handbook
When projects have tight deadlines, we know longer hours may be needed to produce the highest quality of work in a shorter amount of time. While most salaried engineers never see “overtime” pay, we instituted a policy where you receive a paid at an hourly rate for every hour you work over 40 hours a week. It’s our way of recognizing our team’s hard work and preventing burnout.
Are You Ready to See Yourself at Meridian? Contact Our Team
While projects change, our opportunities for civil engineers are always here. We’d love to show you why it’s a great place to work as an engineer at Meridian! To learn more about our current openings and submit your resume, visit our Careers page.
Why is being a civil engineer in Utah a great career? One of the most important reasons may well be that Utah’s growth isn’t slowing down. In fact, projected growth in Utah shows the population increasing from 3,284,823 in 2020 to 5,450,598 in 2060 — a 66% increase.
This strong, steady growth means more development across the state for highways, businesses, schools, and more. The engineers at Meridian Engineering are a talented and dedicated group that’s not just meeting Utah’s needs for expansion but delivering projects that are advancing engineering standards in the state.
To learn more about Meridian, the day-to-day of our engineering department, and why it’s a great place to work, keep reading for an inside look at our operation.
About Meridian Engineering
Meridian Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1997 as a civil, transportation, and land surveying firm. Located in South Jordan, Utah, our company is in the heart of the Salt Lake City metro area, the area that’s experiencing the most growth in Utah.
As a top full-service civil engineering and land surveying firm, our projects and people have gained the notice of industry leaders in Utah. Recently, for example, we’re proud to have worked on a few of Utah Construction & Design’s most outstanding projects for 2022: the Salt Lake County Kearns Library, ARUP Building 4, Architectural Nexus Office Renovation, and Jacobsen Construction Corporate Headquarters . In addition, one of Meridian’s own, Brad Mortenson, PE, PLS, won Utah Council of Land Surveryors’ 2021 Surveryor of the Year award, and held the nomination for 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year. Meridian is an exciting place to work for those looking to advance their career and learn from the best.
Jacobsen Construction HeadquartersSalt Lake County Kearns Library
Meridian provides a select number of services, which allows us to carefully control quality for exceptional results including:
Civil Engineering
Right-of-Way Design
Land Surveying
LiDAR Scanning
GIS/Mapping
Transportation Engineering
Let’s take a closer look at the Civil Engineering department.
Daily Life for Engineers at Meridian
As a streamlined team, every facet of a project — from utility planning to bioswell design — requires close collaboration. A typical day in our office sees project managers and principals working together with the rest of the team to push projects past the finish line.
At their desk, much of the civil planning and infrastructure design our engineers accomplish is done with Civil 3D software. This industry-wide software can support and improve the large-scale projects Meridian brings to life. Our engineers are often using Building Information Modeling to improve preliminary designs, adjusting designs in the model-based digital environment to problem solve for real-world issues, or documenting project goals, and site design tasks.
For project managers, Job and site meetings often fill the calendar; regularly meeting with the architect, contractor, or other engineering teams guarantees smooth transitions and clear communication across complex projects.
At any given time, our Engineering Department also has interns and EITs (Engineers in Training) working toward their state licenses. Job training at Meridian comes with plenty of applied experience. Our all-hands-on-deck mentality means these team members get to meaningfully contribute to current projects to grow their engineering knowledge.
Why Meridian is a Great Place to Work
Our engineers love the challenge that civil engineering presents each day, but there are other reasons they love their jobs, too! Meridian makes sure our company is a rewarding place to work.
Perks & Benefits
Events – Meridian hosts bimonthly lunch and learn events for continuing education, and periodic company recreational events for our team members, including summer gatherings for both you and your family at fun locations like Hogle Zoo or Lagoon.
Spacious office space – Our new office features high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and fresh, modern finishes. It’s an inspiring and inviting place to work during the week and a ping pong table.
Health Insurance & 401(k) – Our great benefits package offers health, vision, and dental insurance coverage as well as retirement savings plans with an employer match.
Career development – Our involvement with some of the top engineering associations benefits employees, too. Engineers are encouraged to attend trainings, events, and courses from the American Council of Engineering Companies, American Public Works Association or Utah Facilities Operation & Maintenance Association and Meridian covers the cost.
Flexible work week – Schedules are built for individual staff that are working to both fulfill clients’ needs and our employee’s needs.
Great Clients & Unique Projects
Meridian is not a cookie cutter firm; unlike some firms that specialize in one area, we do various types of projects for a range of clients. From private residences to 80-million-dollar commercial developments, we provide challenging and interesting work that’s packed with variety. Some of our most notable recent clients include Blue Sky, DFCM, State and Private Universities, Local K-12 School Districts, and some of the best architectural firms in the state.
Lodge at Blue Sky
A Generous Company Policy Handbook
When projects have tight deadlines, we know longer hours may be needed to produce the highest quality of work in a shorter amount of time. While most salaried engineers never see “overtime” pay, we instituted a policy where you receive a paid at an hourly rate for every hour you work over 40 hours a week. It’s our way of recognizing our team’s hard work and preventing burnout.
Are You Ready to See Yourself at Meridian? Contact Our Team
While projects change, our opportunities for civil engineers are always here. We’d love to show you why it’s a great place to work as an engineer at Meridian! To learn more about our current openings and submit your resume, visit our Careers page.
Meridian’s QA/QC Manager Brad Mortensen, PE, PLS received the 2021 UCLS Surveyor of the Year award. Coincidentally it was presented by Meridian’s Michael Nadeau on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the award ceremony during the Western Regional Survey Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Brad received the award based on his volume of service to the Land Surveying Profession, including his most recent participation as chairman of the Utah Council of Land Surveyor’s ad-hoc Committee developing the 2022 State Plane Coordinate System for Utah. Brad has worked closely with the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) for the last 4 years in developing Utah’s new system. As an added kudos to Brad, he also presented a breakout session during the conference entitled, “Benefits from the New 2022 State Plan Coordinate System” that was well attended.
Brad has over 36 years of experience and the last 6 of those years have been as Meridian’s QA/QC Manager. He is well recognized for the quality of his work, especially in geodetic control surveys throughout the state. Coincidently, Brad also teaches “Control Surveys” in the Surveying Program at the Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). Brad brings assurance to our clients regarding all aspects of transportation and infrastructure design, ranging from geodetic control, mapping, roadway/right-of-way design, and construction design of modern infrastructure. He also has experience in state, municipal, utility, and commercial/retail capital improvement projects.
All who know Brad would agree he loves to share relevant industry topics through his various conference presentations and as an educator at SLCC for the last 10 years. Many of the younger licensed surveyors in our profession remember with fondness and dread his Control Surveys course. Dread because of the difficulty of the subject matter and fondness because the way Brad presents the material. Several past students have thanked him for helping to further their careers. Brad was also instrumental in compiling and writing the 2015 and 2017 update of the UDOT Surveying and Geomatics Standards Manual, which is used throughout the state as the literal standard for control, topographic and construction survey specifications. Due to Brad’s education involvement in the profession, he has also received the 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year nomination from the Utah Council of Land surveyors (UCLS) at the Utah Engineers Council (UEC) awards ceremony February 26, 2022.
Brad Mortensen with his new awards.
When asked about these awards Brad responded: “I fell into the Land Surveying Profession by accident. I was a student in an agricultural engineering program and the first two courses were on surveying. I fell in love with the aspect of being in the outdoors and using my wits to solve problems and collect data. After that I changed my major and never looked back. The profession has been good to me, so I have tried to give back by mentoring future generations. Receiving the recognition from my peers these last few months has touched me deeply, and with much appreciation I give my thanks!”
Brad’s 2022 Engineering Educator of the Year Award
Meridian’s survey manager, Michael Nadeau states, “Brad and I have served on many of the same committees and professional boards for over a decade and I’ve seen his love for our profession through this time. Brad gives back to the Surveying profession unselfishly. He’s never been a person on a mission to build up his resume with this volunteer work, but rather to raise the bar of the profession and give back to the industry he loves. Brad Mortensen is admired and respected by all who know him professionally and personally. Brad’s received accolades are not only deserved, but also well overdue!”
Brad’s conference session presentation: Benefits from the New 2022 State Plane Coordinate System
Meridian Engineering’s ability to attract well-qualified employees is what has kept us in business for 24 years. In continuing that success, we introduce our amazing new team members: Tammy Evans, Kim Hughes and Tyler Atwan.
Tammy Evans joins the firm as our new Acquisition Coordinator. Her expertise spans over 16 years in Real Estate Acquisitions with 13 years of integrative right-of-way services. Tammy’s overall tenure in the right-of-way field has enabled her to develop a systematic management method for acquiring and relocating rights belonging to multiple utility agencies. She brings elite collaboration expertise working extensively on multiple roadway projects. Her vast portfolio includes UDOT’s Mountain View Corridor highway project, winner of IRWA’s 2012 Top 10 Project of the Year and many other projects for UDOT and UTA. Tammy is a senior member with the International Right of Way Association. As a Member of IRWA, Tammy has maintained a clear understanding of federal and state regulations and is committed to keeping up to date on all changes in those regulations. In her spare time, you’ll find Tammy working with her daughter on their online boutique, boating during warm summer weekends, and spending as much time as possible with her grand-daughter.
Kim Hughes has joined Meridian Engineering as a new Survey CAD Technician. Kim will work together under Travis W. and Brian in the survey department processing final survey data and extracting point cloud information from LiDAR and aerial flights. Kim’s background with steel detailing for the construction industry over the years allows her to roll her drafting skills right into our firm’s busy workload. She brings broad understanding of the process involved for creating final quality drawing sets. Kim is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Mapping from UVU. With 10 credits left, she is determined to finish despite interruption by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our survey division manager, Michael Nadeau, previously worked with Kim as her Senior Capstone advisor and was influential in creating excitement for her to enter the Surveying Profession. When not at work, you’ll find Kim spending time with her almost 18-year-old daughter, 14-year-old son and their adorable puppy.
Tyler Atwan our new Survey Technician, brings three and a half years of survey experience to Meridian, specifically with Topographic, ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, Construction Layout and other types of survey work related to existing and new pipeline construction. His prior experience has allowed him to lead field crews and to help formulate a daily game plan for his team. While at Meridian, Tyler looks forward to furthering his survey field experience, and with a little more mentoring for Tyler from the survey team leads, he’ll be only a stone’s throw away from being a Survey Crew Chief in Meridian’s Survey Department. Tyler also plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah.
