Geospatial Solution Architect

Government of Alberta • Calgary, AB

8d • Remote

About The Position

The Business Technology Operations branch within the Ministry of Technology & Innovation plans for, implements, operates, and supports the digital services foundation technologies and platforms hosting the digital systems and data that empower business partners' services across the Government of Alberta (GOA). The branch ensures that modern technologies, including both on-premises and cloud-based hosting environments, along with an operating framework are in place to support the GoA's digital and data strategies. The branch is also responsible for the implementation, operation, and support of corporate electronic content management services as well as legacy business applications in accordance with policies and standards. Technology and Innovation is responsible for making innovation and technology the driving force behind Alberta’s economic growth and diversification. The passionate and solutions focused people that we hire help us to drive vital programs and services that affect Albertans. Whatever your position is here, you will be a part of something great. Join us!

Requirements

• University graduation in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Geospatial platform architecture: Designing, building, and operating enterprise GIS platforms (including Esri and open-source) with expertise in geodatabase design, spatial indexing, geoprocessing services, and coordinate reference system management at scale.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Software development & engineering: Designing, building, and delivering geospatial web applications, spatial dashboards, geoprocessing tools, and field or citizen-facing spatial services using Python, C#/.NET, or Java with spatial databases, RESTful APIs, and front-end mapping frameworks (e.g., OpenLayers, Leaflet, or ArcGIS Maps SDK).
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Spatial data pipelines & integration: Designing and maintaining spatial ETL workflows (FME or equivalent), cross-system integrations using event-driven patterns, API gateways and OpenAPI specifications with measurable service-level adherence.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: SDLC & DevOps automation: Owning end-to-end development lifecycle using version control (e.g., GitHub), CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and containerization with consistent release velocity.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Technical leadership & cross-team coordination: Leading solution design, translating business requirements into architecture decisions, and presenting technical roadmaps to senior leadership with on-time delivery track record.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Production support & service operations: Operating enterprise geospatial platforms in production including incident response, root-cause analysis, monitoring, and change management.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in: Security, reliability & disaster recovery: Implementing security controls (OAuth, role-based access control, secrets management), compliance frameworks, high-availability architectures, and tested disaster recovery plans for sensitive geospatial data.
• AI-enabled operations: Strong knowledge and hands-on experience embedding AI/agentic AI into platform engineering — e.g., automated incident triage or AI-driven spatial data quality checks before production promotion.
• A related two-year diploma in computer technology or a related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and six (6) years related experience; or
• A related one-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and seven (7) years related experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience building responsive, accessible spatial web applications with user-centered design for public or citizen-facing audiences.
• Experience developing mobile or field spatial solutions (e.g., field data collection, asset inspection, or location-aware workflows).
• Experience building AI-powered geospatial features such as natural language spatial search, intelligent spatial recommendations, or AI-assisted map interactions for end users.
• Knowledge of ML-driven spatial analysis including automated feature extraction, change detection, land cover classification, or predictive spatial modelling.
• Solid understanding of responsible AI practices in a public-sector context including bias mitigation, transparency, data privacy, and ethical use of AI in citizen-facing spatial services.
• Experience in Production-grade deployment and tuning of open-source geospatial tools (e.g., GeoServer, PostGIS, QGIS Server).
• Experience in Enterprise spatial database administration and performance tuning (SQL Server, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, or equivalent).
• Experience in producing technical documentation including high/low-level designs, architecture decision records, and data dictionaries.
• Experience in technology economics, including licensing evaluation, open-source viability assessment, and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Experience in communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences, including delivering presentations, demonstrations, and training sessions.
• AI or Machine Learning certification from a recognized provider (e.g., Microsoft, Google, AWS, or equivalent)
• Esri Technical Certification — Enterprise Administration or Developer track.
• FME Certified Professional.
• TOGAF 9 Foundation or Professional.
• Certified Geographic Information Professional (GISP) or equivalent credential.

Responsibilities

• Design the spatial solutions that connect systems, data, and decisions across an entire enterprise.
• Lead the design, build, and integration of GIS solutions across a complex enterprise landscape.
• Deliver complete, end-to-end solutions not platform administration translating complex business and operational challenges into scalable, reliable spatial systems.
• Select and combine the right technologies whether enterprise tools like ArcGIS Enterprise, open-source frameworks, or custom-built components based on long-term value, sustainability, and fit-for-purpose design.
• Own the technical quality of solutions from initial architecture through to production, ensuring seamless integration of spatial data and services across systems such as ServiceNow and other enterprise applications.
• Define robust data models, integration patterns, and interface contracts.
• Lead the development of full-stack GIS applications when required.
• Guide delivery teams, mentor developers, and ensure solutions are maintainable, secure, and built to evolve alongside changing business needs.
• Design and deliver integrated GIS solutions across enterprise applications, APIs, and data platforms.
• Develop full-stack custom geospatial applications and services where needed.
• Architect and implement spatial data flows, integrations, and pipelines across systems.
• Select and apply appropriate technologies (enterprise GIS, open-source, cloud-native) based on solution needs and total cost of ownership.
• Produce clear, implementation-ready solution designs and technical documentation.
• Lead technical delivery, provide design oversight, and mentor team members.
• Implement secure, scalable, and reliable solution architectures.
• Build and maintain automated deployment pipelines and testing practices.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and contribute to platform and architectural evolution.
• Identify and remediate technical debt while ensuring continuity of service.

Benefits

• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior