GIS Data Specialist

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

23h

About The Position

The Taskar Center for Accessible Technology is hiring a GIS Data Specialist (Research Scientist/Engineer 2) to lead development of geospatial tools and dashboards for the Center’s and Transportation Data Exchange’s public-facing and internal initiatives. The role transforms complex spatial datasets into actionable insights through interactive web applications, including tools such as a Safe Routes to School prioritization platform, ADA Transition Plan dashboards, and internal data-sharing interfaces built on the Transportation Data Exchange.

The position bridges geospatial analysis, full-stack web development, technical architecture, and participatory design. It includes integrating and standardizing spatial data, building interfaces for users to explore and manage mobility data, collaborating with planners and community members, and documenting and supporting tools. This is a regular, full-time position at 100% FTE on the first shift.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or a related field.
• At least two years of previous software-development experience in geospatial, urban planning, geography, or a related field.
• Experience with software development using Scala and Node.js.
• Experience with web development technologies including React, Angular, Cue, Node, and UX design.
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL data management, including databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or DB2, and tools such as Memcache, Redis, or Elasticsearch.

Nice To Haves

• Experience contributing to and applying software-engineering best practices in a team environment, based on full-stack development experience.
• Graduate training or a degree in GIS, Data Science, or Urban Informatics.
• Experience with open-source geospatial tools such as QGIS, GeoServer, or Turf.js.
• Familiarity with accessibility standards and equity-focused planning.
• Experience working with OpenStreetMap data and community.
• Strong understanding of data privacy and governance in public-sector contexts.

Responsibilities

• Design and build interactive geospatial dashboards and decision-support tools, including Safe Routes to School and ADA Transition Plan tools.
• Ingest, clean, and harmonize spatial datasets from transit agencies, DOTs, and community sources.
• Develop workflows to transform unstructured and semi-structured web data into standards-based formats.
• Architect scalable, secure, and maintainable web-stack infrastructure for Observatory tools.
• Develop interfaces for internal and external customers to vet, edit, and save mobility data.
• Collaborate with planners, advocates, and community members to ensure tools reflect lived experience and policy needs.
• Develop data-sharing interfaces for staff and partners, including in-browser data exploration and export features.
• Evaluate and develop data-management solutions and integrate interfaces with existing backend APIs and databases.
• Create technical documentation and provide training and support for tool users and collaborators.

Benefits

• The posting describes outstanding employee benefits and opportunities for professional growth; it directs applicants to the University of Washington staff benefits website for details.

What This Job Offers

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