GIS Developer II

ATTAINX INC•Herndon, VA

8h•Remote

About The Position

The GIS Developer 2 is a senior-level position responsible for leading the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of enterprise geospatial applications and spatial data services supporting the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) IT ecosystem. This role requires deep expertise in ESRI ArcGIS technologies, spatial database design, geospatial web application development, and cloud migration to AWS. The GIS Developer 2 operates with significant autonomy, provides technical leadership and mentorship, manages geospatial development and analyst teams, and serves as a subject matter expert on NRCS geospatial systems, data services, and GeoBranch architecture alignment.

Requirements

Twelve (12) or more years of professional experience in geospatial application development, spatial data management, or GIS engineering.
Five (5) or more years of experience with ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise (ArcGIS Server, Portal, geodatabases) administration, configuration, and service publishing.
Five (5) or more years of experience with geospatial web application development using ESRI ArcGIS API for JavaScript, React/TypeScript, or equivalent frameworks.
Five (5) or more years of experience with spatial database design and management (ESRI geodatabases, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, SQL Server).
Three (3) or more years of experience supporting federal IT programs or government agency environments.
Demonstrated experience with AWS cloud services (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda) or active participation in cloud migration of geospatial systems.
Experience leading geospatial development teams and managing GIS analysts.
Experience with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, Microsoft DevOps, AWS CodePipeline, or equivalent) and Git-based source control.
Experience with Python automation for geospatial workflows (ArcPy, ArcGIS API for Python).
Bachelor’s degree in Geography, GIS, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise (ArcGIS Server, Portal, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online)
ESRI ArcGIS API for JavaScript, ArcGIS API for Python,ArcPy
JavaScript/TypeScript, React, Angular, or equivalent frontend frameworks
C#/.NET, Python for geospatial scripting and automation
Spatial databases: ESRI geodatabases, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, SQL Server (spatial types, spatial indexing)
ArcGIS geoprocessing services, imagery services, map services, feature services
Geodatabase schema design, spatial data versioning, mosaic datasets
ETL processes for geospatial data (multiple schemas and output formats)
AWS services: EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, API Gateway, Route 53
CI/CD tooling: Jenkins, Microsoft DevOps, AWSCodeBuild,CodeDeploy, CodePipeline
Source control: Git, GitHub Enterprise, Bitbucket, GitLab
Containerization: Docker (working knowledge)
Security scanning: SonarQube, Fortify SCA/WebInspect
Agile/Scrum/SAFemethodologies; Jira, Confluence
Linux/RHEL server environments
Must be able to obtain and maintain a USDA security background investigation (FBI fingerprint check and eQIP).
Must comply with all NIST, USDA, and HSPD–12 security training and reporting requirements.
Must complete mandatory training: Information Security Awareness (annually) and Section 508 (within 45 days of assignment).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in a relevant field is preferred.
Experience with USDA NRCS or FPAC geospatial systems and FPACGeoBrancharchitecture.
Experience with Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA) compliance and geospatial metadata management.
Experience integrating geospatial components with Pega orEntellitrakbusiness applications.
ESRI technical certifications (ArcGIS Enterprise Administration, ArcGIS Developer, or equivalent).
AWS certifications (Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, or equivalent).
SAFeor DevOps certifications.
Experience withGeoServer, QGIS, or other open-source geospatial tools.
Experience with imagery analysis, mosaicking, elevation data management, and aeronautical/infrastructure data.
Experience with Terraform or CloudFormation for infrastructure as code.
Experience with NIST SP 800–53, FISMA, FedRAMP compliance frameworks.
Experience with Section 508 accessibility testing and remediation for geospatial interfaces.
ITIL certification ordemonstratedexperience with ITIL service management processes.
Experience with Kanban workflow management alongside Scrum delivery.
Experience with Ansible or equivalent configuration management tools.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and deployment of enterprise geospatial web applications using ESRI ArcGIS API for JavaScript, React/TypeScript, and related frontend frameworks.
Architect and implement reusable geospatial component libraries, including micro-frontend mapping components integrated with business applications (e.g., Pega, .NET).
Design and implement spatial databases using ESRI geodatabases, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, and SQL Server, including schema design, spatial indexing, and version management.
Develop and maintain ArcGIS Enterprise services (map services, feature services, geoprocessing services, imagery services) across Development, Test, and Production environments.
Configure and manage ArcGIS Server/Portal, including service publishing, security models, and application-authentication integration.
Build custom ArcGIS geoprocessing services for geospatial data transformation, data extraction, imagery georegistration, and custom map-product generation.
Create automated workflows for spatial data modeling, service deployment and updates, and spatial data processing using Python (ArcPy, ArcGIS API for Python) and other scripting tools.
Lead modernization of legacy desktop GIS workflows to web-based enterprise geospatial solutions.
Design and implement ETL processes for geospatial data ingestion, transformation, and synchronization across multiple schemas and output formats.
Develop and maintain spatial data services with .NET Core, ESRI ArcGIS Server, or GeoServer as applicable.
Manage enterprise-level spatial database migrations to new server environments, operating systems, and spatial database version upgrades.
Develop and maintain application-level health checks, operability indicators, and automated monitoring endpoints for geospatial services.
Improve code quality through SonarQube scan compliance, unit testing in DevSecOps pipelines, and proactive identification of security and quality issues.
Use existing geospatial services provided by FPAC GeoBranch when available; integrate supported applications with those services in alignment with Conservation Section priorities.
When new GIS services are required, design and build them with and for the GeoBranch GPM; adhere to GeoBranch architecture, design, and standards.
Ensure geospatial integrations meet performance, accuracy, and interoperability requirements, including appropriate coordinate reference systems and caching strategies.
Document geospatial dependencies and data sources and maintain them in Government-designated repositories.
Create and maintain a Portal-based GIS data catalog for NRCS authoritative service layers.
Manage hundreds of terabytes of imagery and elevation data to support NRCS mission activities.
Maintain geospatial metadata management practices aligned with Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (GDA) compliance requirements.
Support the Geospatial Data Asset Catalog (GDAC) by maintaining asset inventories, assessing GDA compliance, and identifying remediation actions.
Ensure accessibility (Section 508) and usability considerations are incorporated for geospatial user interfaces and outputs.
Provide Tier 3 technical support for production geospatial applications and services, including deep technical analysis, root cause investigation, and defect resolution.
Triage and classify application-level defects; develop, test, and deploy corrective fixes without introducing new vulnerabilities or technical debt.
Develop and execute emergency workarounds or hotfixes to maintain continuity of geospatial operations, following approved change control processes.
Apply required updates and patches to supported geospatial applications, ArcGIS Enterprise components, and dependent libraries.
Refactor and optimize geospatial application code, spatial queries, and database structures to improve performance and maintainability.
Develop and maintain application-specific disaster recovery runbooks, including validated restore procedures, dependency mapping, and configuration baselines.
Define and document Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) targets for supported geospatial applications; align recovery procedures accordingly, subject to Government approval.
Participate in planned and unplanned DR/COOP exercises and events; test failover and restore procedures at agreed intervals.
Coordinate release activities for geospatial applications and services; report status to the Government Program Manager.
Ensure all releases pass automated testing, security scans, performance validation, and FPAC SonarQube thresholds prior to production deployment.
Deploy through FPAC-approved CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, AWS CodeBuild/CodeDeploy/CodePipeline, Microsoft DevOps) without bypassing automated quality gates.
Implement and maintain automated deployment scripts for geospatial applications and services; implement and test rollback procedures prior to production releases.
Maintain comprehensive dependency maps and coordinate release schedules to manage interdependencies and minimize risk.
Lead or support the migration of geospatial applications and services from on-premises Government servers or DISC data center to AWS, including re-architecture, cutover coordination, environment validation, and post-migration issue resolution.
Implement application-level changes required to maintain operability during and after cloud migration, including configuration for AWS-hosted services (EC2, RDS, S3, Lambda, API Gateway, Route 53).
Manage migration of ArcGIS Enterprise infrastructure and spatial data services to AWS environments.
Validate geospatial application and service functionality in AWS environments; troubleshoot and resolve migration-related issues.
Implement secure coding practices in alignment with NIST SP 800–53, USDA secure coding standards, FPAC SDLC, FISMA, and Zero Trust principles.
Implement application-authentication security models for ArcGIS services throughout supported applications.
Ensure supported applications meet Section 508 accessibility requirements and maintain compliance with the Privacy Act, FedRAMP, and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) requirements.
Ensure all work products, services, fixes, and deliverables meet or exceed the Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs) defined in the applicable contract attachments.
Remediate security vulnerabilities within defined SLAs (e.g., 14 days for critical/high) using Government-approved tools and processes.
Support security assessments, penetration testing, and compliance audits by providing technical artifacts and remediation plans.
Remove deprecated or non-compliant authorization dependencies and role references to support least-privilege access, Zero Trust principles, and continuous ATO compliance.
Align geospatial applications with the Government’s data architecture and governance practices, including registration of schemas, interfaces, and metadata in AWS DataZone.
Maintain data lineage and stewardship information for geospatial applications; report changes that affect downstream systems.
Manage schema changes using Government-approved versioning tools; synchronize changes across environments.
Support data migration activities, including integration with FPAC’s centralized AWS Data Lake strategy (Databricks).
Lead and manage geospatial development teams and GIS analyst teams; supervise developers and coordinate cross-functional efforts.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to GIS Developer 1 team members and junior analysts.
Lead code reviews, architecture discussions, and design sessions for geospatial application domains.
Serve as subject matter expert on NRCS geospatial systems, spatial data services, and GeoBranch architecture.
Communicate and enforce enterprise standards and best practices across delivery teams through documented governance, review, and approval processes.
Participate in risk identification and mitigation activities; contribute to the risk and issue log, including modernization dependencies, technical debt remediation, and compliance gaps.
Support ITIL-aligned incident, problem, and change management processes consistent with FPAC standards.
Provide knowledge transfer sessions to Government personnel and incoming vendors during transitions.
Maintain troubleshooting playbooks, runbooks, and knowledge articles in Government-designated repositories.
Establish and maintain an on-call support rotation, escalation paths, and coordination procedures with Government stakeholders.
Lead or participate in interviews when recruiting new team members.
Contribute to the comprehensive inventory of supported geospatial systems and components, including technology stack, dependencies, and operational status.
Evaluate modernization options (refactor, re-platform, replace, retire) using structured scoring models based on technical debt, compliance risk, cost to maintain, and business impact.
Leverage AI-enabled platforms (e.g., Rhino.ai or equivalent) for legacy system analysis and code remediation as authorized by the Government.
Propose strategies to decouple tightly coupled geospatial web services and monolithic spatial databases that hinder modernization and scalability.