Senior GIS Engineer

King County•Seattle, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT) is seeking a Senior GIS Engineer to join the award-winning King County GIS Center. Our team provides enterprise GIS data services that support every County department, advancing data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and innovative public service delivery. As a key member of the GeoData Team, you will help lead a major modernization effort to migrate and re-engineer our GIS applications, services, and data platforms into cloud-based environments. This work includes transforming legacy systems, streamlining workflows, and improving reliability and scalability in alignment with King County’s cloud strategy. This isn't a lift and shift. We're modernizing as we migrate, reimagining our applications rather than rebuilding them as they were, and taking a hard look at current practices to make them more efficient. The GIS Center has earned national recognition, including Esri’s 2025 Enterprise GIS Award and multiple Exemplary Systems in Geospatial industry awards. You’ll be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to innovation, service excellence, and delivering geospatial solutions that directly support King County residents. If you’re energized by modernizing systems, building practical GIS solutions, and shaping the future of geospatial services in public government, we’d love to hear from you. About King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT) King County is committed to being the best-run government in the nation, and King County Information Technology (KCIT) is helping lead that transformation. KCIT harnesses the power of technology to modernize operations, advance digital equity and social justice, and deliver innovative solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, and community partners. Recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for excellence in vision, strategy, innovation, and collaboration, KCIT is focused on delivering smart, secure, and customer-centered technology services that strengthen county operations and support thriving, resilient communities. As the technology business partner to all 18 County departments, KCIT provides the foundational systems and services that power many of the region’s most essential functions. We work side-by-side with our partners to design and deliver technology solutions that enhance customer experience and advance King County’s mission. Learn more about KCIT at: http://kingcounty.gov/depts/it.aspx. This recruitment may be used to fill additional vacancies that may occur.

Requirements

5 years or more of increasingly responsible professional experience in GIS technological data platform.
Advanced knowledge of GIS software and platforms: ArcGIS Pro and extensions, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online.
Advanced knowledge of geodatabase and relational database platforms (e.g., Azure SQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL).
Advanced knowledge in complex spatial data management, system administration, spatial ETL processes with custom python and/or FME, and infrastructure migrations to cloud environments.
Experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or similar) to write, review, refactor, and maintain application code and scripts.
Advanced experience in both raster and vector processing from source data to product.
Advanced programming knowledge developing cross-platform, multi-function, interactive applications, and data integrations for end-users.
Ability to troubleshoot issues, track, resolve, and document system problems and issues requiring a broad understanding of a complex system.
Experience developing standards and operating procedures for GIS products.
Effectively communicate and maintain a strong rapport with cross functional team members and maintain the principles and strategy within KCIT.
Ability to follow established change management processes.
Facilitate complex system changes; identify, analyze, and prioritize system change requests; assess potential system-wide impacts of proposed module configuration changes.
Convey technical information to non-technical system users.
Perform duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and enhance enterprise GIS data systems and automated workflows.
Acquire, process, and maintain spatial datasets used across County programs.
Apply AI tools and techniques to improve spatial analysis and data processing.
Monitor GIS platforms to ensure secure, reliable, and high-performing operations.
Provide technical guidance and responsive support to King County staff and partners.
Develop and support department and countywide spatial databases and configurations per organizational standards.
Develop and maintain scripts and automation (Python, ArcPy, or equivalent) to support data processing, quality control, and platform operations.
Design and implement cloud-native spatial data pipelines.
Key contributor in developing, planning, advising on, communicating, and implementing migration of on premise GIS resources to the cloud, including SQL Server geodatabases, ETL workflows, and legacy systems and applications.
Key contributor in developing, planning, advising on, communicating, and implementing AI standards and practical AI use cases within GIS platforms and workflows.
Provide quality assurance, quality control, and user acceptance testing using established methodology and best practices.
Administer various county-wide platforms such as ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Server, and geodatabases.
Develop and support department and countywide spatial databases and configurations per organizational standards.
Coordinate enterprise-level GIS services, policies, standards, and procedures with other County professionals.