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Title: Senior Geospatial Architect

Schedule (FT/PT): Regular Full Time

Travel Required: Yes (10-15%)

Clearance: Active Secret or Top Secret Clearance & Ability to Obtain CBP

North Wind Site Services is focused on providing engineering, program management, environmental remediation services including investigation and characterization, environmental restoration, unexploded ordnance/military munitions response (MMRP), regulatory public involvement services, environmental compliance, logistics, and records and facility management.

POSITION PURPOSE:

As a Senior Geospatial Architect, you will leverage your extensive experience to architect, design, and implement complex, enterprise-level geospatial solutions. You will be responsible for translating intricate business requirements into scalable, high-performance geospatial architectures, utilizing your deep understanding of GIS principles, spatial databases, cloud technologies, and software development methodologies. Your leadership will be instrumental in guiding development teams and ensuring the successful delivery of mission-critical projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Architectural Leadership:

+ Develop and articulate comprehensive geospatial architectural roadmaps aligned with organizational objectives, client needs, and cloud-first strategies.

+ Evaluate, recommend, and drive the adoption of cutting-edge geospatial technologies, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), services (e.g., AWS Location Service, Azure Maps, Google Earth Engine), and tools, focusing on innovation, automation, and efficiency.

+ Establish, enforce, and govern architectural standards, patterns, and best practices for cloud-native geospatial solutions, ensuring consistency, security, resilience, and quality across projects.

+ Perform detailed capacity planning, cost optimization, and performance analysis of complex geospatial systems within cloud environments.

Advanced Cloud-Native Solution Development & Integration:

+ Lead the design and implementation of highly complex, scalable, and secure geospatial applications and services, including real-time data processing, advanced analytics pipelines, and serverless architectures leveraging cloud-native services.

+ Architect and implement robust, automated CI/CD pipelines using tools like Harness, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or Azure DevOps for infrastructure provisioning (IaC), code build, testing, and deployment of geospatial solutions.

+ Design and implement seamless integration of diverse geospatial data sources, formats, APIs, and systems (including legacy systems) leveraging cloud integration patterns and services.

+ Design, optimize, and manage high-performance spatial databases (e.g., RDS PostGIS, Azure SQL DB with spatial types, Cloud SQL with PostGIS) and scalable data pipelines (e.g., using Kafka, Kinesis, Azure Event Hubs, Cloud Pub/Sub, Apache Spark/Databricks).

+ Architect, deploy, and manage secure, resilient, and cost-effective cloud-native geospatial solutions leveraging platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, incorporating Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices with tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM Templates.

Technical Mentorship & Guidance:

+ Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship on cloud architecture, geospatial development, DevOps practices, and modern technology stacks to senior and junior development teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

+ Conduct in-depth code reviews (Python, React, Tailwind CSS, Node JS, Esri JavaScript API, SQL, IaC) and architectural assessments, ensuring adherence to rigorous quality, security, and cloud architecture standards.

+ Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate technical risks related to architecture, scalability, security, and cloud deployment, ensuring project success and system reliability.

+ Evangelize emerging geospatial technologies, cloud services, and architectural trends, driving adoption and knowledge sharing within the organization.

Executive-Level Client Engagement:

+ Engage with executive-level clients to understand their strategic geospatial needs and translate them into actionable, cloud-focused technical solutions and roadmaps.

+ Present complex technical concepts, cloud architectures, and solutions clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

+ Lead client workshops and strategic planning sessions focused on geospatial and cloud strategy, fostering strong client relationships and ensuring alignment with project objectives.

Project Governance & Delivery:

+ Establish and enforce project governance frameworks, incorporating cloud architecture reviews and security checkpoints, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

+ Lead cross-functional teams (development, operations, security, data science) in the delivery of complex geospatial projects, ensuring seamless collaboration and communication.

+ Develop and maintain comprehensive project documentation, including architectural designs (cloud and application), technical specifications, IaC templates, and implementation plans.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

+ Master's degree or higher in Geography, GIS, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

+ Minimum of 12+ years of progressive experience, with at least 5+ years specifically focused on geospatial cloud architecture, solution design, development, and technical leadership.

Skills and Abilities:

+ Expert-level proficiency in GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS Enterprise, QGIS) and spatial databases (e.g., PostGIS, Oracle Spatial, cloud-managed spatial databases).

+ Demonstrated expert-level proficiency designing, deploying, and managing solutions on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud), including core compute, storage, networking, database, security, and serverless services.

+ Proven experience architecting and implementing cloud-native geospatial solutions leveraging relevant cloud services (e.g., AWS Location Service, S3/Blob/GCS, RDS/Azure SQL/Cloud SQL, Lambda/Functions, EKS/AKS/GKE, Redshift/Synapse/BigQuery).

+ Strong experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure and applications using tools such as Harness, Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps, or similar.

+ Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, ARM Templates).

+ Advanced programming skills in Python, React, Tailwind CSS, Node JS, for geospatial development, automation, and backend services. Proficiency with relevant libraries (e.g., Esri JavaScript API, GDAL/OGR, Rasterio, Shapely, GeoPandas, ArcPy, Leaflet, Mapbox GL JS).

+ Solid understanding and experience with API design (RESTful), development, and integration.

+ Experience with containerization technologies (Docker) and container orchestration (Kubernetes).

+ Proven track record of designing and implementing large-scale, enterprise-level geospatial solutions, particularly in cloud environments.

+ Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including executive leadership.

Special Requirements:

+ Have or be able to attain Customs and Border Protection (CBP) clearance.

+ Active Secret or Top-Secret Security Clearance.

+ U.S. Citizenship.

+ Must live in the Washington DC area or be able to commute.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

+ Relevant Cloud Architect certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect).

+ Experience with advanced geospatial analytics, machine learning (GeoAI), and modeling techniques.

+ Experience with real-time data streaming and processing technologies (e.g., Kafka, Kinesis, Spark Streaming, Flink).

+ Experience with additional programming languages (e.g., Microsoft .Net, Python).

+ Experience with specific backend frameworks (e.g., Django, Flask, Node.js).

+ Experience with front-end frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) for geospatial web applications.

+ Knowledge of message queuing systems (e.g., RabbitMQ, SQS, Azure Service Bus).

+ Experience managing and optimizing NoSQL databases (e.g., DynamoDB, MongoDB, Cosmos DB).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position is a sedentary role. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be sitting for long periods of time but will also be required to stand, walk, and communicate with others.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

+ Home office.

+ Must have ability to commute to Washington D.C.

North Wind offers a competitive pay and benefits package to include health, life, and disability insurance benefits, 401(k) with company match, generous paid leave and tuition reimbursement for eligible employees. As a company, we are committed to employee wellness, professional development, and work-life balance. We value safety, reliability, and commitment to our people! For more information about our benefits or hiring philosophy, visit the North Wind Career Opportunities Page.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The nature of those accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Helpline +1.208.528.8718 or use the Request for Reasonable Accommodation (https://northwindgrp.com/careers/request-for-reasonable-accommodation-confidential/) form to get assistance.

North Wind is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic data, religion, or other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Proof of citizenship will be required as a condition of employment.

Candidates may be required to obtain and hold a Secret or Higher US Government Clearance.