Senior Cloud GIS Architect

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Cloud GIS Architect

Fairfax, VA

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced geospatial technology professional who enjoys staying hands-on with technology while solving complex modernization challenges. This position combines GIS architecture, cloud engineering, automation, and technical leadership to transform mission-critical geospatial platforms that support data collection, analysis, mapping, and decision-making.

Working closely with client stakeholders, cloud engineers, software developers, and geospatial professionals, you will help migrate legacy systems to modern cloud-native environments, optimize enterprise data management strategies, and develop scalable platforms that support future growth. We want someone who is curious, collaborative, and excited about applying emerging technologies to improve how organizations manage, analyze, and share geospatial information. This position offers the opportunity to design, build, and modernize cloud-native geospatial systems, workflows, and environments that support mission-critical federal operations.

Responsibilities

Cloud GIS Modernization & System Transformation (40%)

• Assess legacy GIS applications, workflows, automations, and infrastructure and develop modernization strategies that improve scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Assess, migrate, and optimize GIS workflows, automations, and applications from legacy virtual machine and EC2-based environments to cloud-native, containerized, and serverless platforms using Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS services.
• Develop migration plans, validation approaches, technical documentation, and operational readiness materials that support successful implementation and long-term sustainability.
• Collaborate with GIS, application development, cloud, cybersecurity, and IT teams to ensure modernized systems meet business, security, and operational requirements.

Enterprise Data Management & Cloud Optimization (30%)

• Evaluate enterprise geospatial storage environments and recommend solutions that improve performance, accessibility, governance, and cost efficiency.
• Design and implement cloud-based storage strategies using technologies such as Amazon S3, FSx, lifecycle management policies, and automated data governance approaches.
• Support enterprise geospatial data management practices including retention policies, metadata standards, data lifecycle management, and long-term operational planning.
• Develop documentation, training materials, and operational guidance that support ongoing administration and maintenance.

Cloud-Native Test & Development Environments (20%)

• Design and deploy cloud-native development, test, and training environments that support software evaluation, integration testing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Implement automation, infrastructure-as-code, and configuration management practices that maintain consistency between production and non-production environments.
• Support environment provisioning, monitoring, maintenance, documentation, and operational readiness activities.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration (10%)

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to project teams on cloud architecture, GIS modernization, DevSecOps practices, automation, and operational support.
• Communicate technical concepts and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to technical planning, solution design, risk management, training, and client engagement activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Geography, GIS, Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience supporting enterprise GIS platforms, geospatial technologies, cloud environments, or software systems.
• Demonstrated experience modernizing production applications, scripts, workflows, data-processing jobs, or automations from legacy virtual machines or server-based environments to containerized, serverless, or cloud-native architectures
• Advanced AWS and/or Azure cloud architecture experience, including identity and access management, least-privilege design, account or subscription organization, networking concepts, production operations, security controls, cost management, backup/recovery, and compliance-oriented design.
• Hands-on experience with container and orchestration technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, managed container services, container registries, and related CI/CD or deployment patterns.
• Experience with object storage, managed file systems, lifecycle management, automated data-management policies, production storage optimization, and governance approaches for large geospatial datasets.
• Experience with ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, enterprise GIS workflows, geodatabases, web services, dashboards, field/mobile data collection, and GIS interoperability with larger enterprise systems.
• Strong programming and data engineering skills using Python, SQL, R, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Microsoft SQL Server, APIs, OpenAPI specifications, and cloud-based scripting/automation.
• Experience designing engineering standards, DevSecOps processes, observability practices, security controls, disaster recovery practices, and documentation for production SaaS or enterprise software platforms.
• Ability to produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, migration plans, implementation reports, training materials, and executive-ready summaries for federal or enterprise stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with client IT, geospatial SMEs, cloud/security teams, field or operational users, and project leadership.
• Eligibility to support work requiring protection of proprietary, sensitive, or controlled information and comply with applicable client conduct, security, and background screening requirements.

Desired Skills and Experience

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or equivalent cloud certification.
• Experience architecting and operating production-grade SaaS platforms, especially GIS, AI-enabled, or workflow-automation systems.
• Experience with Agentic AI, natural-language geoprocessing workflows, GenAI contextualization, or AI-enabled tools that make geospatial data more accessible to non-GIS users.
• Experience with SOC 2-style controls, DevSecOps standards, OpenTelemetry, cloud monitoring, application performance monitoring, API gateways, identity services, or comparable technology stacks.
• Experience supporting emergency management, public safety, logistics, infrastructure, natural resources, transportation, utilities, or other mission-critical operational environments.
• Background in remote sensing, spatial statistics, ENVI, ERDAS Imagine, QGIS, TransCAD, environmental modeling, forestry, transportation, natural resources, land use/land cover change, or field data collection.

Must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record and ability to pass a driving record background check.

Salary Range

The projected range for this position is $112,000-$144,000 annually. Depending upon other factors, i.e., skills, experience, location, market conditions, the range may vary slightly.