Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for GIS Programmer

🎯 Role Definition

As a GIS Programmer on our innovative team, you will be the technical engine driving our location intelligence capabilities. This role transcends traditional map-making; you will architect, engineer, and deploy the robust systems that underpin our entire geospatial data ecosystem. You will be responsible for developing high-performance web mapping applications, automating intricate spatial data pipelines, and integrating GIS functionality across our enterprise platforms. If you are a coder with a passion for geography and a drive to build scalable, impactful solutions from concept to completion, this is the perfect opportunity to make your mark.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

GIS Analyst / Technician with strong scripting skills
Junior Software Developer with an interest in geospatial data
Data Analyst with a focus on spatial analysis

Advancement To:

Senior GIS Developer / Programmer
GIS Architect or Geospatial Solutions Architect
GIS Team Lead or Development Manager

Lateral Moves:

Data Engineer
Full-Stack Developer
DevOps Engineer with a geospatial focus

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop, and maintain custom web-based GIS applications using modern JavaScript frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, Vue.js) and mapping libraries like Leaflet, Mapbox GL JS, or the ArcGIS API for JavaScript.
Automate complex geoprocessing workflows, data transformations, and reporting tasks using Python, leveraging libraries such as ArcPy, GDAL/OGR, GeoPandas, and Rasterio.
Develop and implement robust solutions using the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise suite, including configuring and managing ArcGIS Server, Portal for ArcGIS, and ArcGIS Data Store.
Administer, optimize, and maintain enterprise-level geospatial databases, such as PostgreSQL with PostGIS, SQL Server Spatial, or Oracle Spatial, ensuring data integrity and performance.
Create, publish, and manage a wide array of GIS web services, including map, feature, geoprocessing, and vector tile services, while ensuring high availability and speed.
Integrate GIS functionalities with other critical business systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and third-party APIs to create seamless and efficient cross-platform workflows.
Develop and manage sophisticated ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines for ingesting, validating, processing, and standardizing diverse geospatial and non-geospatial datasets.
Build and configure interactive dashboards and data visualization tools using ArcGIS Dashboards, Experience Builder, or custom-built solutions to support data-driven decision-making for stakeholders.
Perform full-stack development, encompassing the design of database schemas, development of server-side logic and APIs, and creation of responsive, intuitive user interfaces (UI/UX).
Manage source code and promote collaborative development by utilizing version control systems like Git and platforms such as GitHub, Azure DevOps, or Bitbucket.
Provide high-level technical support and troubleshooting for existing GIS applications, services, and infrastructure, rapidly identifying and resolving bugs, bottlenecks, and performance issues.
Author and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including API specifications, architecture diagrams, and user guides, to ensure system maintainability and knowledge transfer.
Stay abreast of emerging trends and advancements in geospatial technology and software development, evaluating and recommending new tools, libraries, and methodologies to enhance organizational capabilities.
Design, execute, and interpret advanced spatial analyses to derive meaningful insights from geographic data that support strategic business, research, and operational objectives.
Implement and manage Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to automate the testing, building, and deployment of GIS applications and services.
Collaborate closely with GIS analysts, data scientists, project managers, and end-users to gather requirements, define project scope, and translate business needs into robust technical solutions.
Ensure all developed applications and data services comply with security best practices, data privacy regulations, and internal data governance policies.
Develop and deploy custom widgets, themes, and tools for configurable platforms like Web AppBuilder for ArcGIS or Experience Builder to extend core functionality and meet specific user needs.
Proactively optimize application and database performance through advanced query tuning, strategic indexing, implementing caching strategies, and load testing.
Develop and support solutions for mobile data collection and field operations, utilizing tools like ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, or building custom cross-platform mobile applications.
Participate in peer code reviews to ensure code quality, adherence to standards, and the sharing of best practices within the development team.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Mentor junior developers and GIS analysts on programming best practices and geospatial concepts.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced Python Proficiency: Deep experience with Python for scripting and automation, especially with geospatial libraries like ArcPy, GDAL/OGR, GeoPandas, and Shapely.
Web Development Expertise: Strong skills in front-end technologies including HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, plus hands-on experience with at least one modern framework (React, Angular, or Vue.js).
Esri Technology Stack: In-depth knowledge of the ArcGIS platform, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise (Server, Portal), ArcGIS Online, and related APIs.
Spatial Databases: Proven ability to design, query, and manage spatial databases like PostgreSQL/PostGIS, SQL Server Spatial, or Oracle Spatial. Advanced SQL skills are a must.
GIS Web Libraries: Demonstrable experience with web mapping libraries such as Leaflet, Mapbox GL JS, OpenLayers, or the ArcGIS API for JavaScript.
API & Web Services: Solid understanding of RESTful principles and experience developing and consuming APIs and web services (Map, Feature, Geoprocessing services).
Version Control Systems: Fluency in using Git for source code management, including branching, merging, and pull requests in a team environment (GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps).
Open-Source GIS: Familiarity with open-source tools such as QGIS, GeoServer, and PostGIS for data processing and publishing.
Cloud Computing Platforms: Experience deploying or managing applications and data on cloud platforms like AWS (S3, EC2, RDS) or Azure is highly desirable.
ETL and Data Pipelines: Experience with FME (Safe Software) or building custom data processing pipelines to handle large and complex datasets.

Soft Skills

Analytical & Problem-Solving Mindset: Ability to dissect complex problems, evaluate options, and implement effective, scalable technical solutions.
Excellent Communication: Capable of clearly articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A proactive team player who thrives in a collaborative environment and can work effectively with diverse teams.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to coding, testing, and documentation to ensure high-quality, reliable deliverables.
Adaptability & Continuous Learning: A strong desire to stay current with the fast-evolving landscape of GIS and software development technologies.
Project & Time Management: Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Geography/GIS, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field with significant programming coursework.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in a relevant field or a professional certificate in GIS Development or Software Engineering.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Computer Science
Geography / Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Data Science
Software Engineering
Urban Planning with a technical focus

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of professional experience in a GIS development, programming, or related software engineering role.

Preferred: 5+ years of experience with a proven portfolio of web-based GIS applications and automation scripts. Experience leading small projects or mentoring junior team members is a significant plus.