Gis specialist Jobs in USA

Location:

• Hybrid (U.S.A).
• New Mexico preferred.
• Required to travel to New Mexico-based HQ once a quarter for one week (M-F).

Position Type:

• Full-time Reports to: Brian Bosh, Engineering Lead About Apaluma Apaluma Inc. is an innovative startup dedicated to transforming dark data into actionable intelligence.
• We build advanced AI-driven and physics-based technologies that help government agencies unlock insights from regulatory, environmental, and real-time monitoring data.
• Our mission is to provide transparent, data-backed decision-making tools that empower agencies to manage resources effectively and sustainably.
• Our Team & How We Work We are a small team where everyone wears multiple hats and ships work that matters.
• You will collaborate directly with engineers, data scientists, designers, and product leadership on a daily basis.
• You should be comfortable stepping outside of your defined role to fill gaps as they come up.
• That is how a team this size stays effective.
• We move fast, communicate openly, and hold each other to a high bar.
• We default to action over process, and we expect everyone on the team to speak up when something is unclear, broken, or could be better.
• If you thrive in environments where your voice shapes the product and your work ships quickly, this is the right team.
• AI tools are a core part of how we work, not a novelty.
• We expect every team member to be comfortable using AI assistants, LLMs, and automated tooling in their daily workflows to move faster and think more clearly.
• You do not need to be an AI engineer, but you do need to be curious, adaptable, and willing to experiment with new tools as they emerge.
• Role Overview We are seeking a GIS Specialist who will support the development, management, and visualization of spatial datasets that underpin Apaluma’s Intelligence platform.
• This role is ideal for mid-career GIS professionals with hands-on experience in geospatial data processing, spatial analysis, and the creation of interactive map layers and visualizations for environmental or regulatory use cases.
• You will collaborate closely with engineers, data scientists, product managers, and domain experts to ensure that geospatial datasets, ranging from regulatory boundaries to real-time monitoring data, are accurate, well-structured, and optimized for end-user workflows.
• Although this is not a software engineering role, familiarity with scripting, API usage, and cloud-based geospatial tools is valuable.
• Critically, you will serve as a user advocate.
• Our end users are government regulators, environmental scientists, and program managers who may not have deep GIS expertise.
• Your work should always be in service of making geospatial information accessible, intuitive, and useful to them.
• Key Responsibilities Geospatial Data Management & Processing Collect, clean, transform, and maintain geospatial datasets including environmental, regulatory, natural resource, and infrastructure data.
• Standardize diverse data formats (e.g., shapefiles, GeoJSON, KML, geodatabases) for integration into Apaluma’s platform.
• Perform spatial joins, buffering, geocoding, topology correction, QA/QC, and feature extraction to support downstream analytics.
• Evaluate data quality, metadata integrity, and lineage for government datasets.
• Spatial Analysis & Intelligence Development Analyze environmental and regulatory data to surface insights relevant to air quality, water resources, waste sites, land use, permitting activities, and compliance indicators.
• Create geospatial layers from datapoints in relational databases.
• Support inclusion of geospatial layers into training and contextual predictions by AI/ML teams.
• Develop reproducible geospatial workflows that contribute to agency-specific dashboards, reports, and permitting tools.
• Map Production & Visualization Create high-quality map visuals, layers, and interactive web map configurations to support dashboards, public-facing tools, and internal analysis workflows.
• Collaborate with product and design teams to enhance map usability and interpretability for non-technical government users.
• Support implementation of custom spatial tools (e.g., draw/edit features, layer toggling, geofilters) used across the platform.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication Work closely with engineers to integrate geospatial data into backend services and APIs.
• Partner with AI/ML engineers to incorporate spatial context into predictive models and environmental insights.
• Participate in Agile processes including sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives.
• Communicate trade-offs, data limitations, and spatial logic clearly to teammates who may not share your domain expertise.
• Proactively flag issues, ask questions, and contribute ideas.
• On a small team, silence is expensive.
• Quality, Documentation & Support Maintain documentation of spatial datasets, transformations, schemas, and workflows.
• Provide internal subject-matter expertise on map accuracy, spatial logic, geographic boundaries, and environmental data sources.
• Assist in troubleshooting geospatial issues related to data integrity, visualization, or spatial processing.
• Who You Are You are a clear, direct communicator.
• You write well, you explain your thinking, and you are not afraid to say “I don’t know yet, but here’s how I’d find out.” You are a genuine advocate for end users.
• You think about how a regulator in the field will actually interact with a map layer, not just whether the data is technically correct.
• You are comfortable with ambiguity.
• At a startup, requirements evolve and priorities shift.
• You adapt without losing momentum.
• You use AI tools in your daily work.
• You see LLMs, copilots, and automation as force multipliers, not threats, and you are eager to integrate new tools into your workflows.
• You are a team player who takes ownership.
• You do not wait to be assigned work when you see something that needs doing.
• You care about craft.
• Whether it is a data pipeline or a map legend, you take pride in getting the details right.
• Qualifications Required 5–7 years of professional GIS experience (government, environmental, regulatory, energy, natural resources, or related domains preferred).
• Proficiency with GIS tools such as ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, GDAL/OGR, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of geospatial data formats, projections, and coordinate systems.
• Experience performing spatial analysis and creating geospatial workflows.
• Ability to produce clear, intuitive map visualizations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with geospatial standards and data sources used by federal and state agencies (EPA, USGS, BLM, FEMA, state environmental departments, etc.).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• You will be writing documentation, explaining spatial concepts to non-GIS teammates, and occasionally presenting work to stakeholders.
• Demonstrated comfort using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or similar) to accelerate research, data processing, or documentation workflows.
• Preferred Experience with Python or other scripting languages for geospatial automation (GeoPandas, Shapely, PyProj, Rasterio).
• Exposure to cloud-based mapping tools or serverless data workflows (e.g., AWS S3, Lambda, or spatial databases).
• Familiarity with environmental permitting, compliance workflows, or regulatory processes.
• Experience supporting applications that incorporate AI/ML outputs or time-series environmental data.
• Understanding of front-end mapping frameworks such as Mapbox, Leaflet, or ArcGIS Online (no development experience required).
• Experience working in a startup or small-team environment where you wore multiple hats.
• What We Offer Competitive salary and health benefits, including major medical, dental, and vision.
• Hybrid position with flexible work hours.
• A collaborative, low-ego culture committed to innovation, transparency, and environmental stewardship.
• Opportunity to shape the geospatial foundation of a high-impact, mission-driven technology platform for government agencies.
• A team that values your perspective and expects you to use it. Powered by JazzHR