Spatial Analysis Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Key Responsibilities 

• Serves as the technical lead on execution for complex GIS deliverables and analysis, along with coordination with the GIS Manager (schema design, data integration, spatial modeling, and map products). 
• Lead GIS workstreams and small-to-mid-sized projects: scope tasks, build workplans, estimate hours, coordinate resources, and manage schedules. 
• Drive QA/QC standards and review processes to reduce rework and ensure defensible, repeatable deliverables.  
• Mentor and develop junior staff; document SOPs and improve production workflows. 

Key Metrics / KPIs (Role-Level) 

• On-time and on-budget delivery for assigned projects/workstreams 
• QC outcomes (low error/rework rate) and deliverable acceptance rate 
• Production efficiency (hours vs. estimate; cycle time) 
• Client satisfaction/responsiveness (issue closure time) 
• Team enablement (training, SOP adoption, automation impact) 

Essential Functions (What You Will Do) 

1) Advanced GIS Analysis and Deliverables 

• Perform advanced spatial analysis and modeling to support engineering and utility programs (e.g., corridor analysis, constraint mapping, suitability, proximity, and change detection where applicable). 
• Design and produce client-ready map series, exhibits, and data packages aligned with program standards and contract requirements. 
• Integrate survey, CAD, and field data into GIS products with clear lineage, metadata, and defensible assumptions. 

2) Data Architecture and Enterprise GIS 

• Design and maintain geodatabase schemas (domains, subtypes, relationships) to support programmatic delivery and reporting. 
• Manage and validate coordinate systems, transformations, and control assumptions; ensure consistency with survey deliverables. 
• Support enterprise GIS and web GIS workflows (ArcGIS Enterprise/Portal/ArcGIS Online) including publishing, services, permissions, and content organization (as applicable). 

3) Automation and Workflow Improvement 

• Develop and maintain repeatable workflows for data conversion and validation (CAD-to-GIS, field-to-GIS, schema mapping). 
• Build automation scripts/tools (e.g., Python/ArcPy, ModelBuilder, or comparable) to improve throughput and reduce errors. 
• Document SOPs, templates, symbology standards, and QC checklists; drive adoption across the team. 

4) Project Management and Delivery Ownership 

• Develop project/workstream plans: define scope, milestones, deliverables, assumptions, and acceptance criteria. 
• Estimate level-of-effort; manage budgets and burn; track schedule and proactively flag variance and risks. 
• Coordinate resources across GIS, survey, and engineering teams; manage dependencies and priorities to meet deadlines. 
• Lead internal deliverable reviews and package submissions; maintain clear revision control and audit trails. 

5) Client and Stakeholder Communication 

• Act as GIS technical point-of-contact for assigned projects; translate client requirements into technical execution plans. 
• Provide concise status reporting: progress, risks, decisions needed, and next steps. 
• Support proposals and planning by contributing technical approaches, schedules, and effort estimates (as requested). 

6) Team Leadership, Mentoring, and QA/QC Governance 

• Mentor GIS Technicians/Analysts; review work for accuracy, completeness, and consistency with standards. 
• Establish and enforce QA/QC gates; ensure corrective actions are documented and improvements are institutionalized. 
• Support onboarding and training plans; contribute to skills development and cross-training with survey/engineering. 

7) Compliance, Safety, and Administrative 

• Follow quality, information security, and client confidentiality requirements. 
• Maintain accurate time entry and charge coding; ensure work is aligned to scope and contract terms. 
• Adhere to internal document control, file management, and retention requirements. 

Decision Rights and Escalation 

Owns (Independent Authority) 

• Technical execution approach for GIS analysis and deliverables within established project standards. 
• Workstream planning (task sequencing, resource coordination, QA/QC approach) for assigned GIS scope. 
• Approval of routine GIS deliverables and inte