GIS Developer

Ocean Associates

Ocean Associates

Software Engineering
Remote
Posted on Jul 31, 2024

Note: If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact Ocean Associates at 703-388-9548 to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) seeks a full-time GIS Developer to support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Coast Survey (OCS). OCS is the nation’s nautical chart maker. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts. If you are looking to be an instrumental part of a growing, employee and customer-focused company working on exciting issues in environmental science and other marine/coastal resources, we want to hear from you!

OCS is mandated by Congress to build and maintain products in support of safe navigation. In addition to maintaining the national suite of more than 1,000 nautical charts, OCS conducts hydrographic surveys. These products support commercial shipping, the fishing industry, United States Navy and Coast Guard operations, state and local governments, geographic information system (GIS) users, and recreational boaters throughout the United States.

OCS’s National Bathymetric Source (NBS) program is charged with building the national bathymetry from the best available data to support OCS’s mandate. The NBS is designed to be the nation’s curated and regularly maintained hydrographic data compilation collected by NOAA and other providers. The Data Engineers will provide overall support to this team and assist in the design, development and improvements of all NBS infrastructure and workflows.

Baseline Responsibilities:

  • Support scientific, engineering, and/or computer applications techniques.
  • Provides advice and counsel to program management through broad technical specialization of scientific theories and principles.
  • Find innovation, imaginative, and cost-effective solutions to complex problems;
  • Develop and apply advanced methods, theories, and research techniques in the investigation and fulfillment of complex system requirements;
  • Evaluate and apply new methodologies for problem-resolution while ensuring that systems are in compliance with organizational requirements.
  • Analyze agency needs to determine functional requirements, perform functional allocation to identify required tasks and their interrelationships.
  • Develop recommendations for organizational process changes to include new solutions and new technologies.
  • Build, testing, and maintaining product pipeline workflows, revolving around bathymetric data, models, and products and determining spatial and temporal extents of final model results.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Workflow automation using Kluster, including automatically pulling and processing data into formats for review by the team using Python.
  • New format and package integration including the reading and writing data and metadata using Python.
  • Package development including tighter integration with open source projects, such as PROJ and GDAL.
  • The development and support of new standards, such as the IHO S-100 standard.
  • Web services to support internal use of high resolution bathymetry using QGIS server, Map Server, or Geoserver.
  • QGIS workflow development including plugin development to support the NBS operations team.
  • GDAL and PROJ development to support NBS work.
  • Documentation, standardization, optimization, and improvement of existing NBS Python code.
  • Writing and maintaining unit testing of new and existing NBS Python code.

Start Date: September 1, 2024 or as soon as possible.

Salary and Benefits: Full time. Salary commensurate with experience, $48 to $55 per hour. Generous employee benefits.

Location: This is a remote position although work may be performed at one of the NOAA Facilities in Silver Spring, Maryland (NOAA Headquarters); Seattle, Washington; Norfolk, Virginia; or Durham, New Hampshire

Required Skills /Education/ Certifications & Qualifications:

If you lack a “Required Skill/Education, etc.” but believe you have equivalent credentials, please justify this belief in your cover letter or the application. Applicants with required items will be eligible for higher pay than those less-qualified.

  • Master’s degree in engineering, hydrographic science, physics, oceanography, Geographic Information Systems, or closely related discipline and a minimum of 8 years of directly related experience; or a Bachelor’s degree + 6 years of experience relative to the specific position; or 12 years of directly related experience.
  • Diploma, certification, or equivalent experience in one or more of the following areas of expertise: Hydrographic Science / Physics, Datums, coordinate reference systems and transformations, Python, GIS Web Services, C / C++ Open Source Experience, Data engineering, System design, Unit testing, Postgres, Database design and administration.
  • Expertise with Microsoft Office applications and Google’s collaboration suite (e.g., Docs, Sheets, Slides).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to convey complex scientific information clearly and succinctly.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Strong attention to detail, ensuring that all work is complete, timely and accurate according to policy guidance and standard operating procedures.
  • Demonstrated ability to self-manage workload and meet variable (but often short) deadlines for multiple concurrent tasks.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, particularly the ability to work independently as well as with others to develop, revise, and share information.
  • Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
  • Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE.

Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application.

Applicants should submit a resume that includes the following:

  • Cover letter that briefly describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications listed.
  • Work history for the past 10 years or since the last full-time education.
  • Education.
  • Previous experience or training with similar requirements.
  • Three professional references.
  • Include your name in the document file name.
  • Upload your resume in readable, not scanned, PDF or Word format (PDF is preferred).

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. Ocean Associates Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law.

OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their race, gender, national origin, disability status and veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check certain boxes in OAI's online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify.

Note: If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work, we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application.