Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst

Overview

Nakupuna Consulting is seeking a Geographic Information System (GIS) Analyst Analyst to join our team of consultants providing professional services to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s (DPAA) Information Technology (IT) Directorate. The GIS Analyst will work primarily with the ESRI ArcGIS suite of GIS software and its backend SQL database to develop software enhancements, geospatial maps, and analytics to support the customer’s mission-critical geospatial needs. The candidate will also apply data analytics methodologies to analyze geospatial trends, improve decision-making, and enhance GIS systems. In addition to supporting a team of 4-7 civilian and contractor GIS technicians, the GIS Analyst will act as a business analyst, collecting and documenting requirements, evaluating and implementing new and emerging technologies, and advising/consulting with the customer. The ideal candidate is a critical thinker passionate about data-driven decision-making and GIS-based analytics, with the ability to wear multiple hats to accomplish the job effectively.

Responsibilities

 The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict additional assigned tasks.

GIS System Administration & Technical Support

• Maintain the customer’s ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise instance(s), including license renewals, software patching, software upgrades, and cybersecurity compliance.
• Create, edit, and maintain system documentation, including user guides, SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), and technical design documents.
• Ensure data integrity through validation processes, quality control measures, and version control in GIS systems.
• Support AWS GovCloud integration for GIS-related data storage, processing, and security compliance.

Data Analytics & Optimization

• Analyze, interpret, and visualize geospatial and non-geospatial data to generate insights that support operational decision-making.
• Develop custom analytics dashboards and automated reports using tools like ArcGIS Insights, Power BI, Python (pandas, NumPy), R, and SQL.
• Design and implement data models, spatial analytics, and statistical analyses to improve GIS-based decision-making.
• Evaluate and optimize data architectures, pipelines, and workflows to improve performance, scalability, and accessibility.
• Perform data cleansing, transformation, and enrichment to ensure high-quality, accurate datasets for GIS applications.
• Leverage machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics where applicable to enhance geospatial intelligence.

GIS Development & Customization

• Develop and customize GIS applications to meet specific user needs, including the automation of tasks and development of custom GIS tools using Python, SQL, and JavaScript APIs.
• Design and create interactive maps and visualizations to effectively communicate spatial information.
• Assist the GIS development team with front-end and back-end enhancements, as prioritized by the customer and team lead.
• Provide technical support to field historians, archaeologists, and other personnel, ensuring proper equipment setup and data collection processes.

Project Coordination & Emerging Technologies

• Lead meetings with the customer to gather and document requirements, present Courses of Action (COAs), and facilitate decision-making.
• Evaluate and implement new and emerging technologies, ensuring GIS capabilities evolve with industry best practices.
• Apply Agile project management skills to ensure timely execution of GIS-related projects.
• Document workflows and ensure best practices are followed in data governance, cybersecurity compliance, and GIS system integration.

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications:

Required:

• 3+ years of experience with ESRI Enterprise ArcGIS Administration, including:
  • Licensing
  • Version Editing Types (e.g., Branch and Traditional versioning)
  • Software maintenance, upgrades, patching
  • Federated GIS systems
• 2+ years of experience with ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise Portal, ArcGIS Experience Builder, ArcGIS Field Maps, and ArcGIS Survey123.
• Strong data analytics skills, including:
• Spatial and non-spatial data analysis (using ArcGIS Insights, Python, R, or SQL)
• Developing GIS-based dashboards (Power BI, Tableau, ArcGIS Dashboards)
• Data transformation and modeling techniques
• Advanced Excel for data manipulation
• Experience evaluating and optimizing data, systems, and architectures to enhance GIS efficiency.
• Experience with SQL databases and geospatial database management.
• Ability to develop and implement GIS automation tools using Python (pandas, NumPy, arcpy).
• Experience with GIS field data collection equipment, GNSS receivers (rover and base stations), and mobile GPS data collection devices.

Desired:

• Experience with machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics in GIS applications.
• Experience evaluating and implementing new and emerging GIS-related technologies.
• Familiarity with cloud-based big data analytics platforms (AWS Redshift, Snowflake, or Google BigQuery).
• Familiarity with AWS GovCloud and cloud-based GIS architectures.
• ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise Administration Professional Certification.
• Active IAT II Certification (e.g., CCNA Security, CSA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, and/or SSCP).
• GISP Certification.

Education/Experience: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution plus 3+ years of relevant professional experience. Equivalent years of related work or military experience in lieu of degree will also be considered.

Certification: 

• Required
  • GISP Certification
• Desired
  • Active IAT II Certification (CCNA Security, CSA+, GICSP, GSEC, Security+ CE, and/or SSCP)
  • ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise Administration Professional Certification

Clearance Requirements: Must currently have at least a Secret level security clearance. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Work Location: Client site is Crystal City, Virginia (up to three days per week onsite). Travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, or Omaha, Nebraska may be required approximately one week per year.