Senior GIS Architect

 

 

Salary: $87,432.00 – $117,588.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2023-WaTech-7071-15406
Department: Washington Technology Solutions
Division: A&ID
Opening Date: 12/04/2023
Closing Date: 12/18/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

 

Description
Senior GIS Architect description image

Senior GIS Architect 
(IT System Administration- Senior Specialist)
 
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Join an exciting team!
Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) is a national leader in adopting new, innovative technologies that transform the way Washingtonians receive state services. WaTech sets the strategic technology direction of the state in multiple domains and programs and is responsible for the state’s core technology services.
 
About the position
This position is a part of the Geospatial Program, which is a unit within the Architecture & Innovation Division of WaTech. The Geospatial Program provides statewide governance, transformation, and coordination of the strategic adoption of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies across state government. The overall mission of this program is to enable geographic decision making and data sharing to our partner agencies at the state, local, federal and Tribal levels of government and ultimately the residents of the state.
 
As the Senior GIS Architect, you will be responsible for creating and implementing the infrastructure strategy for the Enterprise GIS platform including public and private cloud deployments, data storage strategies and business continuity while balancing costs to the program of these options. In this role, you will administer user access and performance of the Enterprise GIS platform and services.

 

Duties

Some of what to expect with this role:

  • Architect, configure, deploy, and maintain Esri Enterprise ArcGIS.
  • Provide the highest level of IT authority for the agency enterprise GIS environment.
  • Design and build servers and storage to meet our goals for performance, cost, and security. 
  • Collaborate and network with WaTech staff and other state agency GIS/IT team members to learn from and share what others are doing and how they are running their GIS environments.
  • Serve as the key technical expert for the agency’s Enterprise GIS platform. 
  • Architect, deploy, and test disaster recovery and business continuance solutions.
  • Research emerging technologies, products, tools, services, best practices, and standards.
  • Coordinate Security Design Reviews with WaTech’s Office of Cybersecurity.
  • Provide on-going system maintenance for the Enterprise GIS platform.
  • Schedule and apply vendor supplied software upgrades, security patches, and data updates to the Enterprise GIS platform.
  • Proactively monitor the Enterprise GIS platform for performance issues, degradation, or failures.
  • Verify completion of scheduled backups, security scans, and routine batch jobs by checking logs for return codes and status emails and security dashboards. 
  • Maintain Enterprise GIS operational documentation for platform components, configurations, and procedures. 
  • Provide management requested usage and performance metrics from our monitoring systems to support capacity planning. 
  • Manage Enterprise GIS servers, software, and product licenses.
  • Work with other teams (GIS, WaTech divisions, other agencies) to identify new technology or business solutions.
 
Here’s what we’re looking for:
  • A bachelor’s degree in computer science, Geography, Information Technology, Science or related field. **Four years of IT experience can substitute for the degree.**
  • Eight years of work experience in information technology with emphasis on system administration and architectural design or providing the equivalent support services using the ITIL framework. 
  • This experience must also include:
    • Four years of experience administrating, building and maintaining GIS Systems (Esri server software).
    • Four years technical understanding of hardware, virtualization, software and computer programming including Esri servers, authentication and monitoring products such as Solar Winds.
Preference may be granted to applicants with the following:
  • Experience with cloud implementations.
  • Ability to document and provide clear written and verbal communication.

We value diversity and different perspectives:
WaTech is committed to providing equal access and opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. We seek to attract and retain a diverse staff and welcome your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. 
 
Telework: This position is approved for telework but may require onsite presence depending on business needs.  

What WaTech Offers:
As an employee of WaTech, you’ll have access to an outstanding employee benefits package that includes medical and dental plan options for you and your family, paid leave and holidays, retirement plan options and more. 
 
While WaTech is headquartered in Olympia, Washington, which is near some of the country’s most scenic national parks, we are able to offer many of our positions telework and flexible schedule options to help support a healthy work life balance. 
 
To learn more about WaTech, and what our employees enjoy about working here, please visit our website. 
 
How to apply:
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Please select the large “apply button” at the top of this announcement. You may need to create a profile and account in Washington state’s automated application system. We invite you to include your name and pronouns in your material to ensure we address you correctly throughout the application process.
 
To be considered for this position you will need to:
  • Submit your online application. 
  • Answer all required Supplemental Questions.
  • Attach a Letter of Interest that addresses how your experience qualifies you for this role.  
  • Attach a Resume that clearly documents the work history, training, and education that makes you a viable and competitive candidate for this position. 
  • Include Three professional references and their contact information. 
Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. (Please redact any personally identifiable data such as social security number prior to submittal.)
 
Note: Applications without the requested attachments identified above or containing supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may lead to your application being disqualified from consideration.  
 
 Conditions of employment: 
This position requires a background check. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position and is a continued condition of employment. 
 
Recruitment process:
First round of application assessments will be conducted seven days after the initial job posting date. The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time after the initial seven-day job posting date during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible. This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions. 
 
Contact us: For inquiries about this position, please contact Rebekah Wilkes at (360) 407-8646 or email to Rebekah.Wilkes@WaTech.wa.gov
 
Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or for an alternative format may contact Human Resources at (360) 407-8242 or Human.Resources@watech.wa.gov. Persons of disability or those who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. WaTech complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal Form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.