Job Description
Job Description
Software Engineer – GIS
Norfolk, Virginia, Silver Spring, Maryland, Seattle, Washington
@Orchard LLC is building a multi-faceted team to support the Office of Coastal Survey (OCS), located within the National Ocean Service (NOS) of NOAA. We are seeking talented professionals who will apply their capabilities to support a vital public mission and help shape the future of maritime science and safety.
About the role:
National Bathymetric Source (NBS)
The NBS program builds and maintains models of national bathymetry. Bathymetry is foundational input data for marine navigation and hydrodynamic models. NBS has created workflows to acquire and validate multiple sources, deconflict overlapping sources, and create fit-for-use products with accessible metadata. The NBS support includes working with the NBS Operations (OPS) and Development (Dev) teams to assist with the design, development, and improvement of all infrastructure and workflows. The work will cover multiple disciplines.
We are looking for a senior developer to architect and build the sophisticated software systems that power our geospatial data analysis and production pipelines. This is a unique opportunity to apply your deep expertise in Python and GIS to solve complex challenges in cartography, remote sensing, and data science. You will be a key player in designing software architecture and engineering the tools that transform raw geospatial data into actionable intelligence. If you thrive on building elegant, scalable solutions for complex technical domains, we want to talk to you.
What You'll Do:
- Architect & Engineer: Design, build, and maintain high-performance, Python-based applications and services for processing and analyzing complex geospatial data.
- Automate Data Pipelines: Create robust, automated workflows for data ingestion, transformation, and metadata standardization using modern software engineering practices.
- Develop GIS Solutions: Integrate and build upon core geospatial libraries (like GDAL), applications (like QGIS), and OGC web services to create dynamic and precise mapping products.
- Manage Geospatial Data: Design and optimize relational databases (PostgreSQL/PostGIS), writing advanced queries to manage and manipulate large-scale raster and vector datasets.
- Champion Best Practices: Lead the implementation of modern DevOps and software development principles, including version control with Git, continuous integration testing, and container-based deployment (Docker/Kubernetes).
- Provide Technical Expertise: Serve as a subject matter expert on geodetic principles, including horizontal/vertical datums and transformations, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all geospatial products.
Qualifications & Experience:
We are seeking a candidate with a Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., GIS, Computer Science, Engineering, Oceanography) and a minimum of six years of professional software development experience.
Required Skills:
- Python Mastery: Deep expertise in Python development, including experience with modern IDEs, debugging, CI/CD testing, and automated documentation.
- GIS & Data Analysis: A strong foundation in GIS principles, data analysis techniques, and professional mapping standards.
- Database Proficiency: Strong skills in database design and querying, specifically with PostgreSQL.
- Version Control: Expertise in version control best practices using Git.
- Geospatial Tooling: Hands-on experience with essential geospatial tools and libraries such as GDAL, QGIS, and OGC web services.
Preferred Skills (Bonus Points):
- Containerization: Practical experience with container-based development and deployment platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
- Geodetics: A solid understanding of datums, projections, and coordinate transformations.
- Remote Sensing & Imagery: Experience with image processing or photogrammetry workflows.
If you meet the requirements for this opportunity and believe you have the experience and talent to succeed in the role, we would like to hear from you.
Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI. Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.