GIS Architect

Job Title: GIS Architect

Location: West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT)

About the Role

The West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) is seeking a highly experienced GIS Architect to join our team on a temporary contract basis. In this strategic leadership role, you will be responsible for the design, implementation, and management of enterprise GIS systems that support critical WVDOT operations. You will provide technical leadership, establish governance frameworks, lead modernization initiatives, and ensure enterprise-level scalability, high availability, and disaster recovery readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage enterprise GIS systems, including Esri ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcSDE, and relational database platforms such as Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL/PostGIS
  

• Design enterprise GIS architectures, including system integration, scalability planning, cloud deployment (Azure/AWS), and high-availability configurations
  

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to GIS database administrators, analysts, and developers, including establishing standards, best practices, and governance frameworks
  

• Optimize enterprise GIS performance, including spatial SQL tuning, service load balancing, and distributed geoprocessing workflows
  

• Develop and implement enterprise-level disaster recovery planning, including backup and replication strategies, failover systems, and business continuity planning for GIS environments
  

• Lead enterprise GIS modernization initiatives, including migration to cloud platforms, integration with enterprise IT systems, and adoption of emerging geospatial technologies
  

• Collaborate with project managers, business analysts, database administrators, GIS analysts, application developers, business policy staff, and workers
  

• Produce clear technical documentation, architectural diagrams, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership
  

• Mentor GIS technical staff and provide strategic direction across enterprise GIS projects
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

Education (one of the following):

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Geography, Geomatics, Information Systems, or a related field from an accredited institution, OR
  

• Minimum of seven (7) years of equivalent work experience
  

• Note: A Master's degree is preferred
  

Enterprise GIS Design, Implementation & Management:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the design, implementation, and management of enterprise GIS systems, including Esri ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, ArcSDE, and relational database platforms such as Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL/PostGIS
  

Enterprise GIS Architecture Design:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in designing enterprise GIS architectures, including system integration, scalability planning, cloud deployment (Azure/AWS), and high-availability configurations
  

Technical Leadership & Governance:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in providing technical leadership and guidance to GIS database administrators, analysts, and developers, including establishing standards, best practices, and governance frameworks
  

Enterprise GIS Performance Optimization:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in optimizing enterprise GIS performance, including spatial SQL tuning, service load balancing, and distributed geoprocessing workflows
  

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity:

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in enterprise-level disaster recovery planning, including backup and replication strategies, failover systems, and business continuity planning for GIS environments
  

GIS Modernization Initiatives:

• Demonstrated experience in leading enterprise GIS modernization initiatives, including migration to cloud platforms, integration with enterprise IT systems, and adoption of emerging geospatial technologies
  

Communication Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to work with project managers, business analysts, database administrators, GIS analysts, application analysts, business policy staff, workers, and executive leadership
  

Preferred Skills (Not Required but a Plus)

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Geography, Geomatics, Information Systems, or a related field
  

• Experience in transportation or government IT environments
  

• Esri Enterprise certification (e.g., Esri Technical Certification - Enterprise System Design)
  

• Cloud certifications (AWS Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect)
  

• Experience with enterprise service-oriented architecture (SOA) and microservices
  

• Familiarity with geospatial data standards and metadata management (FGDC, NGDA, ISO 19100 series)
  

• Experience with enterprise security frameworks (NIST, FISMA, FedRAMP)
  

• Knowledge of emerging geospatial technologies (3D GIS, real-time GIS, IoT integration)