Geospatial Solution Architect

Role Responsibilities

Design the spatial solutions that connect systems, data, and decisions across an entire enterprise.

The Geospatial Solution Architect leads the design, build, and integration of GIS solutions across a complex enterprise landscape. This role is accountable for delivering complete, end-to-end solutions not platform administration translating complex business and operational challenges into scalable, reliable spatial systems. Working across enterprise applications, custom web solutions, APIs, and data platforms, you will select and combine the right technologies whether enterprise tools like ArcGIS Enterprise, open-source frameworks, or custom-built components based on long-term value, sustainability, and fit-for-purpose design.

You will own the technical quality of solutions from initial architecture through to production, ensuring seamless integration of spatial data and services across systems such as ServiceNow and other enterprise applications. This includes defining robust data models, integration patterns, and interface contracts, as well as leading the development of full-stack GIS applications when required. As a senior technical leader, you will guide delivery teams, mentor developers, and ensure solutions are maintainable, secure, and built to evolve alongside changing business needs.

Responsibilities:
Some of the responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Design and deliver integrated GIS solutions across enterprise applications, APIs, and data platforms
• Develop full-stack custom geospatial applications and services where needed
• Architect and implement spatial data flows, integrations, and pipelines across systems
• Select and apply appropriate technologies (enterprise GIS, open-source, cloud-native) based on solution needs and total cost of ownership
• Produce clear, implementation-ready solution designs and technical documentation
• Lead technical delivery, provide design oversight, and mentor team members
• Implement secure, scalable, and reliable solution architectures
• Build and maintain automated deployment pipelines and testing practices
• Evaluate emerging technologies and contribute to platform and architectural evolution
• Identify and remediate technical debt while ensuring continuity of service

AI-First Mindset
AI is a key enabler in this role. Practical experience applying AI to accelerate solution design, automate data processing, and enhance integration workflows is increasingly critical. Success requires not only existing knowledge, but a strong willingness to continuously learn and adopt AI-driven approaches to deliver smarter, more efficient, and future-ready geospatial solutions.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Some of the competencies critical for this position are:

• Systems Thinking: You will consider how work completed can impact various other groups/projects inside and outside the Alberta Public Service. 
• Creative Problem Solving: You will assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Agility: You will need to provide results in a complex, diverse and changing environment. 
• Drive for Results: You will work with your team to set goals and priorities and deliver outcomes that are consistent with the department's direction. 
• Develop Self and Others: You will drive by example a team culture that is focused on continuous learning and growth and encourage self-development through experience sharing.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University graduation in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in:

• • Geospatial platform architecture: Designing, building, and operating enterprise GIS platforms (including Esri and open-source) with expertise in geodatabase design, spatial indexing, geoprocessing services, and coordinate reference system management at scale.
  • Software development & engineering: Designing, building, and delivering geospatial web applications, spatial dashboards, geoprocessing tools, and field or citizen-facing spatial services using Python, C#/.NET, or Java with spatial databases, RESTful APIs, and front-end mapping frameworks (e.g., OpenLayers, Leaflet, or ArcGIS Maps SDK).
  • Spatial data pipelines & integration: Designing and maintaining spatial ETL workflows (FME or equivalent), cross-system integrations using event-driven patterns, API gateways and OpenAPI specifications with measurable service-level adherence.
  • SDLC & DevOps automation: Owning end-to-end development lifecycle using version control (e.g., GitHub), CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and containerization with consistent release velocity.
  • Technical leadership & cross-team coordination: Leading solution design, translating business requirements into architecture decisions, and presenting technical roadmaps to senior leadership with on-time delivery track record.
  • Production support & service operations: Operating enterprise geospatial platforms in production including incident response, root-cause analysis, monitoring, and change management.
  • Security, reliability & disaster recovery: Implementing security controls (OAuth, role-based access control, secrets management), compliance frameworks, high-availability architectures, and tested disaster recovery plans for sensitive geospatial data.

• AI-enabled operations: Strong knowledge and hands-on experience embedding AI/agentic AI into platform engineering — e.g., automated incident triage or AI-driven spatial data quality checks before production promotion.

Equivalencies:

• A related two-year diploma in computer technology or a related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and six (6) years related experience; or
• A related one-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and seven (7) years related experience.

Qualifications continued,

Assets:

• Experience building responsive, accessible spatial web applications with user-centered design for public or citizen-facing audiences.
• Experience developing mobile or field spatial solutions (e.g., field data collection, asset inspection, or location-aware workflows).
• Experience building AI-powered geospatial features such as natural language spatial search, intelligent spatial recommendations, or AI-assisted map interactions for end users.
• Knowledge of ML-driven spatial analysis including automated feature extraction, change detection, land cover classification, or predictive spatial modelling.
• Solid understanding of responsible AI practices in a public-sector context including bias mitigation, transparency, data privacy, and ethical use of AI in citizen-facing spatial services.
• Experience in Production-grade deployment and tuning of open-source geospatial tools (e.g., GeoServer, PostGIS, QGIS Server).
• Experience in Enterprise spatial database administration and performance tuning (SQL Server, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, or equivalent).
• Experience in producing technical documentation including high/low-level designs, architecture decision records, and data dictionaries.
• Experience in technology economics, including licensing evaluation, open-source viability assessment, and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Experience in communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences, including delivering presentations, demonstrations, and training sessions

Certifications (any of the following):

• AI or Machine Learning certification from a recognized provider (e.g., Microsoft, Google, AWS, or equivalent)
• Esri Technical Certification — Enterprise Administration or Developer track.
• FME Certified Professional.
• TOGAF 9 Foundation or Professional.
• Certified Geographic Information Professional (GISP) or equivalent credential.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time position

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday

Location: Greater Edmonton or Calgary area (Remote)

This position is eligible for remote work from within Greater Edmonton or Calgary area. You must reside in these areas to work remotely for this position.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

A written assessment may be required as part of the interview process.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Additional Information:

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.