Geographic Information System Developer Jobs
Geographic Information System Developer jobs are open across government agencies, defense contractors, environmental consulting firms, and utilities, from junior analyst to senior developer and GIS architect, with specializations in spatial data engineering, remote sensing, and web GIS application development. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Job Description
GIS is a technology, used to support the Iowa DOT geospatial program, that is used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis that is used in science and almost every industry. GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. The benefits include improved communication, efficiency, management, and decision-making. The Iowa DOT utilizes GIS technology from the vendor Esri.
The DOT-GIS team is centralized and nature and works closely with many bureaus and teams as well as external partners to lead, guide, and support transportation focused geospatial data management, mapping, and web application development efforts, using GIS technology, that support statewide transportation planning, safety, operations, and data driven decision making.
- Contribute and assist with GIS data preparation, clean-up, and quality checks, that lead to map product development
- Help maintain and publish datasets
- Support enhancements to web based GIS applications and dashboards
- Support data management and data catalog efforts, attend meetings, and participate in cross agency initiatives to improve data consistency, accessibility, and visualization for transportation users.
- Assist with project specific tasks to be determined upon hire and skills available or training needed, that could include such as updating specific GIS layers or workflows, supporting geospatial analyses, and contributing to enterprise GIS standards efforts.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Currently enrolled student in a degree program at an accredited educational institution.
Job Description
GIS is a technology, used to support the Iowa DOT geospatial program, that is used to create, manage, analyze, and map all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there). This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis that is used in science and almost every industry. GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. The benefits include improved communication, efficiency, management, and decision-making. The Iowa DOT utilizes GIS technology from the vendor Esri.
The DOT-GIS team is centralized and nature and works closely with many bureaus and teams as well as external partners to lead, guide, and support transportation focused geospatial data management, mapping, and web application development efforts, using GIS technology, that support statewide transportation planning, safety, operations, and data driven decision making.
- Contribute and assist with GIS data preparation, clean-up, and quality checks, that lead to map product development
- Help maintain and publish datasets
- Support enhancements to web based GIS applications and dashboards
- Support data management and data catalog efforts, attend meetings, and participate in cross agency initiatives to improve data consistency, accessibility, and visualization for transportation users.
- Assist with project specific tasks to be determined upon hire and skills available or training needed, that could include such as updating specific GIS layers or workflows, supporting geospatial analyses, and contributing to enterprise GIS standards efforts.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Currently enrolled student in a degree program at an accredited educational institution.
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Find JobsGeographic Information System Developer Job Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
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What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in geographic information system developer jobs.
- Proficiency with Esri ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and related Esri platform tools
- Experience writing spatial queries in PostGIS, SQL Server Spatial, or Oracle Spatial
- Ability to develop and deploy web GIS applications using JavaScript APIs such as the Esri ArcGIS API
- Familiarity with Python scripting for geoprocessing automation using ArcPy or GeoPandas
- Bachelor's degree in geographic information science, geography, computer science, or a related field
- Knowledge of cartographic principles, coordinate reference systems, and map projection standards
Tips for Your Geographic Information System Developer Job Search
Tailor your resume to GIS stack keywords
Hiring managers scan for specific tools: ArcGIS, QGIS, PostGIS, GeoPandas, and Esri APIs. List the exact software versions and extensions you've used, and call out whether your experience is on-premises, cloud-based, or both.
Showcase a spatial portfolio with real data
Upload at least two or three projects that demonstrate end-to-end work: raw data ingestion, processing, analysis, and a published map or web app. Employers want to see your coordinate reference system choices and how you handled projection errors.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists geographic information system developer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by domain before applying
GIS developer roles in transportation look very different from ones in environmental science or defense. Read each job description for the primary data type, whether that's LiDAR, satellite imagery, or utility network data, and only apply where your domain experience is a direct match.
Prepare a live technical demonstration
Many interview panels ask you to walk through a spatial analysis you built from scratch. Have a Jupyter notebook or ArcGIS Pro project ready that shows your data wrangling, geoprocessing logic, and final output, so you can share your screen and narrate in real time.
Negotiate by citing domain-specific certifications
Esri technical certifications, a GISP credential, or proficiency in cloud-native geospatial tools like AWS Location Service or Google Earth Engine give you concrete anchors when negotiating. Name the certification and connect it directly to a capability the job description requires.
Geographic Information System Developer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most geographic information system developers?
State of Iowa, City of Mesa, and Platte County are hiring the most geographic information system developers right now, with openings concentrated in Iowa, Texas, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Federal contractors and municipal governments account for a large share of active postings alongside environmental consulting firms.
How many geographic information system developer jobs are remote?
About 0% of geographic information system developer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote availability highest in web GIS development and spatial data engineering roles. Positions that require fieldwork, classified data handling, or agency-specific hardware access are more likely to require an on-site presence.
How do you become a geographic information system developer?
Start with a degree in geography, computer science, or environmental science, then build hands-on proficiency in ArcGIS and open-source tools like QGIS and PostGIS. Complete a few independent or academic projects that produce published maps or web applications, and document them in a portfolio. Earning an Esri technical certification strengthens your application for developer-focused roles over analyst ones.
How do you get hired as a geographic information system developer with little experience?
Focus on roles titled GIS technician, GIS analyst, or junior GIS developer, which are designed for candidates early in their careers. Build a public portfolio using open government datasets to demonstrate practical skills in data processing and map production. Volunteer GIS work for nonprofits or local government projects provides verifiable experience that hiring managers treat as equivalent to paid employment.
What does the geographic information system developer interview process look like?
Most processes begin with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical phone interview covering spatial databases, scripting languages, and GIS platform knowledge. A take-home or live coding exercise typically involves a spatial analysis task using provided datasets. Final-round interviews often include a panel with a project manager and a senior GIS analyst who ask about past projects and your approach to data quality issues.
Where can I find and apply to geographic information system developer jobs?
You can find and apply to geographic information system developer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, specialization, and preferred location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 13 Geographic Information System Developer Jobs
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