H-1B Visa Gis Specialist Jobs
GIS Specialist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines, requiring at least a bachelor's degree in geography, geospatial science, or a closely related field. Federal agencies, engineering firms, utilities, and tech companies regularly sponsor H-1B visa petitions for this occupation, making it a strong target for visa-holding candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsRequisition ID # 174627
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Technology & Security
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Oakland
Department Overview
PG&E IT is a unified organization composed of various departments which collaborate effectively to plan, deliver, and operate high quality technology solutions. The Geographic Information System Center of Excellence (GISCoE) department has the responsibility for maintaining and operating IT GIS applications that support Gas, Electric, Power Generation, IT Fiber, and other functional areas while also delivering IT projects and solutions in support of company business goals and priorities.
Position Summary
The GISCoE is embarking on a large new program called Elevate, which will re-platform the entire GIS technology stack at PG&E including existing systems of record, systems of engagement and analytics, while delivering transformational value to the Electric Operations business. The GIS technology platform will be based on Esri ArcGIS technology hosted on an AWS Cloud environment. This Electric GIS Product Engineer role will be critical to defining and implementing the future technical state of Electric GIS systems at PG&E and ensuring that the solutions being delivered are meeting the business needs and providing maximum business value.
The Electric GIS Product Engineer will provide technical leadership in design, development and implementation of Esri ArcGIS-based solutions for the Electric Operations business. This includes working with lead architects in detailed reviews of end user functional requirements, non-functional requirements, the assessment and optimization of system designs, and the verification that delivered solutions are meeting the requirements. Provides technical direction to determine technical and operational feasibility of solutions based on Esri ArcGIS technology, and the integration with other mission critical IT systems. Will work closely with the Electric Operations business leads to understand needs and translate these into technical requirements and designs.
As required, will participate in the development of prototypes of system design options throughout the implementation phase to improve user experience, system resilience and maximize value. Provides technical leadership to ensure that design, development, and testing activities conform to the strategic and tactical direction of the Elevate program and comply with PG&E IT standards. All employees are responsible for performing their jobs in accordance with PG&E’s vision and values.
PG&E is providing the full salary/pay range for this position. The actual amount paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location. The range to reasonably expect will be around the minimum and the midpoint $140,000 - $189,000. The final decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to the factors above. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.
Bay Area Min: $ 140,000
Bay Area Max: $ 238,000
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and the Oakland General Office (OGO) based on business needs.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop a deep understanding of the Electric Operations GIS needs/requirements ensure alignment of technical requirements and designs to maximize business value.
- Ensures solutions delivered are aligned with requirements and technical/logical designs.
- Creates system design models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to provide direction to system programmer and development teams.
- Identifies and implements process and technology improvements.
- Presents findings and makes recommendations to management, GIS architects or others within organization.
- Develops, documents and maintains all technical standards, design patterns, reference architectures and roadmaps for Electric Operations GIS.
- Oversees and manages multiple Electric GIS deployment environments concurrently.
- Participate in prototype development to determine optimal technical solutions.
- Provides Electric GIS subject matter expertise, consulting and guidance during the detailed design, build, test, and deploy phases of IT projects.
Qualifications
Minimum:
- BA/BS in Computer Science, Geo-Informatics/GIS, Information Technology, Geography/GIS, or other relevant field required or equivalent experience and/or field of study
- 8 years of experience with developing and delivering GIS solutions based on ArcGIS technology including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API and Experience Builder OR Master’s degree and 6 years in Software Development Life cycle process and quality assurance practices for developing software applications
- Experience in designing and delivering Electric GIS solutions
- Deep understanding and experience with the design and implementation of the ArcGIS Utility Network Model
Desired:
- Experience in team-oriented, collaborative environment
- Excellent planning and organizational skills; detail and process-oriented; able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Electric Utility business/domain knowledge
- Hands-on GIS-related programming and analysis experience
- Experience with delivering ArcGIS solutions in an AWS Cloud environment
- Experiencing in the implementation of a web-based editing tool for the Utility Network
- Experience with the implementation of a Mobile-As-Builting solution
- Experience and familiarity with remote sensing GIS solutions including the use of imagery and LiDAR data
- Experience in overseeing technical delivery of contractor teams
- Mentoring and training experience of GIS technology teams in a larger organization
- Experience in Agile and Scalable Agile Framework methodology
- Experience in developing applications in AWS
Requisition ID # 174627
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Technology & Security
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Oakland
Department Overview
PG&E IT is a unified organization composed of various departments which collaborate effectively to plan, deliver, and operate high quality technology solutions. The Geographic Information System Center of Excellence (GISCoE) department has the responsibility for maintaining and operating IT GIS applications that support Gas, Electric, Power Generation, IT Fiber, and other functional areas while also delivering IT projects and solutions in support of company business goals and priorities.
Position Summary
The GISCoE is embarking on a large new program called Elevate, which will re-platform the entire GIS technology stack at PG&E including existing systems of record, systems of engagement and analytics, while delivering transformational value to the Electric Operations business. The GIS technology platform will be based on Esri ArcGIS technology hosted on an AWS Cloud environment. This Electric GIS Product Engineer role will be critical to defining and implementing the future technical state of Electric GIS systems at PG&E and ensuring that the solutions being delivered are meeting the business needs and providing maximum business value.
The Electric GIS Product Engineer will provide technical leadership in design, development and implementation of Esri ArcGIS-based solutions for the Electric Operations business. This includes working with lead architects in detailed reviews of end user functional requirements, non-functional requirements, the assessment and optimization of system designs, and the verification that delivered solutions are meeting the requirements. Provides technical direction to determine technical and operational feasibility of solutions based on Esri ArcGIS technology, and the integration with other mission critical IT systems. Will work closely with the Electric Operations business leads to understand needs and translate these into technical requirements and designs.
As required, will participate in the development of prototypes of system design options throughout the implementation phase to improve user experience, system resilience and maximize value. Provides technical leadership to ensure that design, development, and testing activities conform to the strategic and tactical direction of the Elevate program and comply with PG&E IT standards. All employees are responsible for performing their jobs in accordance with PG&E’s vision and values.
PG&E is providing the full salary/pay range for this position. The actual amount paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, internal equity, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, and geographic location. The range to reasonably expect will be around the minimum and the midpoint $140,000 - $189,000. The final decision will be made on a case-by-case basis related to the factors above. This job is also eligible to participate in PG&E’s discretionary incentive compensation programs.
Bay Area Min: $ 140,000
Bay Area Max: $ 238,000
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and the Oakland General Office (OGO) based on business needs.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop a deep understanding of the Electric Operations GIS needs/requirements ensure alignment of technical requirements and designs to maximize business value.
- Ensures solutions delivered are aligned with requirements and technical/logical designs.
- Creates system design models, specifications, diagrams, and charts to provide direction to system programmer and development teams.
- Identifies and implements process and technology improvements.
- Presents findings and makes recommendations to management, GIS architects or others within organization.
- Develops, documents and maintains all technical standards, design patterns, reference architectures and roadmaps for Electric Operations GIS.
- Oversees and manages multiple Electric GIS deployment environments concurrently.
- Participate in prototype development to determine optimal technical solutions.
- Provides Electric GIS subject matter expertise, consulting and guidance during the detailed design, build, test, and deploy phases of IT projects.
Qualifications
Minimum:
- BA/BS in Computer Science, Geo-Informatics/GIS, Information Technology, Geography/GIS, or other relevant field required or equivalent experience and/or field of study
- 8 years of experience with developing and delivering GIS solutions based on ArcGIS technology including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online, JavaScript API and Experience Builder OR Master’s degree and 6 years in Software Development Life cycle process and quality assurance practices for developing software applications
- Experience in designing and delivering Electric GIS solutions
- Deep understanding and experience with the design and implementation of the ArcGIS Utility Network Model
Desired:
- Experience in team-oriented, collaborative environment
- Excellent planning and organizational skills; detail and process-oriented; able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Electric Utility business/domain knowledge
- Hands-on GIS-related programming and analysis experience
- Experience with delivering ArcGIS solutions in an AWS Cloud environment
- Experiencing in the implementation of a web-based editing tool for the Utility Network
- Experience with the implementation of a Mobile-As-Builting solution
- Experience and familiarity with remote sensing GIS solutions including the use of imagery and LiDAR data
- Experience in overseeing technical delivery of contractor teams
- Mentoring and training experience of GIS technology teams in a larger organization
- Experience in Agile and Scalable Agile Framework methodology
- Experience in developing applications in AWS
See all 89+ H-1B Visa Gis Specialist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Gis Specialist
Verify your degree meets specialty occupation
USCIS scrutinizes GIS roles because the required degree field isn't always obvious. Document that your bachelor's degree is in geography, geoscience, computer science, or urban planning, not just a general STEM field, before applying.
Target employers with LCA filing history
Search DOL's OFLC Wage Search to confirm prospective employers have filed Labor Condition Applications for GIS-related SOC codes. Employers with a filing record understand the H-1B process and are far less likely to withdraw sponsorship mid-hire.
Use Migrate Mate to filter H-1B-sponsoring employers
Search GIS Specialist roles on Migrate Mate to see which employers have verified H-1B filing history for this occupation, so you're only applying where sponsorship is already established practice.
Build your GIS certification portfolio now
Esri's ArcGIS Professional certification and GISP credentials strengthen your specialty occupation case by demonstrating field-specific expertise. USCIS adjudicators have issued RFEs on GIS petitions when the degree-to-role connection isn't clear.
Negotiate the H-1B timeline before accepting an offer
Standard H-1B processing runs several months, and premium processing adds a fee your employer may or may not cover. Confirm your start date accounts for USCIS adjudication time before you resign your current position.
Understand prevailing wage levels for your GIS role
DOL assigns GIS Specialist wages across four levels tied to experience and supervision. Your employer's LCA must certify your offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level, check the OFLC Wage Search to verify before your offer is finalized.
H-1B Visa Gis Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a GIS Specialist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, provided the position requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as geography, geospatial science, cartography, computer science, or urban planning. USCIS has issued RFEs on GIS petitions where job duties were general or the degree field was only loosely connected, so your employer's job description needs to clearly tie specialized GIS skills to the degree requirement.
Which industries most commonly sponsor H-1B visas for GIS Specialists?
Federal contractors, state and local government agencies, utilities, environmental consulting firms, defense contractors, and technology companies with geospatial products are the most consistent H-1B sponsors for GIS roles. You can find employers with verified H-1B filing history for this occupation on Migrate Mate, which surfaces DOL Labor Condition Application data by role and employer.
What happens to my H-1B status if my GIS contract ends early?
You have a 60-day grace period after your H-1B employment ends to find a new sponsoring employer, file for a change of status, or prepare to depart. If a new employer files an H-1B transfer petition before your grace period expires, you can begin working for them once USCIS receives the petition, not just after approval.
Can my employer file an H-1B for a fully remote GIS Specialist position?
Yes, but your employer must file a separate Labor Condition Application for each location where you'll work, including your home address if you work remotely. DOL requires the LCA to reflect the actual worksite where you'll perform duties. If your remote location is in a different metropolitan area than the employer's office, the prevailing wage for your home location applies.
How do I confirm an employer's offered wage meets H-1B prevailing wage requirements for a GIS role?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for GIS Specialists under SOC code 15-1299 or 17-1021 in the employer's metropolitan area. Your employer's LCA must certify they'll pay at least the DOL wage level corresponding to your experience tier. Accepting an offer below the certified wage is an H-1B violation that can affect your status.