STEM OPT Gis Specialist Jobs
GIS Specialist roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code in geography, computer science, or a related STEM field. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you'll need a signed I-983 training plan before your extension begins.
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INTRODUCTION
Barge is seeking a GIS Specialist to join our growing Geospatial team. This role is ideal for a collaborative, detail-oriented professional who enjoys applying modern GIS practices to solve real-world problems. The GIS Specialist will work closely with project managers, engineers, designers, and clients to deliver high-quality spatial analysis, visualizations, and data-driven insights across a wide variety of projects.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Manage Spatial Data: Collect, organize, and maintain complex datasets from diverse sources to ensure data integrity.
- Perform Geospatial Analysis: Conduct advanced analyses to support all phases of project planning, design, and implementation.
- Develop High-Quality Deliverables: Create accurate, visually compelling maps and data visualizations that meet client requirements and firm quality standards.
- Workflow Integration: Seamlessly incorporate GIS data and mapping capabilities into broader, multidisciplinary project workflows.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with internal and external stakeholders to document requirements and deliver tailored GIS solutions.
- Cross-Functional Support: Serve as a subject matter expert, providing technical guidance and assistance to colleagues across all departments.
- Project Governance: Adhere to project management protocols to ensure all deliverables are accurate, documented, and submitted on schedule.
- Continuous Improvement: Proactively identify and implement creative ideas to enhance the firm’s geospatial capabilities.
- Industry Leadership: Stay current with emerging GIS technologies and best practices through active professional development.
- Knowledge Sharing: Maintain detailed documentation to foster internal knowledge transfer and team growth.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Geography, Geospatial Science, or a related field.
- 2+ years as a GIS Specialist or Analyst, with a proven track record of gathering requirements and engaging stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to translate complex geospatial data into actionable project insights.
- Experience seamlessly embedding GIS and mapping capabilities into diverse, multidisciplinary project lifecycles.
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY:
- Advanced expertise in the ArcGIS software suite and related extensions.
- Proficiency in spatial data acquisition (LiDAR, Remote Sensing), relational databases, and data management standards.
- Skilled in complex spatial data manipulation, geoprocessing, and advanced analytical techniques.
- Expert knowledge of cartographic principles to create custom maps, interactive dashboards, and high-impact client deliverables.
- Additional experience with the following will be considered but is not required:
- Scripting or programming experience (e.g., Python, R, or JavaScript) for GIS automation
- Knowledge of Asset Management principles and GIS-based work order management systems
- Comfort working with CAD, BIM, and other engineering/design software
WHY JOIN US?
Barge Design Solutions, Inc., is an engineering and architecture firm with diverse in-house multidisciplinary practice areas. The employee-owned company is more than 650+ people strong and serves clients nationwide from multiple U.S. locations. Barge is ranked on Engineering News-Record (ENR)’s Top 500 Design Firms and Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms and is a certified Great Place To Work®.
Our primary purpose for being in business is ultimately to create a better life by unleashing the potential of our people, clients, and communities. This purpose is supported by our company’s core values because at the end of the day, Barge CARES:
- Collaborate – Help and expect help. Teamwork is essential in what we do.
- Authentic – Honesty, integrity, and trust are at the heart of everything we do. We are who we say we are.
- Responsible – We are accountable for our work, our attitude, and our actions. We make Barge better.
- Excellence – We go all in and expect more of ourselves than others expect of us.
- Service – We are humble. We use our gifts in service of others.
We believe that if we are living out our purpose for being in business and integrating our values into everything we do, we will ultimately achieve our vision to be the firm best known for being selected when it matters most.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status or on the basis of disability. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Agency Submissions
No unsolicited agency submissions. Barge Design Solutions does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or staffing agencies. Any unsolicited resume becomes the property of Barge Design Solutions, and no fee will be paid for resulting hires. Only agencies with a signed agreement are authorized to submit candidates.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Gis Specialist
Search for E-Verify enrolled employers
Before accepting an offer, confirm the employer is actively enrolled in E-Verify, not just registered. Ask HR for their E-Verify company ID and cross-check it through the E-Verify employer search tool.
Target GIS roles at government contractors
Federal contractors are legally required to use E-Verify, making them reliable STEM OPT employers. Defense, infrastructure, and environmental contractors routinely hire GIS Specialists and already have compliant I-983 onboarding processes in place.
Build a portfolio around geospatial data workflows
Employers evaluating STEM OPT candidates want evidence of hands-on GIS output. Showcase projects using ArcGIS, QGIS, or Python-based spatial analysis that map directly to the technical scope described in O*NET for this occupation.
Use Migrate Mate to filter GIS jobs by sponsorship history
Searching broad job boards wastes time on employers who won't sponsor. Migrate Mate filters GIS Specialist listings by verified DOL filing history, so you see employers who have actually supported work authorization for this role.
Draft your I-983 training plan before your offer closes
STEM OPT requires a detailed I-983 outlining your learning objectives and supervisor responsibilities. Having a draft ready lets your employer review and sign quickly, reducing the gap between offer acceptance and your extension start date.
Gis Specialist jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Gis Specialist JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does a geography or geospatial science degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension for GIS Specialist roles?
Geography, geospatial science, and computer science degrees typically appear on the USCIS STEM OPT designated degree list, but eligibility depends on the specific CIP code assigned to your degree by your school, not the degree title alone. Your DSO can confirm whether your CIP code qualifies before you file Form I-765 for the extension.
What E-Verify requirement applies to employers hiring me as a GIS Specialist on STEM OPT?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT extension begins. Enrollment alone isn't enough if the specific hiring site or business unit isn't covered. Verify the employer's active E-Verify status before accepting an offer, because USCIS requires this as a condition of approving your extension.
What should my I-983 training plan include for a GIS Specialist position?
Your I-983 must describe specific learning objectives tied to your GIS role, such as spatial data analysis, cartographic production, or database management. It must name a qualifying supervisor, outline how the work relates to your STEM degree, and include evaluation checkpoints. Your employer signs it, and your DSO countersigns before you submit.
How does cap-gap protection work if my H-1B is selected while I'm on STEM OPT as a GIS Specialist?
If your H-1B petition is filed and your employer requests a change of status for October 1, cap-gap protection automatically extends your STEM OPT work authorization through September 30. You can keep working in your GIS role without interruption. USCIS confirms cap-gap eligibility through the I-797 receipt notice from your employer's petition.
Where can I find GIS Specialist jobs where the employer is already set up to hire STEM OPT students?
Use Migrate Mate to search GIS Specialist roles filtered by employers with verified DOL labor condition application filing history. This approach surfaces employers who have actively supported work authorization for similar technical roles, saving you time that would otherwise go toward screening employers who aren't set up for the STEM OPT process.
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