GIS Analyst - Water Utilities

Owen & White, Inc. is seeking a full-time or part-time GIS Analyst to support our municipal water and civil engineering practice. This position will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating GIS databases for potable water systems and other municipal infrastructure.

The primary focus of the position is maintaining accurate GIS representations of water distribution systems, including water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, fittings, and other system assets. The GIS Analyst will work closely with our engineers, field personnel, and utility clients to incorporate GPS/GNSS field data, record drawings, and other information into client GIS systems.

This is not strictly a map-production position. The successful candidate should be comfortable managing utility GIS data, maintaining network connectivity and data integrity, and developing GIS systems that can be used by utility personnel for day-to-day operation and management of their infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and update GIS databases for potable water distribution systems and other municipal infrastructure.
• Import and process GPS/GNSS survey information provided as CSV files, shapefiles, feature classes, or other common GIS data formats.
• Digitize and geolocate water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, fittings, service connections, and other utility assets based on GPS data, record drawings, construction plans, and information provided by engineering and field personnel.
• Assign and maintain asset attributes such as pipe material, diameter, installation date, asset type, status, manufacturer, and other client-specific information.
• Create and maintain water systems using Esri ArcGIS Utility Network.
• Maintain proper network connectivity, topology, associations, asset groups, asset types, domains, subtypes, and other Utility Network components.
• Perform Utility Network QA/QC, including topology validation, identification and correction of network errors, and verification of asset connectivity and attributes.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of utility network schemas and standardized GIS data structures.
• Create, maintain, and manage geodatabases and GIS feature classes.
• Review GIS data for completeness, positional accuracy, attribute accuracy, and consistency with established client standards.
• Coordinate with engineers and field personnel to resolve discrepancies between GPS data, construction drawings, existing GIS information, and observed field conditions.
• Create maps and other GIS products for engineering, planning, operations, and client use.
• Publish GIS data, feature services, web maps, and applications for client access through ArcGIS Online and/or ArcGIS Enterprise.
• Configure web maps including symbology, labeling, pop-ups, filters, layer visibility, and other tools to make utility information easy for clients to use.
• Maintain and update published GIS information as infrastructure is constructed, replaced, relocated, or removed.
• Geocode addresses and other location information when required.
• Support field data collection and GPS/GNSS workflows and assist with transferring field-collected information into the client's GIS.
• Coordinate directly with municipal and water utility clients regarding GIS needs, data questions, corrections, and system updates.
• Work with engineering project managers and technical staff to support water-system planning, design, construction, and asset-management projects.
• Maintain organized project files, GIS databases, metadata, and documentation of GIS procedures and client-specific standards.
• Manage multiple client GIS systems and assignments while meeting project schedules and deadlines.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Geography, Geomatics, Computer Science, Engineering Technology, or a related field; equivalent applicable experience may be considered.
• Professional experience using the Esri ArcGIS platform.
• Strong working knowledge of ArcGIS Pro.
• Experience with or working knowledge of ArcGIS Utility Network and utility network concepts.
• Experience editing and maintaining GIS vector data, including point, line, and polygon features.
• Experience importing and working with GPS/GNSS data, CSV files, shapefiles, and geodatabases.
• Knowledge of coordinate systems, projections, spatial data, and georeferencing.
• Experience creating and maintaining attribute data and performing GIS data QA/QC.
• Experience with ArcGIS Online and/or ArcGIS Enterprise, including publishing and maintaining web maps and GIS services.
• Ability to read and interpret maps, construction drawings, record drawings, aerial imagery, and other sources of infrastructure information.
• Strong attention to detail and an understanding that GIS information used by utility operators and engineers must be accurate and reliable.
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, field personnel, municipal utility staff, and clients.
• Ability to independently manage GIS assignments while coordinating with multiple engineering project managers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working specifically with potable water distribution systems or other underground utilities.
• Hands-on experience implementing, configuring, editing, or maintaining an ArcGIS Utility Network.
• Understanding of common water-distribution assets including mains, service lines, valves, hydrants, meters, fittings, pumps, tanks, and related infrastructure.
• Experience with enterprise geodatabases and branch-versioned GIS editing workflows.
• Experience with ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, Experience Builder, Dashboards, or similar Esri web and mobile applications.
• Experience integrating CAD, engineering, survey, or record-drawing information into GIS.
• Experience working for an engineering consulting firm, municipality, water utility, or public works organization.
• GISP certification or applicable Esri technical certifications are a plus but are not required.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who understands that a utility GIS is more than a set of maps. The GIS serves as a working record of the client's infrastructure and must be accurate, organized, and maintained as the system changes.

• The successful candidate will be comfortable working independently on GIS assignments while also communicating regularly with our engineers and clients. Attention to detail, good judgment, and the ability to identify questionable or incomplete information are important. When GPS information, existing GIS data, and engineering records don't agree, we expect this person to recognize the discrepancy and work with the appropriate staff to resolve it rather than simply entering the information into the system.

Pay Range

Depending on the candidates experience, the pay range for this position is $22.00 - $30.00 per hour.