[Hiring] Geospatial Data Scientist @Geospatial Consulting Group International (geocgi)

Role Description

cgi is seeking a Geospatial Data Scientist to support the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) Data and AI practice. This role will support the design, implementation, and management of geospatial data capabilities used for spatial analysis, digital mapping, data publication, analytics, reporting, visualization, and AI-enabled initiatives. The ideal candidate brings strong experience across the geospatial data lifecycle, including:

• Data preparation
• Integration
• Processing
• Validation
• Metadata
• Quality control
• Spatial analysis
• Publication

This position is a six-month consultancy with the possibility of extension based on performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Review project requirements, client documentation, source datasets, reference geographies, and existing geospatial platform capabilities to define the geospatial implementation baseline.
• Assess geospatial data readiness, including raster datasets, vector layers, administrative boundaries, sub-national datasets, coordinate systems, spatial metadata, and known data quality constraints.
• Design and implement geospatial data preparation workflows, including geometry validation, coordinate reference system handling, reprojection, format normalization, clipping, joining, aggregation, simplification, enrichment, and spatial quality checks.
• Support raster and vector data processing requirements, including raster preparation, vector layer management, spatial indexing, tiling considerations, and preparation of datasets for downstream analytics, APIs, map services, or visualization layers.
• Participate in technical discussions with client stakeholders to clarify geospatial requirements, confirm assumptions, assess feasibility, explain limitations, and support acceptance of delivered outputs.

Scope of Work

• Support the analysis, design, implementation, validation, and documentation of geospatial capabilities for the current project and future related initiatives.
• Implement or configure agreed geoprocessing functions, which may include buffering, proximity analysis, spatial aggregation, pattern analysis, classification, composite indexing, clipping, spatial joins, and sub-national processing.
• Support the preparation and publication of geospatial outputs through agreed mechanisms, such as GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV with coordinates, GeoTIFF where applicable, map services, OGC-aligned service patterns, APIs, or export packages.
• Provide technical input to API and interoperability teams on geospatial service requirements, including OGC WMS, WFS, WCS, OGC API patterns, GeoJSON, metadata alignment, and geospatial API payload structures where applicable.
• Work with data engineering and data architecture teams to ensure geospatial datasets are correctly integrated into ingestion, transformation, validation, metadata, governance, and publication workflows.
• Support geospatial metadata, provenance, quality, and lineage requirements in coordination with data governance and catalogue teams.
• Define and execute geospatial validation activities, including sample maps, spatial accuracy checks, comparison against reference layers, export validation, format validation, and documentation of known limitations.
• Advise on geospatial performance considerations, including map loading, spatial query patterns, export size, raster processing complexity, tile generation, and service consumption patterns.
• Prepare clear technical documentation, configuration notes, supported format descriptions, workflow diagrams, validation evidence, operational considerations, and handover materials for technical teams.

Expected Deliverables

• Geospatial requirements and scope clarification notes, including assumptions, dependencies, constraints, and open questions.
• Assessment of geospatial data readiness, covering available raster datasets, vector layers, boundary datasets, coordinate systems, spatial metadata, data quality issues, and preparation needs.
• Geospatial implementation plan or work package description for agreed priority use cases.
• Configured or developed geospatial data preparation and processing workflows for the confirmed scope.
• Implemented geoprocessing outputs for agreed use cases, such as aggregation, proximity analysis, classification, composite indexing, clipping, or sub-national processing.
• Validated geospatial outputs in agreed formats, such as GeoJSON, Shapefile, CSV with coordinates, GeoTIFF where applicable, map service layers, or API-ready spatial data products.
• Technical documentation and handover package, including workflow descriptions, configuration notes, supported formats, operating guidance, known limitations, and recommendations for future improvements.

Qualifications

• Five years of experience with an advanced university degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Geomatics, Geospatial Science, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Three years of experience with a first-level university degree combined with additional relevant experience may be accepted.
• Professional experience in GIS, geospatial data engineering, spatial analytics, or geospatial solution implementation.
• Hands-on experience working with raster and vector data, administrative and sub-national boundaries, coordinate reference systems, spatial metadata, and geospatial data quality controls.
• Experience designing and implementing geospatial workflows involving data preparation, reprojection, geometry validation, spatial joins, aggregation, clipping, proximity analysis, buffering, raster processing, and/or map layer publication.
• Experience with common GIS formats and standards, including GeoJSON, Shapefile, KML/KMZ, CSV, and GeoTIFF.
• Experience with web mapping and geospatial service patterns, including WMS, WFS, WCS, OGC API Features, and OGC API Tiles.

Required Technical Skills

• GIS desktop, server, and/or open-source geospatial tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, GDAL/OGR, GeoPandas, PostGIS, GeoServer, MapServer, or equivalent technologies.
• Python for geospatial processing, including libraries such as GeoPandas, Rasterio, Shapely, Fiona, PyProj, Xarray, or similar.
• SQL and spatial SQL, especially with PostGIS, SQL Server spatial, or equivalent spatial database capabilities.
• Cloud-based geospatial processing experience, particularly in Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud environments.
• Experience with data lake or lakehouse architectures and geospatial data integration in analytics platforms.
• Familiarity with metadata standards relevant to geospatial and open data, such as ISO 19115, DCAT/DCAT-AP, Dublin Core, or equivalent.
• Understanding of SDMX, environmental indicators, statistical/geospatial integration, or international reporting frameworks is an advantage.

Required Competencies

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to assess technical feasibility, complexity, risks, and dependencies.
• Ability to communicate geospatial concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong attention to data quality, reproducibility, documentation, and operational maintainability.
• Ability to work collaboratively with data engineers, data architects, API developers, governance specialists, project managers, and client stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and deliver outputs within agreed timelines.
• Aware of data governance, responsible data management, interoperability, and open data principles.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Benefits

• Competitive salaries, commensurate with experience and leading Federal Contractors in the geospatial industry.
• Opportunities for upward mobility in a dynamic fast-paced environment within a small company.
• Merit-based spot and end of year bonuses.
• Safe Harbor 401(k) plan with immediate vesting.
• Flexible work hours and PTO.
• Enjoy 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for individual employees. Coverage extensions for spouses and child dependents are available for purchase through the company plan.
• Company paid training, certifications, and professional growth and development.