Geographic Information System (GIS) Development Scientist – Hydrographic Survey Development

Silver Spring, Maryland, Norfolk, Virginia, or Seattle, Washington

@Orchard LLC is building a multi-faceted team to support the Office of Coastal Survey (OCS), located within the National Ocean Service (NOS) of NOAA. We are seeking talented professionals who will apply their capabilities to support a vital public mission and help shape the future of maritime science and safety.

About the role:

Hydrographic Surveys Division Software & GIS Development Team

The OCS Hydrographic Surveys Division (HSD) is responsible for the collection, processing, and distribution of hydrographic data in coastal U.S. waters, the Great Lakes, and various protected areas. The duties and personnel of HSD are divided between the Atlantic Hydrographic Branch (AHB) and the Pacific Hydrographic Branch (PHB). HSD is also responsible for setting data standards, developing workflow management, and automating processes for all hydrographic data under its purview.

Support is needed across all stages of hydrographic data management - data collection, processing, and dissemination. This support includes providing expertise in scientific data review and manipulation, software engineering, open-source and commercial-off-the-shelf knowledge of GIS tools, project management, and awareness of industry trends.

Your Responsibilities will Include:

·       Assist with Python development for the Hydrographic Health Model to analyze seafloor change and guide hydrographic survey priority.

·       Automate download of scientific datasets required by the Hydrographic Health Model, such as hurricane tracks, ocean sediment, BlueTopo elevation data, Digital Coast elevation data, Storm Surge and Tide Operational Forecast – 3-Dimensional (STOFS-3D) data, and other necessary datasets.

·       Perform Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) responsibilities for scientific datasets being used with the Hydrographic Health Model in various vector and raster formats.

·       Provide scientific expertise with Python-based model algorithm creation and manipulation.

·       Provide expertise with required workflow management, such as parallel processing, containerization of applications, and cloud services.

·       Assist with Python development for Composite Source File (CSF) and Project Reference File (PRF) toolsets.

·       Maintain Python code used to create Esri ArcGIS Python Toolboxes and Tools for CSF creation, ENC file downloading, and S57 to geopackage conversion.

·       Assist with building out new tools for clipping the project Sheets' boundary to Mean High Water.

·       Follow team coding standards and build out engine classes that encapsulate a specific area of development.

·       Assist with responding to user requests for Python tool changes and enhancements.

·       Attend team meetings and collaborate on software architecture.

·       Assist with defining a “NOAA” Geopackage specification for how data is delivered to NOAA’s Marine Chart Division.

·       Assist HSD with Python development for streamlining projects and tasks, which include ArcGIS Pro automation, BAG file format conversion, and enhancements to notification systems

·       Assist with Python development for Bathymetric Attributed Grid (BAG) 2.0 specification.

·       Assist with building out object-oriented Python applications in support of hydrographic surveys.

·       Assist with Python code authoring and storage using GitHub repositories.

·       Assist with authoring new tools inside the Pydro application.

·       Assist with implementing machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) logic for scientific models.

·       Travel once per year to attend the NOAA hydrographic community Field Procedures Workshop. Travel may be subject to change based on government needs, conference schedules, and availability.

Your Background will Include:

·       Education :

o   BS/BA or Master’s degree in (education equivalency: 4 years of work experience)

·       Experience :

o   2+ years in scientific software development in the following areas:

§  GIS analysis with QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, and ArcGIS Enterprise.

§  Open-source GIS development using Python libraries such as GDAL, Geopandas, Numpy, SciPy, and Shapely.

§  Python development using Esri ArcPy and ArcGIS APIs

§  Scientific software development

§  Python development with a team environment

o   Additional preferred capabilities include:

§  Knowledge of SQL and Postgres syntax

§  Implementing cloud technologies with AWS or Azure

o   Ability to interact with all levels of management internally, as well as with customers and stakeholders externally.

o   Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

o   Demonstrated a high level of problem analysis and resolution skills.

Compensation for the GIS Development Scientist is based on experience and qualifications. 

If you meet the requirements for this opportunity and believe you have the experience and talent to succeed in the role, we would like to hear from you.

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.