Senior GIS Developer

SGS; Calgary; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global testing and certification company in Calgary is hiring a Senior GIS Developer to design automation pipelines and support geospatial tools. This role involves mentoring junior developers and modernizing workflows within a centralized data environment. Applicants should have strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication, and a commitment to coding best practices. The position offers opportunities for growth in a technology-focused firm.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to understand complex, interdependent systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain automation pipelines and geospatial tools.
• Provide technical support for data transformation pipelines.
• Mentor junior developers in coding and automation design.

Skills

Understanding complex systems

Excellent communication

High attention to detail

Strong problem-solving

Mentoring and coaching

Continuous improvement mindset

Tools

FME

Python

PostgreSQL

PostGIS

Git

Job description

Overview

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 98,000 employees operate a network of 2,650 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

SGS is currently partnering with H2Safety to hire a Senior GIS Developer. In June 2025, H2Safety became a part of SGS, a world leader in sustainability, and is focused on advancing operational safety, digital transformation, and ESG performance across diverse industries.

Our success is built on authentic relationships and transparent communication, including engagement with Indigenous communities and government stakeholders.

The Role

The Senior GIS Developer is a technical leader responsible for designing and implementing automation pipelines and geospatial development tools that support enterprise-wide data integration and operational efficiency. This role contributes to the organization’s digital transformation by consolidating geospatial and non-spatial datasets, streamlining production workflows, and enabling scalable, data-centric processes.

Working at the intersection of data engineering, GIS, and operational planning, the Senior GIS Developer leads the creation of robust FME workbenches and backend geospatial logic while mentoring junior developers, including those focused on Python or scripting. This position helps shift the organization from fragmented, manual, file-based processes to a centralized, Azure-hosted PostgreSQL/PostGIS environment that serves as the authoritative data source for internal operations and client-facing platforms.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Design and maintain FME workbenches and Python scripts that automate the downloads, transformation, validation, and publishing of geospatial, non-spatial, regulatory, client, and internal datasets (approximately 100 datasets).
• Provide technical support for automated data transformation pipelines and scheduling.
• Develop reusable pipelines to convert non-spatial data into spatial formats where applicable, enabling full geospatial analysis and integration.
• Eliminate redundant data copies by enabling real-time and scheduled processes that update and sync data directly to an Azure-hosted PostgreSQL/PostGIS database.
• Work with psql, create and manage database views, and use PostGIS extensions for geographic data analysis.
• Modernize existing workflows.
• Automate the flow of Emergency Response Plan (ERP) data from source to output to ensure client-facing systems and internal teams always have accurate, real-time information without manual intervention.
• Provide guidance and support to junior developers, helping them improve FME and Python skills.
• Promote good development habits, including clean code, documentation, quality control, and version control (e.g., Git).
• Contribute to a strong development workflow and encourage ongoing learning to grow internal automation expertise.
• Document all scripts, workbenches, and data processes to support transparency, troubleshooting, and long-term maintainability.
• Encourage thorough documentation so workflows can be understood, maintained, and handed off when needed.
• Collaborate with the GIS Manager to align data automation with business rules, project timelines, and quality standards.
• Support the Software Development Team by contributing geospatial components to COP+ and ensuring interoperability between backend systems and client-facing tools.
• Translate automation requirements from cross-functional teams into scalable, maintainable solutions.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

• Proven ability to understand complex, interdependent systems and anticipate downstream impacts of changes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills; able to manage multiple datasets, projects, and priorities without compromising system integrity.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset; takes ownership and drives work forward with minimal supervision.
• Ability to balance hands-on development with broader architectural thinking and process design.
• Interest in mentoring and coaching others on development best practices, clean code, and automation design principles.
• Commitment to building robust, scalable systems emphasizing maintainability, documentation, and resilience.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity and making sound recommendations as requirements evolve.
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to cross-functional work.
• A mindset geared toward continuous improvement; eager to streamline processes and reduce manual work.

Additional Information

SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, hire, train, and promote without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, Indigenous status, or any other characteristics protected by law. Accommodations are available on request during each stage of the recruitment process. Canadian applicants must be authorized to work in Canada.

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