DTS & GIS Specialists ESRI/ArcGIS/AutoCAD (Offshore Cable Projects)

AG Staffing Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A staffing agency in Malaysia is seeking a DTS Specialist to conduct desktop studies for submarine cable projects. The role involves analyzing geospatial datasets to identify hazards and support teams with technical insights. Ideal candidates should have strong experience in submarine cable projects and a solid understanding of GIS. This position is crucial for assessing risks and ensuring project delivery through high-quality reports and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Conduct Desktop Studies (DTS) for submarine cable projects.
• Analyse geospatial datasets using GIS to identify project hazards.
• Collaborate with teams providing technical support.

Job description

Position 1: DTS Specialist – GIS (Submarine/Offshore Cable Projects)

This role is responsible for performing comprehensive desktop studies to gather and analyze data for Submarine/Offshore Cable Projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct Desktop Studies (DTS) for submarine cable projects
• Analyse extensive geospatial datasets using GIS to identify project hazards and assess risk
• Collaborate cross‑functionally and provide technical support to commercial and permitting teams
• Support the commercial team in evaluating DTS‑related risks, costs, and schedules, and in developing favourable contract terms
• Engage with external stakeholders, including government agencies, to support successful project delivery
• Deliver high‑quality DTS reports and technical advice to ensure customer satisfaction
• Undertake domestic and/or international travel as required
• Participate in job rotations to gain a comprehensive understanding of the company’s vertically integrated operations

Preferences

• Strong experience in Desktop Studies (DTS) for submarine telecommunication and/or offshore cable projects.
• Solid understanding of submarine cable route engineering, seabed conditions, marine constraints, and risk mitigation.
• Knowledge of submarine cable systems for telecom and/or power interconnectors.
• Familiarity with marine data sources (charts, geophysical data, geotechnical data, environmental constraints, AIS, etc.)

Position 2: Senior GIS Implementation Lead/Manager (AutoCAD, ESRI & ArcGIS) – Submarine/Offshore Cable Projects

What You’ll Do

Define, execute and lead the implementation of the organisation’s GIS strategy to support company operations, with immediate focus on converting production charting from AutoCAD to ArcGIS.

Translate operational goals into a pragmatic, scalable GIS roadmap, including standards, workflows, and adoption plan.

Champion GIS adoption across the business, promoting data‑driven workflows and a consistent ArcGIS‑based delivery approach.

AutoCAD – ArcGIS Migration & Production Delivery Leadership

• Act as the delivery owner for the AutoCAD to ArcGIS transition, ensuring migration is executed with minimal rework and disruption to ongoing projects.
• Lead and implement CAD‑to‑GIS migration workflows, including CAD layer mapping, feature attribution, geodatabase schema design, and topology/validation rules.
• Convert existing AutoCAD charting templates into ArcGIS layouts, symbology libraries, and map series configurations, ensuring consistent outputs across projects.
• Own the production and continuous improvement of ArcGIS‑based charting and reporting deliverables, including export settings, revision control, and packaging.
• Act as the technical owner of the GIS production environment used for geodata delivery (ArcGIS and supporting components).
• Provide clear direction to external consultants and development teams where required, ensuring alignment with the GIS standards, templates, and delivery requirements.
• Review, validate, and guide GIS workflows and integrations, including defining technical requirements, specifying data models, recommending tools and platforms, and ensuring implementations meet operational and business needs.

Marine Cable Route Survey Data Management

• Establish best practices for managing, structuring, and leveraging marine cable route survey datasets within a controlled GIS data model.
• Ensure data quality, consistency, security, and usability across projects through defined QA/QC gates and traceability.
• Enable effective data visualisation and analysis to support project delivery, client reporting, and business development.
Automation, QA/QC & Repeatability
• Implement automation to reduce manual effort and improve consistency, including scripting with Python/ArcPy and repeatable geoprocessing workflows.
• Define and embed QA/QC checks for data integrity, coordinate reference systems, and charting consistency to ensure audit‑ready outputs.
• Continuously improve production efficiency through reusable project templates, standard geodatabases, and repeatable processing pipelines.

Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Act as the bridge between survey teams, data teams, charting teams, and external technology partners to ensure deliverables are fit for purpose.
• Advise internal stakeholders on the effective use of ArcGIS technologies for marine projects and operational delivery.
• Collaborate with project teams to ensure GIS outputs meet operational and client requirements and support on‑time delivery.

Training, Enablement & Adoption

• Train and enable existing AutoCAD draughts to become productive ArcGIS operators through structured coaching, job aids, and SOPs.
• Define role‑based competencies and sign‑off criteria to ensure consistent quality and reduced dependence on individual knowledge.
• Build the internal capability required to scale GIS delivery across multiple concurrent projects.
• Define GIS standards, governance frameworks, and best practices, including naming conventions, metadata minimums, and revision control.
• Stay updated on GIS industry trends, emerging technologies, and platform developments relevant to the company.
• Continuously enhance production performance, user experience, and analytical capabilities, while maintaining delivery reliability.

What you should have

• Bachelor’s degree in Geospatial Science, GIS, Geography, Surveying, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience in GIS within survey, mapping, or marine cable route projects, typically >7 years (or equivalent demonstrable delivery experience).
• Proven experience delivering GIS implementation initiatives, including AutoCAD‑to‑GIS migration and establishing production standards/templates.
• Mandatory strong hands‑on experience with ESRI technologies, particularly ArcGIS Pro for production cartography and ArcGIS Enterprise and/or ArcGIS Online for publishing and access control.
• Demonstrated ability to implement geodatabases and data models, manage and leverage large, complex geospatial datasets, and enforce QA/QC and traceability.
• Proficiency in automation using Python/ArcPy is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead GIS initiatives in delivery environments, guiding external vendors and consultants where required.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and practical implementation skills, including the ability to train and uplift non‑GIS staff.
• Exposure to cloud or multi‑cloud GIS environments is advantageous.