GIS Specialist

WeBuildIdaho.org; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 64,747 - 104,697; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

401(k) with match

Paid holidays and generous PTO

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

A specialized engineering firm is hiring a GIS Specialist in Los Angeles with over 10 years of experience in geospatial workflows for hydropower and environmental projects. The role involves managing large datasets, developing geoprocessing workflows, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. A Bachelor's degree in Geography, GIS, or related field is required, alongside proficiency in ArcGIS Pro or QGIS. Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience applying GIS and spatial analysis in engineering, hydrology, or environmental science.
• Proven ability to manage large geospatial datasets and perform QA/QC.
• Experience mentoring junior staff in geospatial methods.

Responsibilities

• Lead GIS workflows for hydropower, watershed modeling, and environmental compliance.
• Build geodatabases and automated workflows.
• Develop basemaps and dashboards to communicate results.

Skills

GIS and spatial analysis

Data management

Hydrology knowledge

Project management

Data visualization

Python

ArcGIS Pro or QGIS

Education

Bachelor's degree in Geography, GIS, Environmental Science, or related field

Master’s degree or graduate GIS certificate

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

QGIS

LiDAR

ModelBuilder

SQL

Job description

Design a career and build your future... Because it matters!

GIS Specialist

McMillen Inc. is looking for a GIS Specialist with 10+ years of professional experience to lead geospatial workflows for hydropower, watershed, and environmental projects. This position offers the opportunity to apply advanced GIS and data management skills across disciplines including hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology. The successful candidate will oversee spatial data integration, analysis, and visualization to support complex modeling, regulatory, and design projects. This role requires a balance of technical expertise, project management ability, and a passion for transforming geospatial data into actionable insights that inform sustainable water-resource and infrastructure solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead GIS workflows supporting hydropower relicensing, dam removal, watershed modeling, hydraulic analysis, and environmental compliance projects.
• Manage, process, and QA/QC large spatial datasets (LiDAR, topobathymetric surveys, DEMs, orthophotos, UAV-SfM) for use across engineering, geomorphic, and ecological disciplines.
• Build geodatabases and automated geoprocessing workflows (ModelBuilder, Python, SQL) to ensure efficient, reproducible analyses and defensible regulatory documentation (FERC, NEPA/CEQA, ESA).
• Conduct hydrologic and terrain analyses—watershed delineation, change detection, floodplain mapping, sediment characterization, and habitat suitability modeling.
• Prepare and translate inputs and outputs for 1D/2D hydraulic, sediment transport, and habitat models, ensuring spatial consistency and model-ready datasets.
• Develop basemaps, dashboards, and story maps to communicate modeling results and monitoring data to clients, regulators, tribes, and the public.
• Produce high-quality cartographic and visualization products for technical reports, permitting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Maintain metadata, QA/QC, and data management standards to support transparency, repeatability, and defensible technical deliverables.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, geomorphologists, hydrologists, and biologists to integrate GIS analyses into design, modeling, and decision-making.
• Mentor junior staff in geospatial methods, database management, and quality assurance practices.
• Serve as GIS lead in proposal development, project planning, and data-management strategy for multi-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience applying GIS and spatial analysis in support of engineering, hydrology, or environmental science projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Geography, GIS, Environmental Science, or related field required; Master’s degree or graduate GIS certificate preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in ArcGIS Pro or QGIS for terrain analysis, cartography, and spatial data management.
• Proven ability to manage, process, and QA/QC large geospatial datasets (LiDAR, DEMs, topobathymetric surveys, orthophotos, UAV-SfM).
• Strong understanding of hydrologic, geomorphic, and environmental datasets, and their application in watershed, habitat, and infrastructure studies.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining geodatabases and automated workflows using ModelBuilder, Python, or SQL.
• Familiarity with 1D/2D hydraulic, sediment transport, or habitat modeling and preparation of model-ready spatial inputs and outputs.
• Skilled in developing high-quality cartographic and visualization products for technical reports, permitting, and stakeholder communication.
• Excellent data management, documentation, and metadata practices ensuring transparency and reproducibility.
• Experience mentoring junior GIS staff and contributing to proposal development and project planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and convey technical concepts to varied audiences.

Compensation Package

• Pay Range: $47 hr. – $76 hr. (DOE)
• Benefits: McMillen provides a full Benefits Program consisting of Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, FSA, EAP, 401(k) and match, 9 Paid Holidays, generous PTO, opportunity for Stock Ownership and Wellness Reimbursement.

Company Bio

McMillen, Inc. designs and builds solutions that shape the future of water resources. As an employee-owned firm, we take pride in every project because we know our work truly matters. Our people thrive on solving complex challenges, pushing boundaries, and refining their craft. We don’t look for the complacent or the comfortable. We seek problem solvers, innovators, and experts who are always striving to be better. We support continuous learning, cutting-edge technology, and a balanced work-life environment so our employees can build careers they’re proud of.

We are focused in the dams, energy, fisheries, natural resources, and infrastructure markets. With staff across the United States, Canada, Europe, and beyond, we bring global best practices to our clients. Our people integrate engineering, environmental, and construction expertise to deliver practical, results-driven outcomes. From concept to completion, projects are guided through feasibility studies, permitting, design, construction, and commissioning, ensuring technical precision and real-world functionality.

EEO

McMillen, Inc. is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment related decisions without race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Visa sponsorship, including renewal during employment, will not be provided for this position.