GIS Specialist

McMillen, Inc.; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 64,747 - 104,697; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

401(k) with match

Generous PTO

Job summary

McMillen, Inc. seeks a GIS Specialist with over 10 years of experience to lead geospatial workflows for environmental projects in Sacramento, California. The role involves managing spatial data integration and analysis, overseeing workflows for hydropower and watershed modeling, and developing high-quality visualization products. Candidates should possess a strong background in GIS and spatial analysis, and a relevant degree. Competitive hourly compensation ranges from $47 to $76 based on experience, alongside a full benefits package.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience applying GIS in engineering or environmental projects.
• Advanced proficiency in ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
• Experience managing large geospatial datasets and automated workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead GIS workflows for hydropower relicensing and watershed modeling.
• Manage and QA/QC large spatial datasets for various projects.
• Develop basemaps and visualization products for client communication.

Skills

GIS and spatial analysis

Data management

Cartography

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Geography, GIS, Environmental Science

Master’s degree or graduate GIS certificate

Tools

ArcGIS Pro

QGIS

ModelBuilder

Python

SQL

Job description

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.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.