Sr. GIS Solution Engineer - Defense

Esri; Vienna (VA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 174,000; Full time

Job summary

Esri’s Defense team seeks a highly technical GIS Solution Engineer who acts as a trusted advisor to national government accounts. You will collaborate across Esri and lead technical meetings to drive revenue and deliver complex GIS solutions.

In this role, you will demonstrate the value of ArcGIS, design solutions that meet mission needs, and guide customers through deployment challenges. Strong consulting, communication, and security clearance readiness are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years with Esri tech including mapping, spatial analysis, and web app configuration.
• 3+ years in Defense sector.
• Strong ArcGIS knowledge in IT context.
• Experience in technical consulting and solution design.
• Understanding of sales processes and BD.
• Able to troubleshoot Esri deployments and architectures.
• Experience with geodatabases and DBMS.
• Familiar with cloud concepts (Azure or AWS).
• Experience integrating with DW, BI, CRM, ERP, analytics.
• Proficient in Python and JavaScript.
• Excellent presentation and communication; travel 25–50%.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships by presenting and supporting Esri software to enterprise stakeholders.
• Serve as a technical leader on Defense, guiding complex solutions.
• Craft and deliver strategies showing GIS value to customers.
• Design presentations for technical and non-technical audiences; provide guidance.

Skills

Esri technology

Defense experience

ArcGIS IT context

Technical consulting

Sales knowledge

Troubleshooting

Geodatabases

Cloud computing

Systems integration

Python/JavaScript

Presentation skills

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in geography or CS

Master’s degree in geography/CS

Tools

ArcGIS

SQL databases

Job description

Overview

GIS Solution Engineers on our Defense team are highly technical, trusted advisors to customers across the National Government team. They inspire customers supporting mission-critical work pushing GIS to new heights. Not only do they create innovative solutions, they talk about solutions in ways that get others excited about the power of GIS technology.

Solution Engineers collaborate across Esri and advise customers on their most complex business challenges. Leveraging problem‑solving and critical listening skills, they demonstrate the value of GIS finding unique patterns, trends, and understanding. Each day poses new challenges and new discoveries with ArcGIS. At Esri, your ideas and curiosity are celebrated, and a growth mindset isn’t just encouraged – it’s the standard.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships. Present, demonstrate, and support selling Esri software and solutions as part of the account team. Gain access to technical enterprise‑level decision makers and lead technical meetings that drive revenue.
• Be an expert. Be a technical leader of Esri technology as well as a subject matter expert of Defense. Demonstrate your advanced understanding of sales strategies and initiatives to develop complex solutions for Esri’s most strategic customers. Understand an organization’s business structure, associated workflows, third party business systems, and integration points. Share knowledge and coach new team members on best practices.
• Solve problems. Proactively craft and propose solutions that clarify how GIS brings business value to our customers by addressing the critical challenges they face. Define and deliver complex strategies that align Esri technology with our largest customers’ business needs.
• Tell our story. Design presentations for technical and non‑technical audiences within Esri’s largest customers. Provide configuration guidance and best practices. Present at large conferences and executive engagements.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience with Esri technology, creating maps, performing spatial analysis, and configuring web applications
• 3+ years of experience in the Defense space
• Broad knowledge of ArcGIS from an IT context (such as hardware, storage, security, networking, web services, virtualization, cloud computing)
• Demonstrated experience in technical consulting and conceptual solution design
• Understanding of sales and business development processes
• Ability to troubleshoot client issues related to Esri application deployment and system architecture
• Experience with geodatabases and underlying DBMS technology
• Knowledge of cloud computing concepts and environments (Microsoft Azure or AWS)
• Experience integrating software solutions with other business systems including data warehousing, BI, CRM, ERP, and analytics platforms
• Programming and scripting experience with languages such as Python and JavaScript,
• Remarkable presentation, interpersonal, and listening skills
• Ability to travel domestically or internationally 25-50%
• Bachelor’s degree in geography, computer science, or a related field
• Applicants must be a US Citizen, undergo a background investigation, and obtain/maintain security clearance eligibility requirements for a Secret, Top Secret (TS), TS/SCI, or TS/SCI with polygraph

Recommended Qualifications

• Experience incorporating real‑time information streams with existing GIS data and IT infrastructure
• Knowledge of digitalization strategies that include mobile, IoT, advanced analytics and data science (AI/ML), and imagery
• Master’s degree in geography, computer science, or a related field

Questions about our interview process? We have answers.

Total Rewards

Esri’s competitive total rewards strategy includes industry‑leading health and welfare benefits:

• medical
• dental
• vision
• basic and supplemental life insurance for employees (and their families)
• 401(k)
• profit‑sharing programs
• minimum accrual of 80 hours of vacation leave
• twelve paid holidays throughout the calendar year
• opportunities for personal and professional growth

Base salary is one component of our total rewards strategy. Compensation decisions and the base range for this role take into account many factors including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

A reasonable estimate of the base salary range is: $98,592 USD - $173,576 USD

The Company

At Esri, diversity is more than just a word on a map. When employees of different experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and cultures come together, we are more innovative and ultimately a better place to work. We believe in having a diverse workforce that is unified under our mission of creating positive global change. We understand that diversity, equity, and inclusion is not a destination but an ongoing process. We are committed to the continuation of learning, growing, and changing our workplace so every employee can contribute to their life’s best work. Our commitment to these principles extends to the global communities we serve by creating positive change with GIS technology. For more information on Esri’s Racial Equity and Social Justice initiatives, please visit our website here.

Esri is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please note that only those inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e-mail address.

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