GIS Application Developer

Job Title

GIS Application Developer

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Geography

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Here’s a Glimpse of the Job

The GIS Application Developer helps lead complex GIS software projects from start to finish. This role works with and guides GIS developers, oversees both the front and back-end parts of GIS applications, and makes sure everything is built, tested, and maintained properly. The Developer also ensures all work meets organizational, technical, and security requirements while delivering high quality GIS solutions.

Opportunities to Contribute

• Builds and maintains web-based GIS applications that work on a variety of devices or browsers, connecting the front-end users with the backend systems that power them.

• Creates and supports APIs and manages both SQL and NoSQL databases used for mapping and location-based data.

• Uses standard software design approaches to keep code organized, reusable, and easy to maintain.

• Verifies that code meets quality standards and ensures applications are fast, secure, reliable, and cost effective.

• Designs user interfaces, workflows, and visual layouts for data driven tools and verify that they meet accessibility and current UI/UX practices.

• Leads and supports developers and student workers with task planning, feedback, and training.

• Works with clients to understand their needs, explain technical options, and create documentation, diagrams, and designs.

• Finds and fixes problems in complex GIS systems and delivers secure, scalable solutions with clear user guides and training.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Geographic Information Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, OR equivalent combination of education and experience.

  • Related fields could include Geography, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Technology

• Seven years of software applications developer experience.

  • Minimum 5 years of professional experience as a full-stack software applications developer, with a demonstrated track record of delivering production-grade GIS-enabled applications.

  • Minimum 2 years of experience supervising technical personnel, including performance evaluation, code reviews, and mentorship.

• Ability to sit for long periods of time while working on the computer

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Full‑Stack Development

• Experienced building both the front end (what users see) and back end (the behind‑the‑scenes logic) of web applications.

• Skilled with common web languages and tools like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, TypeScript, Angular, and jQuery.

• Builds server‑side systems using Node.js and NestJS, including APIs and database connections.

• Able to connect GIS front‑end apps with mapping services, data tools, and back‑end systems.

GIS Skills

• Strong experience with ArcGIS JavaScript tools, including custom maps and advanced features.

• Works with common map data formats (like GeoJSON and Shapefiles) and understands coordinate systems.

• Uses spatial databases to store and query location‑based data.

• Familiar with tools that process or convert geospatial data.

• Follows security best practices when building GIS applications.

Infrastructure / DevOps

• Uses Docker and Kubernetes to package and run applications reliably.

• Builds automated workflows for testing and deployment using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.

• Experienced in updating and maintaining large, older codebases.

General Development Practices

• Creates clean, reusable, well tested software for both front and backend systems.

• Skilled in different types of testing to ensure code quality.

• Works with tools that help manage large codebases.

• Comfortable on Windows, Linux, and macOS and strong at problem‑solving and communication.

• Familiar with various GIS platforms and mapping libraries like ArcGIS Online, Mapbox, and Google Maps.

• Has UI/UX experience using tools like Photoshop,