ESA is hiring a GIS Analyst/Developer to join our Pacific Northwest Technology Services team based out of our Seattle, WA, and/or Portland & Bend, OR offices. The ideal candidate will support multidisciplinary project teams across ESA's Pacific Northwest offices. This is a hybrid role with 3 days per week in either our Portland or Seattle offices, with availability expected during Pacific Time business hours.
Who you are
- You have 2 to 7 years of professional GIS experience and a degree in GIS, geography, computer science, environmental science, or a related field.
- You are strong across the fundamentals: coordinate systems and projections, spatial data management, spatial analysis, cartographic design, and field data collection. You also write reusable Python, manage code in Git, work with APIs and databases, and use AI coding assistants.
- You are proficient across the full range of GIS work, lean toward automation and tool-building, are a strong collaborator, and are motivated to grow within a project-based consulting environment.
- You are organized, deadline-driven, and able to manage multiple project assignments without losing track.
- You communicate clearly with people who do not speak GIS or code and are attentive to detail with a sound sense of judgment to know when a deliverable is ready to ship. Cartographic judgment matters: your maps need to be accurate, readable, and are commonly a focal point of client reports.
- You thrive in a fast-paced work environment where no two projects look the same. You are wired to collaborate, and constantly looking for better tools and patterns, especially for work that recurs.
- Must possess technical skills to include ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online for spatial analysis, web maps, and application development (Experience Builder, Dashboards, StoryMaps); able to configure field data collection tools (Field Maps, Survey123, Fulcrum); Python beyond arcpy (pandas, geopandas, rasterio, and similar libraries); SQL for querying and maintaining spatial and non-spatial databases (PostgreSQL/PostGIS a plus); and Git and GitHub for version control and code review.
- Additional skills that are highly valued include remote sensing and machine learning (imagery analysis, classification, OBIA workflows, and classifiers such as Random Forest), R for statistical or spatial analysis, JavaScript (and ArcGIS JavaScript API) for customizing Experience Builder or Dashboards, fluency with AI coding assistants such as Claude Code, Copilot, or Cursor, and familiarity with Pacific Northwest datasets and sources. Consulting experience is a plus.
What Will You Do for ESA
- The day-to-day work includes building and maintaining geodatabases for restoration, planning, permitting, and infrastructure projects, producing maps, figures, and spatial analyses for technical reports, NEPA and SEPA documents, and client deliverables.
- Configure field data collection tools for biological surveys, cultural resource inventories, and site assessments; and developing web maps, dashboards, and Experience Builder applications used directly by project teams and clients.
- You will write Python for automation, data pipelines, and custom tools, and manage code in shared Git repositories with code review and basic CI practices.
- You will also support remote sensing and machine learning workflows when projects call for them.
- You will collaborate closely with biologists, hydrologists, planners, cultural resources specialists, engineers, landscape architects, and other GIS analysts. The diversity of disciplines on the team makes the work engaging and underscores the importance of strong communication and time management alongside technical expertise.
What's Special About Our Geospatial Team in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest geospatial team supports public agencies, tribes, and communities across the region. Recent and ongoing clients include the Bonneville Power Administration, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington and Oregon Departments of Natural Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, WSDOT, ODOT, Northwest tribes, port authorities, and local jurisdictions across Washington and Oregon.
Our work is embedded within ESA's core technical disciplines: Biological Resources, Cultural and Historic Resources, Environmental Planning, and others. Beyond the Pacific Northwest, our team regularly supports work from ESA's California Regions and Southeast Region, which brings exposure to challenges such as CEQA review and wildfire recovery in California, and sea-level rise and coastal resilience in Florida.
Our team is part of ESA's broader Technology Services Practice. For projects that grow beyond traditional GIS, we collaborate with in-house data engineers, software developers, and architects, allowing us to deliver more complex, integrated solutions.
What's Special About ESA
ESA is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. Every eligible employee receives an annual ESOP allocation, which means you build equity in the company through the work you do. Other benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance with 70% of premiums covered for you and your family; a 401(k) with company match; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; tuition reimbursement; professional development bonuses; and support for attending conferences. Mentorship and career development are an active part of how the team works.
