Would You Take This Job? GIS Analyst

GIS Analyst
Employer: Go intellects Inc
Location: Hillcrest Heights, MD (onsite)
Pay: $40 / hour
Type: Full-time — GIS / data production

What You’ll Do:
• Maintain and update foundational datasets (Vector Property Map, Master Address Repository) used across city services.
• Produce high-quality geospatial data products with complete metadata and perform QA/QC.
• Perform geometry editing (point/line/polygon/COGO), geocoding, map production and cartographic outputs.
• Run SQL and spatial queries against enterprise/file geodatabases and support data management tasks.
• Work with senior staff to manage datasets used for E911, permitting, planning, and other critical applications.

Why It Stands Out:
• Work on high-impact, government-scale geospatial data (address & property layers) used across municipal systems.
• Hands-on role with opportunities to shape authoritative datasets that support public safety and city services.
• Exposure to enterprise geodatabases, ArcGIS Pro/Desktop/Online, and complex spatial workflows.

Potential Trade-offs:
• Likely heavy focus on production and QA tasks — can be repetitive but detail-critical.
• Onsite expectations may be strict (enterprise/data access).
• May require quick turnarounds for time-sensitive datasets used by other agencies (E911, permitting).

Qualifications / Requirements:
• Bachelor’s in Geography, Computer Science, Planning, or equivalent experience.
• Strong experience with Esri tools (ArcGIS Desktop/Pro/Online).
• Proven QA/QC and metadata production skills.
• Experience with SQL spatial queries, geodatabases, geocoding, and cartography.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Python scripting, aerial imagery, and planimetric data experience are highly desired.

Perks / Benefits:
• Work on mission-critical city datasets with visible impact.
• Skill-building in enterprise GIS, data management, and spatial SQL.
• Collaboration with senior GIS staff and cross-department stakeholders.

Here is the link to view more job details or apply.

Would you take this job?

If you were applying, what would be your top three non-negotiables: (A) confirmed hourly rate + clear overtime policy, (B) hybrid/remote flexibility or formal onsite schedule, or (C) a mentorship/training plan and clear career path into senior GIS roles? Which would you pick and why — and what would you ask the hiring manager before accepting (e.g., expected dataset volume, typical deadlines, or sample QA checklist)?

I’d take it at $40 if they’re using an enterprise GDB with versioning for the Master Address Repository — otherwise MAR edits turn into whack-a-mole. Quick tip: ask for their “QA/QC” checklist and sample metadata; I once cut review time in half by baking ArcPy validation into the publish step. If you want to see the state standards they’ll likely align to, skim MD iMap’s data pages at https://imap.maryland.gov.

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At a similar MAR gig, Attribute Rules + Data Reviewer kept parcels and addresses sane; skipping that turned Fridays into spreadsheet Jenga. Building on @sam88, ask: What’s the authoritative source for addresses and how do edits flow to 911/utilities? If they can show a Pro task/ModelBuilder pipeline, $40 feels fine; if not, expect cleanup time.

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Quick example: a MAR I maintained only stayed sane once we added a “source of truth” gate — permits propose the address, 911 approves, then FME pushes to prod nightly with a change log. $40 onsite feels fair if they’ve got that governance and an enterprise GDB; without it, MAR edits are herding cats. @henry4528 would you ask who authorizes new addresses and whether NG911/MSAG alignment or Data Reviewer batch checks are in place?

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If they’re serious about ‘complete metadata’, make sure they have a template and a standard (FGDC or ISO 19115) in place — otherwise you’ll burn hours naming fields and chasing lineage, … Pro Tasks for the Vector Property Map updates saved me lots of rework; if they don’t have a repeatable workflow yet, build one in week one. I’d do it at $40, but onsite plus publish nights needs comp time spelled out.

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I’d ask how they handle versioning and audit trails… Turning on editor tracking and a simple change-log view saved me more than once — when an address record was disputed, we could answer “who touched it last” in 10 seconds (ArcGIS Pro editor tracking: Enable editor tracking—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation). At $40 onsite, I’d also want clarity on comp time or on-call, or the “QA/QC” fire drills creep past 5pm.

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