GIS Specialist / Field Technician

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a GIS SPECIALIST / FIELD TECHNICIAN to join our Geotechnical Engineering team in our MINNEAPOLIS, MN, MADISON, WI, or DENVER, CO offices. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our renewable energy clients.

• Develop and maintain geospatial data on desktop and mobile applications. Ensure data meets appropriate data accuracy and content standards for quality assurance and quality control.
• Create customized client-facing Operations Dashboards and configurable web applications to allow for real-time project monitoring.
• Participate in field assignments such as geotechnical investigations, pile load testing, culvert inventories, road condition studies, and site visits. Expect to be travelling on field assignments on average up to 50% of the time (i.e., 1-2 weeks per month). Field assignments are approximately 1 to 2 weeks in length. Food and lodging allowances will be provided.
• Perform field data entry and post-processing when in the office to support analysis and report development.
• Lead fieldwork preparation, including preparing safety plans and field maps, coordinating utility clearances, planning travel, and coordinating project requirements with subcontractors and client representatives.
• Clearly communicate with management regarding project status, workload, problems and progress as related to work assignments.
• Utilize advanced GPS equipment to locate and map objects and utilities in the field.
• Provide independent data interpretation while effectively maintaining data documentation.
• Create and modify GIS datasets; manage and maintain legacy GIS datasets; develop and implement GIS-based analyses supporting civil engineering, electrical engineering, and survey projects.
• Produce technically skilled and detailed solutions to include preparing clear, complete, and accurate representations of spatial data using hardcopy and/or electronic media.
• Core responsibility includes processing data and graphics requests from project team members and anticipating information needs and presentation format as part of engineering and survey workflows.
• You will work on energy projects, such as transmission, solar and wind, and land projects, such as residential and commercial development, to compile available information for project proposals.
• Develop and maintain geospatial data on desktop and mobile applications. Ensure data meets appropriate data accuracy and content standards for quality assurance and quality control.

• Must have a degree in GIS, geography, environmental studies, or related field with demonstrated capabilities in GIS.
• Valid driver’s license with a favorable driving record. 
• Flexibility to travel/work in the field for extended periods and can work outdoors in all weather conditions and various terrains associated with construction projects. 
• Hands-on knowledge of Esri ArcGIS desktop software, including ArcMap and ArcPro.
• Strong understanding of geodatabases and geodatabase applications.
• Ability to work with vector and raster datasets.
• Experience using ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Portal, or another web mapping system.
• Familiar with GPS data collection and data management, including Collector for ArcGIS.
• Ability to use and edit shapefiles and geodatabases (personal, file, and enterprise).
• Experience working with different coordinate systems, map projections, and datums.
• Familiarity with standard cartographic methods, theories and principles.
• Ability to independently manage multiple assignments, determine and set job task priorities and work with limited direct supervision.
• Executing safe, high quality, and efficient fieldwork.

• Knowledge of engineering fundamentals, field testing, and general construction and safety practices.
• Previous work in/familiarity with consulting engineers and/or surveyors.
• Experience using AutoCAD and DWG files
• Experience using Google Earth and KMZ files.
• Familiar with LiDAR datasets and usage
• Experience using Python, ModelBuilder or another common GIS scripting language is desirable, as job duties will include creating scripts to streamline frequently performed tasks.

Westwood Professional Services Inc. (Westwood) was established in 1972 and has since become a leader in many of the markets it serves. Westwood is a full-service, multidiscipline professional engineering firm and serves wind, solar, power delivery, residential and commercial development, and public infrastructure clients and their projects from multiple offices across the U.S.

In 2021, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at # 4 and #21 respectively on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood two national 2nd place awards for Marketing Excellence. Westwood also ranked consistently higher four years in a row on the Engineering News Record (ENR) list as a leading design firm in the country. The firm consistently ranks on industry top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement on award-wining projects nationwide.

Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.