GIS Systems Architect

Overview

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent
, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well‑being, personal goals, and professional development of our employees. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team, and we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed.

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being “All In” for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard.

If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us.

Ardent is seeking a GIS Systems Architect to join our team. This is a remote position.

We are looking for a GIS
Systems Architect who will play a critical role in designing, developing, and maintaining advanced geospatial system architectures to support federal government programs. This position provides technical leadership and expertise in systems engineering, integration, and cloud‑based geospatial solutions. The architect collaborates closely with stakeholders to assess business needs, recommend emerging technologies, and ensure scalable, secure, and compliant geospatial systems. This role requires a strong understanding of GIS technologies, federal compliance standards, and enterprise IT environments to effectively support and advance geospatial data infrastructure and applications.

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable, resilient, and interoperable geospatial system architectures aligned with DHS standards.
• Conduct gap analysis and identify technical and functional requirements to meet geospatial business objectives.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend emerging geospatial technologies and enterprise solutions.
• Lead systems integration and architecture design across cloud (including hybrid) and on‑premises environments.
• Manage geospatial data infrastructure including geodatabases, metadata, data warehouses, and cloud‑based repositories.
• Support operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of GIS applications and databases.
• Develop, maintain, and execute testing plans to validate system performance and operational effectiveness.
• Create and update architectural documentation, SOPs, technical guides, and other related artifacts.
• Ensure compliance with federal IT policies, DHS directives, security standards, and accessibility requirements.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders to align technical architecture with organizational goals.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and staff.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Geospatial Science, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Proven experience as a Systems Architect or similar role supporting geospatial systems in government or large enterprise environments.
• Strong expertise in systems engineering, architecture design, and GIS technologies, particularly Esri products.
• Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or Gov Cloud), hybrid cloud architectures, and data storage solutions.
• Proficient in database design, management, and configuration, including geodatabases and spatial data repositories.
• Knowledge of federal IT security frameworks and compliance standards (e.g., FISMA, Section 508, DHS management directives).
• Familiarity with software development lifecycle (SDLC), Dev Sec Ops , and CI/CD practices for GIS applications.
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse teams and manage multiple priorities.

• Experience supporting DHS geospatial programs or similar…