About Me
I'm Jonathan, a Solutions Architect–track GIS engineer with 15+ years designing cloud and enterprise geospatial systems for CDC, utilities, and federal agencies. I pick ArcGIS, AWS, and spatial data pipelines based on what the system needs to run reliably.
Currently Geospatial Engineer at INCATech, on U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) work. Previously a CDC Geographer (federal employee, then DRT Strategies contractor), National Grid, the U.S. Census Bureau, C2 Solutions, and Booz Allen Hamilton (DHS). Studying for AWS Solutions Architect – Associate. On the side I run Vector Scope AI, a playground for experimental GIS and cloud projects.
Core Skills
AWS
ArcGIS Enterprise
Python
PostgreSQL/PostGIS
System Design
REST APIs
JavaScript / React
ETL Automation
GeoParquet / PMTiles
CI/CD
Cloud architecture
Download ResumeEach project explains a platform choice: why Docker instead of Lambda, why one Parquet file feeds both map and wiki, and what broke along the way.
Docker · ECS/Fargate · OpenStreetMap · GeoParquet · PMTiles · S3 · DynamoDB
Containerized GIS pipeline on AWS: Docker runs Python ETL against OpenStreetMap, writes GeoParquet and PMTiles to S3, and loads Parquet into DynamoDB for ywiki — because Lambda hit time/memory limits on regional OSM extracts.
Architecture choice: Moved heavy ETL from Lambda to Docker containers so resort data, map tiles, and wiki seed rows stay in sync as one product pipeline.
Cognito · Lambda · DynamoDB · SAM · Parquet ingest
Markdown wiki on AWS: Cognito for write auth, Lambda/API Gateway for the wiki API, DynamoDB for pages/revisions/comments — seeded from Global Ski Atlas Parquet so resort entries start from the same pipeline that builds the map.
Architecture choice: Reused the atlas Parquet → DynamoDB load instead of a separate content DB, so wiki and map share one ski-area source of truth.
S3 · CloudFront · Route 53 · API Gateway · Lambda · DynamoDB · SAM · CI/CD
This site’s edge-to-API AWS stack: S3 + CloudFront + Route 53 for the static front, API Gateway + Lambda + DynamoDB for the visitor counter, SAM and GitHub Actions for IaC/CI/CD.
Architecture choice: You can click through the full stack on this site: static hosting, DNS, a serverless counter API, and the IaC/CI pipeline that deploys it.
S3 · CloudFront · Lambda · Transcribe · Bedrock
Language-learning product on AWS: S3 + CloudFront host the lessons; Lambda ties Amazon Transcribe speech-to-text to Bedrock Nova for speak-check feedback.
Architecture choice: Used Transcribe and Bedrock instead of a custom ML stack so learners get pronunciation feedback from a small serverless setup.
ArcGIS · AWS · Iceberg · GeoParquet
Planned hybrid ArcGIS + AWS lakehouse: editing and validation APIs bridging enterprise GIS into Iceberg tables, GeoParquet, and changelog history. Not built yet — architecture target only.
Architecture choice: Documents the planned design for versioned map edits across ArcGIS and cloud analytics. The product is not built yet.
Side projects
Maps, tools, and experiments from cartography and GIS work, alongside the cloud case studies above.
Nepal Census Atlas 2011
Story-driven choropleth atlas from Nepal’s 2011 census — place narrative over color ramps.
Choropleth · GADM · Narrative cartography
BuildingPop (OSM)
Draw an area, pull OSM buildings via Overpass, estimate population vs WorldPop / GHS-POP.
OpenStreetMap · Overpass · Leaflet
Admin Boundary Tool
Punch any state or province out of a country polygon for map highlights.
MapTiler · GeoJSON · Natural Earth
Raiders of Antikythera
Dig game on real Antikythera Survey Project tracts — fog-of-war GeoJSON, PMTiles finds.
MapTiler SDK · PMTiles · Game design
Map Agent Arena
Compare Mapbox / MapTiler agent skill packs in a dedicated eval arena.
Mapbox GL JS · MapTiler SDK · Agent eval
Platform labs
Mapping and cloud playgrounds
Each link opens a short write-up: when I pick that platform, what I've built with it, and what is still in progress.
Experience
Geospatial Engineer | INCATech
2026 – Present · Northern Virginia
- •Design, build, and maintain enterprise geodatabases and geospatial workflows with ArcGIS Enterprise, Online, and Desktop for U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) missions
- •Automate spatial analysis, data validation, and ETL with Python and SQL across Oracle, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL
- •Produce web maps and visualizations, and support GIS users with troubleshooting, migrations, and documentation
Founder | Vector Scope AI LLC
2025 – Present · Remote
- •Build ArcGIS-connected web tools and Python pipelines for map editing, validation, and data extraction
- •Ship Global Ski Atlas (3,000+ ski areas) as a live MapTiler web map with Docker/ECS ETL (OSM → Parquet/PMTiles → DynamoDB for ywiki)
Geographer | DRT Strategies (CDC)
2024 – 2026 · Remote
- •Develop web mapping applications and dashboards with ArcGIS Enterprise, JavaScript, React, and Power BI for CDC surveillance programs
- •Use R and Python to build PMTiles and GeoParquet datasets that feed those dashboards and web maps
- •Build SQL Server and PostgreSQL/PostGIS databases and Python/SQL ETL pipelines for recurring geospatial updates
Geographer | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2022 – 2024 · Remote
- •Same CDC Geographer role as a federal employee: surveillance web maps, dashboards, and geospatial ETL with ArcGIS Enterprise, Python, and SQL
GIS Data Engineer & Scrum Master | Saicon (National Grid)
2021 – 2022 · Remote
- •Migrated large utility GIS datasets to Azure-hosted ArcGIS Enterprise using Python and SQL
- •Led Agile delivery of migration milestones and spatial data quality checks
Geographer | U.S. Census Bureau
2016 – 2021 · Suitland, MD
- •Developed Python tools and ArcGIS API workflows for census geography production
- •Automated spatial processing workflows across large national datasets
GIS Systems Administrator & Software Engineer | C2 Solutions Group Inc.
2014 – 2016 · Reston, VA
- •Administered ArcGIS Server and Portal deployments backed by SQL Server for federal clients
- •Built secure web mapping applications used by hundreds of concurrent users
Geospatial Analyst | Booz Allen Hamilton (DHS)
2009 – 2014 · Philadelphia, PA & Arlington, VA
- •Built maps, spatial analysis workflows, and web GIS tools for DHS disaster response
- •Processed and analyzed raster and imagery datasets during major disaster operations
Education
2007
Master of Science in Geography
University of Tennessee, Knoxville — thesis & archive2004
Bachelor of Arts, Geography and Anthropology
Penn State University — Minor in GIS
2021
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services
2026
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03)
In progress — see study planContact
Get in touch
If you are hiring for a GIS or cloud architecture role, or reviewing my résumé, you can reach me here.