Database Programmer

Foundry Spatial is a fast-growing environmental analytics firm based in the beautiful city of Victoria, British Columbia. We are recruiting for an enthusiastic, talented person to join our data team. Foundry Spatial develops and maintains products which provide insights into environmental data.

The Company

Foundry Spatial has provided products and services to the environmental sector since 2009. Today Foundry Spatial’s water tools service large parts of western Canada. Foundry Spatial’s clients include major government entities, industrial and private customers seeking innovative technological applications and product development support. Foundry Spatial has received awards for its ground-breaking, decision-support technologies for more efficient water resource management, and has several products in the development pipeline. Our culture is “West Coast Relaxed”, with work and life pursuits in balance.

The Position

As a junior to intermediate database developer/programmer, you will be joining a small dynamic team that specializes in geospatial applications. You will be responsible for creating, administering and troubleshooting PostgreSQL databases, including code and API design, analysis, and maintenance of existing databases. You will also implement features by modifying existing databases, or creating new ones and developing access interfaces.

To create well-organized databases for a range of applications, you must be capable of a variety of tasks including:

Design database systems and implement data models, analyze the needs of applications to produce an effective database system according to needs and specifications.
Collect and analyze data, design algorithms and implement code for the backend and middleware systems of web applications.
Test databases, run performance test procedures to ensure timely operations and to ensure it's error-free, correct encountered errors and retest.
Troubleshoot and create test reports as well as perform database improvements.
Develop adequate documentation for the use of other teams and clients, including information regarding changes and migrations from one database to another, or restructuring of existing databases.
Work with data scientists to implement business logic that defines the functionality of the middleware and database layers.
Optimization and tuning of data structures, stored procedures, and queries.
Ensure stability and system availability. Will be performing, but not solely responsible for, migrations, database backup, and recovery.

Requirements

Experience with Relational SQL databases (Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, Oracle), Postgres preferred
Experience writing data processing and ETL scripts with Python preferably
Proficient in Linux command line utilities and operations. Ability to work as part of a team, as well as independently.
Strong analytical skills to analyze data models, design stored procedures and functions
Good communication skills, both oral and written in order to successfully work with colleagues across the development department as well as data scientists.
Understand the concepts of programming languages. Be familiar and stay current with industry best practices and trends related to data ingestion and database design/development.

Desired Skills/Assets

Experience with PL/pgSQL and PostGIS
Experience with cloud providers, Microsoft Azure preferred.
Experience working on an Agile/Scrum application team.
Experience working with Jira and Confluence.
Interest/experience in geospatial software (ex. QGIS) and spatial data analysis/processing (GDAL/OGR, Python libraries: rasterio, xarray, rioxarray, geopandas, shapely, fiona)

Experience and Education

Minimum two (2) years of experience in Relational Database Administration, preferably Postgres.
Minimum two (2) years of experience in developing and/or data processing, preferably Python
Bachelor’s Degree in a Computer Science or related technical discipline, or the equivalent combination of education, technical certifications or training, or work experience

Why should you apply?

Foundry Spatial has a great team of full stack developers, hydrologists and data scientists. We feel strongly about working in a field that leads to better environmental practices worldwide, by blending science with thoughtful software development and design.

Foundry Spatial runs on a 37.5 hour work week, and strives to pay competitively while maintaining a benefits program commensurate with the size of the firm. Our current office is regularly stocked with great teas and coffee and is located outside of the city center, close to cycling trails, on a frequent bus route, and has free on-site parking.

If you are ready to join the team and help fuel Foundry Spatial’s growth for the next decade of its life, please apply!

Interested?

Please send your résumé and a cover letter to merie@foundryspatial.com, addressed to the hiring manager. We will conduct in-person or video-conference technical interviews, and invite successful applicants to partake in a panel interview with Foundry Spatial staff. Though educational and professional qualifications are essential, we also strive to maintain a good culture-fit between existing team members and potential future employees.

While we are thankful to all applicants for their interest in the posting and we carefully review each application submitted, we will only get in touch with applicants whose profiles we feel are the best match for this position.