Data Engineer

simsmetalm•West Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Sims Lifecycle Services (SLS) is a world-wide leader in IT asset and cloud infrastructure reuse, redeployment, recycling and refining. SLS serves global clients across a range of industries to securely and responsibly recycle and manage the disposition of IT equipment and electronic products. Our asset management and recovery service enables businesses to meet both their social and legal obligations in the treatment of surplus electronics in a legally compliant, data secure, fully traceable, and environmentally sustainable manner. With our global reach, expertise, and infrastructure, SLS is able to provide a comprehensive solution for e-waste and IT asset disposition anywhere in the world. At Sims Lifecycle Services, we believe progress is driven by our people. If you’re set on making real change for tomorrow, we have the scale, resources, and ambition to make it happen. Now’s an extraordinary time to work with us. SLS is the global leader in circular cloud solutions. We will continue to drive circular economy initiatives with our clients to improve environmental outcomes and business results. To achieve it, we’re bringing together people with unique stories, perspectives, backgrounds, and talent – and we need yours too! Join Our Dynamic Team! We are seeking a Data Engineer to join team at our West Chicago, IL or La Vergne, TN. This is a fantastic opportunity for a results-driven professional who thrives on solving business challenges, identifying opportunities, and building strategic partnerships. Reporting to Data Engineering Lead with, this role will be the SLS Data Engineer supporting the company’s modern data platform by designing, operating, and optimizing Microsoft Fabric–based data pipelines using the bronze, silver, and gold architecture. This role owns the performance, reliability, maintenance, and lifecycle management of enterprise databases across on‑premises and cloud environments. Acting as the escalation point for complex database issues, the engineer partners with application, platform, and analytics teams to modernize data and warehouse solutions. Through proactive performance monitoring, optimization, and migration leadership, the role ensures business continuity, regulatory compliance, and scalable, data‑driven decision‑making. This is more than a job - it's a chance to develop your career with a global organization that values innovation, collaboration, and results. We are in an exciting period of growth, and the successful candidate will play an essential role partnering with the IT team enables the organization’s success by delivering secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions. They support core systems, data platforms, and applications while ensuring performance, availability, and compliance. By partnering closely with business teams, IT drives modernization, operational efficiency, and data‑informed decision‑making across the enterprise to influence outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience
5+ years of experience in data engineering, database administration, or similar roles
Strong hands‑on DBA experience supporting production SQL Server environments
Experience with database performance tuning, maintenance, and enterprise migrations
Proven ability to design and manage data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric or similar platforms
Knowledge of bronze, silver, and gold data architecture for scalable data solutions
Hands‑on experience administering SQL Server on‑premises and in the cloud (Azure SQL, Managed Instances)
Experience leading database migrations to cloud‑native solutions
Familiarity with disaster recovery planning and meeting RPO/RTO objectives
Understanding of data security, compliance, and audit support
Experience working with BI and analytics teams
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across technical teams

Nice To Haves

Experience with Microsoft Fabric and modern data pipeline tools
Strong SQL skills, including performance tuning and optimization
Proficiency with cloud data platforms (e.g., Azure SQL, Azure Data Lake)
Knowledge of bronze, silver, and gold data architecture
Experience with database migrations, high availability, and disaster recovery
Understanding of data security, encryption, and compliance practices
Ability to monitor systems and troubleshoot performance issues
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
Effective collaboration and communication across technical and business teams
Ability to document processes, manage priorities, and drive continuous improvement

Responsibilities

Manage SQL Server environments on‑premises and in the cloud, including upgrades, patching, security, and lifecycle management
Ensure database availability, performance, backup, and disaster recovery readiness
Serve as the escalation point for complex database issues and outages
Lead database migrations and modernization efforts to cloud‑native platforms (e.g., Azure SQL, Managed Instances)
Design and support data pipelines and analytics architectures using Microsoft Fabric (bronze, silver, gold layers)
Partner with application, infrastructure, and analytics teams to optimize platforms and enable reporting
Automate routine tasks, document standards, and mentor support teams to drive operational excellence