Database Architect (Remote)

Koniag Government Services, LLC

2d•$104,000 - $150,000•Remote

About The Position

Koniag Data Solutions, a Koniag Government Services company, is seeking an experienced Data Architect to support the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Commodity Treatment Information System – Modernization (CTIS-M) program. This fully remote role supports data architecture design and modernization for implementation of the Regulated Garbage (RG) Module, replacing manual, paper-based workflows with integrated digital compliance capabilities within CTIS-M. The Data Architect works with the CTIS-M DME team, USDA APHIS leadership, and cross-functional engineering teams to deliver enterprise data modeling, workflow-aligned data structures, FOIA-ready audit capabilities, and integration frameworks compliant with USDA, APHIS, FEA, and federal ICT standards. The role also participates in Agile sprint execution, documentation, requirements analysis, and Section 508 compliance processes. The employee must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance and meet federal suitability requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Extensive experience in enterprise data architecture and relational data modeling.
Expertise in Azure SQL, T-SQL, performance tuning, and cloud data engineering.
Experience developing T-SQL stored procedures, triggers, and functions.
Experience writing Python scripts using Pandas.
Experience supporting large-scale workflow, inspection, or compliance-driven systems.
Experience working in Agile Scrum environments with Azure DevOps/TFS.
Proficiency in Azure DevOps for work management and technical documentation.
Familiarity with MuleSoft or comparable enterprise integration platforms.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication skills for presenting complex data concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional technical and business teams.
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Experience working with government clients.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance and meet all federal suitability requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience working specifically with USDA APHIS or other federal compliance systems.
Advanced experience with MuleSoft or other enterprise integration platforms.
Experience designing data architectures supporting inspection, incident, compliance, or regulatory workflows.
Background in cloud security, data lineage tooling, or large-scale data governance frameworks.
Experience mentoring junior data engineers or architects.

Responsibilities

Guide the design and optimization of the CTIS-M Azure SQL data architecture supporting Regulated Garbage workflows.
Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models, ER diagrams, metadata structures, lineage rules, and retention policies.
Ensure data structures comply with USDA, APHIS, PPQ, FEA, federal regulatory, audit, and reporting requirements.
Define and enforce enterprise data modeling standards, naming conventions, and governance practices.
Translate APHIS Regulated Garbage Program Manual requirements into sustainable, automated data flows and scalable relational schemas.
Support electronic workflows for Compliance Agreements, inspections, monitoring checklists, direct observations, incidents, escalations, and enforcement records.
Enable FOIA-ready audit trails and data structures aligned with regulatory workflows.
Support integration and data exchange with CBP Agricultural Workspace, APHIS ARM, IPHIS, FMD, and enterprise authentication systems, including eAuthentication, UMS, and Login.gov.
Optimize T-SQL queries, indexing, performance tuning, partitioning, and cloud SQL configuration.
Ensure solutions comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements for system-generated content, forms, and documents.
Support performance, load, and stress testing for data-layer components.
Collaborate with developers to ensure secure, compliant, vulnerability-free data implementation.
Participate in Agile ceremonies, including backlog grooming, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
Create and maintain user stories, functional and non-functional requirements, data requirements, process flows, and technical design documentation.
Support Azure DevOps/TFS artifact population, including backlog items, documentation, code repositories, burn-down/velocity reports, and deployment artifacts.
Contribute to architecture reviews and ensure alignment with the CTIS-M modernization strategy.
Provide technical guidance to developers implementing data-layer features.
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering, business, and federal stakeholder teams.
Communicate complex data architecture concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Support knowledge transfer and training activities as part of CTIS-M deployment.
Lead, mentor, and guide team members.