Database Engineer/Developer

NBBJ•San Diego, CA

1d•$135,000 - $150,000

About The Position

NBBJ is an award-winning design firm recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company, a Fast Company Most Innovative Architecture Firm and a two-time 2025 AIA National Honor Award recipient. These recognitions reflect our purpose-driven approach that, fueled by ideas and a culture of collaboration, creates healthy buildings, strong communities and a resilient environment. That’s where you come in. With leading clients, diverse colleagues and offices in creative capitals around the globe, a career at NBBJ will inspire you to be extraordinary. You can learn more about our firm, see what it’s like to work here and explore recent projects and ideas at NBBJ.com. Join us to make an impact today! The role at a glance: The Database Engineer/Developer serves as the primary owner and steward of NBBJ’s SQL Server platforms and operational data systems within the Digital organization. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, operation, security, and ongoing evolution of business-critical databases that primarily support Finance, but also integrate with operations, analytics, and firmwide reporting. The position combines deep database administration responsibilities with hands-on development, data integration, and close collaboration with our Finance team, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, HR, and application development teams. In practice, the role functions as the firm’s technical authority for SQL-based data platforms, ensuring reliability, integrity, compliance, and continuity of NBBJ’s core data assets. The approximate distribution of responsibilities is as follows: 55–65% Digital / firmwide responsibilities: Enterprise database development and architecture Data infrastructure and system integration Broader database administration supporting firm systems 35–45% Finance-focused responsibilities: Deltek Vantagepoint development, maintenance, and administration Finance-related analytics, 3rd party systems integrations, and reporting support AI and Database enhancements supporting Finance workflows and process evolution

Requirements

10+ years of experience
Advanced experience administering and developing on Microsoft SQL Server platforms.
Strong expertise in SQL development, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.
Hands-on experience with SQL Server Integration Services and Reporting Services.
Experience supporting Finance teams, HR, or ERP systems such as Deltek Vision or Vantagepoint.
Understands, has experience with, and can articulate mid-level to complex financial concepts
Familiarity with Power BI and enterprise reporting platforms.
Working knowledge of data governance, audit support, and security best practices related to enterprise data platforms.
Experience designing and supporting business-critical operational and financial data systems.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and support production systems with high reliability expectations.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Responsibilities

SQL Platform Ownership and Administration
Own and operate NBBJ’s SQL Server environments, including standalone and clustered deployments, including both on-premises and Azure PaaS and IaaS instances.
Own and operate non-SQL environments such as Redis, MongoDB, MySQL.
Install, configure, patch, and upgrade SQL Server instances and related components such as SQL Server Integration Services and Reporting Services, during nights or weekends as needed.
Serve as the primary escalation point for SQL platform issues, performance tuning, and stability concerns.
Design and maintain high availability and failover configurations, including backup and recovery processes, to ensure business continuity.
Database Development and Data Engineering:
Design, build, and maintain operational and reporting databases that support finance, operations, BIM, and studio leadership.
Develop and maintain SQL objects including schemas, tables, views, stored procedures, and functions.
Implement data transformations and pipelines using SQL Server Integration Services and related tooling.
Modify data models to support evolving business requirements while maintaining data integrity and performance.
Collaborate with stakeholders to implement repeatable, maintainable database changes and data engineering practices that support reliable reporting.
Enterprise Data Integration:
Own and maintain data integrations between core enterprise systems, including Deltek Vantagepoint, HR and talent systems, finance and payroll platforms, and third-party vendors.
Manage secure file transfers and system to system feeds, including SFTP based integrations.
Troubleshoot and resolve data feed, synchronization, and downstream system issues in coordination with stakeholders.
Ensure integrations are reliable, monitored, and documented to support operational continuity and reporting accuracy
Security, Access, and Compliance Support
Design and maintain role-based access controls for SQL environments, including separation of finance and nonfinance access.
Collaborate with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure teams on security controls, service accounts, and incident response activities related to database systems.
Support audit, compliance, and risk management activities by providing data, documentation, and secure handling of sensitive information.
Ensure databases and integrations align with internal security standards and client confidentiality requirements.
Finance and Operational Partnership:
Serve as a trusted technical partner to Finance, Operations, and other leadership teams.
Support financial reporting and analysis lead process evolution, and drive system innovation.
Translate strategic business questions into analytical approaches, including determining when traditional statistical methods, machine learning, or generative AI tools are the most appropriate path to insight
Assist with audits and reviews by retrieving and validating system documentation and data outputs.
Provide guidance on data usage, limitations, and interpretation for decision-making.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
Work closely with application developers, analysts, infrastructure engineers, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders.
Document systems, processes, and dependencies to reduce institutional risk.
Mentor and cross-train designated backups to ensure continuity of critical database functions.