Senior SQL Data Engineer

OpenDataJobs • Washington, DC

5h • Hybrid

About The Position

Peregrine Advisors is hiring a Senior SQL Data Engineer to own the data pipelines and databases behind a mission-critical federal enterprise data platform, including their design, performance, reliability, and data integrity. The position begins with ownership of ETL and ELT processes, logical and physical data models, physical data configurations, and the performance of the database layer under real query volume. Depending on the assignment, work may include Amazon Aurora (PostgreSQL-compatible), Amazon DynamoDB, and other platform data stores.

The role designs and maintains scalable databases and data models; builds schemas, indexes, views, stored procedures, and functions; writes and tunes complex SQL; and builds data pipelines and Amazon S3 loads. It also addresses performance, locking, replication, and consistency issues; maintains database availability and recoverability; implements least-privilege access and auditability; and works with architects, developers, and data engineers to move database changes through CI/CD and infrastructure as code.

This is a hybrid position based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, with commuting cadence varying by assignment. The initial engagement requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Public Trust determination. The role is a full-time W-2 position with an annual salary of $150,000 to $170,000.

Requirements

• At least 7 years of hands-on data engineering, database development, database engineering, software development, or comparable practical experience supporting enterprise applications.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Expertise in Amazon Aurora (PostgreSQL-compatible), including schema design, stored procedures and functions, indexing, and execution-plan analysis.
• Experience with Amazon DynamoDB, including data modeling, partition and key design, and Global and Local Secondary Indexes (GSIs and LSIs).
• Advanced SQL skills across complex queries, views, stored procedures, and functions, together with relational design, normalization, and data modeling.
• Experience tuning performance and queries to resolve slow queries, locking, and deadlocks through indexing and execution-plan analysis.
• Experience developing ETL and ELT processes and integrating data across AWS data services such as Amazon RDS, S3, and data migration services.
• Experience with data security controls, including encryption, access management, auditing, and compliance.
• Experience supporting cloud-native AWS applications through CI/CD and DevSecOps practices, including monitoring, backup and recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Proficiency in writing, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• For the initial engagement, U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Public Trust determination.

Nice To Haves

• An AWS certification at the Database Specialty, Developer Associate, or Solutions Architect level.
• Federal information technology experience with systems requiring security controls and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with high-volume transaction processing, large-scale data platforms, or regulatory reporting.
• Experience with database observability and monitoring tools such as Amazon CloudWatch, Performance Insights, Datadog, or Splunk.
• Experience with Amazon Redshift, AWS Glue, AWS Database Migration Service (DMS), or AWS Lake Formation.
• Experience with infrastructure as code, including Terraform, CloudFormation, and the AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK).
• Experience with AI-assisted development tooling.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, performance, reliability, and data integrity of databases and data pipelines supporting a mission-critical federal enterprise data platform.
• Design and maintain scalable databases using Amazon Aurora (PostgreSQL-compatible), Amazon DynamoDB, and other platform data stores.
• Design logical and physical data models and implement them with schemas, indexes, views, stored procedures, and functions.
• Write and tune complex SQL, analyze execution plans, and adjust indexes to support high-volume queries.
• Build and support ETL and ELT pipelines and Amazon S3 loads that keep data accurate and complete.
• Troubleshoot database performance, locking, replication, and data consistency problems.
• Maintain availability and recoverability through monitoring, capacity planning, backup and recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Secure databases using least-privilege access and maintain auditability.
• Collaborate with architects, developers, and data engineers, and move database changes through CI/CD and infrastructure as code.
• Automate data integration and load patterns and build access controls for a governed platform.
• Use AI-assisted development tools to help implement, test, and improve owned components, while reviewing and testing their output and remaining accountable for delivered code.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with the employee premium fully paid and half of dependent premiums paid.
• Employer-paid life, accidental death, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) with an employer match of up to 4% of salary.
• Unlimited paid time off.
• Sponsored professional certifications and continuing education.
• Extensive onboarding and professional development across assignments and clients.
• Opportunity to rotate across functions to expand skills and perspective.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior