Senior SQL Data Engineer

OpenDataJobs • Washington, DC

3h • $150,000 - $170,000 • 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. The role encompasses database design, performance and reliability, data integrity, and the development and automation of data integration processes. The initial project is expected to focus on ETL and ELT processes, logical and physical data models, database configurations, and performance under real query volume. The position may involve Amazon Aurora (PostgreSQL-compatible), Amazon DynamoDB, and other platform data stores.

The engineer will build a dependable database layer for analysts and systems, automate data integration and loading, and implement governed access controls. Work includes collaborating with architects, developers, and data engineers, and advancing database changes through CI/CD and infrastructure as code. Assignments may evolve as the company and its client work change.

This is a hybrid position based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area; commuting cadence varies by assignment. The initial engagement requires U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a Public Trust determination. This 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, including complex queries, views, stored procedures, and functions, as well as relational design, normalization, and data modeling.
• Performance and query-tuning experience resolving slow queries, locking, and deadlocks through indexing and execution-plan analysis.
• Experience developing ETL and ELT processes and integrating data across AWS services such as Amazon RDS, S3, and data migration services.
• Knowledge of data security controls, including encryption, access management, auditing, and compliance.
• Experience supporting cloud-native applications in AWS 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

• AWS certification at the Database Specialty, Developer Associate, or Solutions Architect level.
• Federal IT 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

• Design and maintain scalable databases, including 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 maintain accurate and complete data.
• Troubleshoot performance, locking, replication, and data consistency issues.
• Maintain database availability and recoverability through monitoring, capacity planning, backup and recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Secure databases with least-privilege access and maintain auditability.
• Collaborate with architects, developers, and data engineers, and move database changes through CI/CD and infrastructure-as-code practices.
• Automate data integration and loading patterns and implement access controls for a governed platform.
• Use AI-assisted development tools where appropriate, while providing context, reviewing and testing output, and remaining accountable for delivered code.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with the employee premium fully paid and half of dependent premiums covered.
• 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 development support across assignments and clients.
• Sponsored professional certifications, including DCAM and AWS technical certifications.
• Rotation across functions to expand skills and perspective.

What This Job Offers

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