Database Engineer

Job Title: Azure Database Engineer (Contract) Company: Big Four Client Location: Remote Work Authorization: U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders Pay Rate: Max of $50 per hour (W2) Duration: 7+ Months Overview: We are seeking an experienced Azure Database Engineer for a 7+ month contract engagement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in designing, implementing, and optimizing cloud-based data solutions within Microsoft Azure. This role involves hands-on work with OLTP systems, distributed databases, and Azure data services to support business-critical applications and analytics workloads. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to design scalable data architectures, ensure performance optimization, and maintain secure, reliable database environments in the Azure ecosystem. Key Responsibilities: Database Architecture & Design • Design and support highly scalable OLTP systems for mission-critical applications. • Develop robust data models and implement effective data storage and retrieval strategies. • Ensure database solutions align with performance, scalability, and security requirements. Azure Data Engineering • Implement and optimize Azure SQL databases for transactional and analytical workloads. • Architect and maintain Azure Cosmos DB solutions, focusing on performance, scalability, and partitioning. • Build and manage data integration pipelines using Azure Data Factory, ensuring reliable ETL/ELT workflows. • Leverage Azure Databricks for big data analytics, Spark-based processing, and collaborative data development. Performance Optimization & Support • Conduct performance tuning, query optimization, and capacity planning across Azure database platforms. • Monitor system health, identify bottlenecks, and proactively implement improvements. • Troubleshoot and resolve database-related issues to maintain high availability and reliability. Data Governance & Security • Implement security best practices for data access, encryption, and compliance within Azure environments. • Ensure proper data backup, recovery, and retention policies are in place. Collaboration & Documentation • Work closely with software engineers, data scientists, and DevOps teams to integrate data solutions into broader systems. • Maintain clear technical documentation for data architectures, configurations, and procedures. Required Skills & Qualifications: • 3+ Years Experience with OLTP Systems: Proven experience designing and supporting highly scalable OLTP architectures. • 3+ Years Experience with Azure Cosmos DB: Expertise in modeling, scaling, and optimizing distributed databases. • 3+ Years Experience with Azure SQL: Strong knowledge of relational database design, performance tuning, and security in Azure SQL environments. • 3+ Years Experience with Azure Data Factory: Hands-on experience with data integration workflows, data pipelines, and ETL/ELT processes. • 3+ Years Experience with Azure Databricks: Practical experience with big data analytics, Spark-based processing, and collaborative development environments. • 3+ Years Experience with Redis: Familiarity with in-memory data structures and high-throughput caching solutions. Preferred Skills & Qualifications: • Experience with data lake architectures and modern data warehouse solutions. • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code (e.g., Terraform, ARM templates). • Knowledge of Power BI, Azure Synapse Analytics, or other reporting tools. • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.