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Consulting Engineer – Database Administration/Data Engineering
Location:
Grand Rapids, MI / Indianapolis, IN
Employment Type:
Full-time
Workplace Type:
Hybrid
Position Overview:
As a Consulting Database Engineer, you will design and deliver database and data integration solutions that enable clients to manage, secure, and scale their data effectively. You will translate business requirements into reliable database architectures, configure and maintain SQL Server environments, optimize performance, and build data pipelines to move data across systems. This role combines core DBA responsibilities with proficiency in Microsoft's modern data platform tools, including Fabric and Azure Data Factory.
Key Responsibilities:
Database Administration
- Install, configure, and maintain SQL Server instances in on-premises and hybrid environments
- Implement and manage backup and recovery strategies, high availability solutions (Always On, log shipping, replication), and disaster recovery plans
- Configure security settings, user permissions, and auditing to meet compliance requirements
- Apply patches, updates, and perform capacity planning
Performance Tuning & Optimization
- Analyze and optimize query performance using execution plans, indexing strategies, and query rewrites
- Monitor server health and proactively identify performance bottlenecks
- Tune SQL Server configuration settings for optimal resource utilization
- Troubleshoot and resolve database performance issues
Database Development
- Design and implement database schemas, stored procedures, functions, and views
- Ensure data quality, integrity, and adherence to best practices in database design
- Develop and maintain T-SQL scripts for data management and automation
Data Pipeline Development
- Build and maintain data pipelines using Microsoft Fabric and/or Azure Data Factory
- Implement ETL/ELT processes to move and transform data across sources and destinations
- Monitor pipeline performance and troubleshoot data flow issues
Solution Design & Delivery
- Translate business requirements into database and data integration solutions aligned with industry best practices
- Provide technical leadership on client projects, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery
- Collaborate with stakeholders to define technical approaches and data strategies
Collaboration & Mentorship
- Work with customers to plan, design, configure, and diagnose SQL Server and data pipeline technologies
- Partner with other engineers and technical leads on complex projects
- Document solutions and share knowledge with team members
Qualifications:
Certifications
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Azure Data Engineer Associate, or Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (or working toward certification)
Experience
- 3–5 years in SQL Server administration, database development, or related consulting
- Demonstrated experience installing, configuring, and managing SQL Server environments
- Proven track record of performance tuning and query optimization
- Hands-on experience building data pipelines in Microsoft Fabric and/or Azure Data Factory is a plus
Skills
- Strong proficiency in T-SQL, stored procedures, indexing, and database design
- Solid understanding of SQL Server internals, execution plans, and performance monitoring tools
- Familiarity with high availability and disaster recovery solutions
- Understanding of data modeling and ETL/ELT patterns
Interpersonal Qualities
- Excellent communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced consulting environment
- A proactive approach to problem-solving and project delivery
Additional Experience We'd Love to See (not required, but a strong plus)
- Python/PySpark for data transformation and processing
- Microsoft Fabric ecosystem depth: Lakehouse, Warehouse, Dataflow Gen2, OneLake
- Medallion architecture and layered data design (Bronze/Silver/Gold or similar)
- Incremental load patterns and CDC (change data capture)
- Git-based version control and CI/CD practices, with environment separation (dev/test/prod)
- Experience building for monitoring, alerting, restartability, and rollback in pipeline design
- Dimensional modeling and Slowly Changing Dimensions (SCDs)
- Data lineage and metadata management
- Apply AI/Copilot tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate development and documentation
