Data Engineer — Database, Cloud & Application Architecture || NO C2C

• Job Title: Data Engineer — Database, Cloud & Application Architecture
• Client: Confidential end client
• Duration: Long Term 
• Location: Phoenix, AZ — Day 1 onsite (fully onsite, no hybrid/remote)
• Rate: TBD — confirm with account team before submitting
• NO C2C

ROLE OVERVIEW
The client is seeking an experienced Data Engineer with strong expertise across data engineering, databases, cloud platforms, and application architecture. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience building scalable data pipelines and platforms, strong SQL and data modeling skills, working Python knowledge, and exposure to AI/ML and Generative AI technologies. This person will work closely with application architects, database architects, cloud engineers, data scientists, and application development teams to design and implement reliable, scalable, secure, high-performance data solutions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Design and define enterprise-level database architectures, standards, patterns, and best practices
• Evaluate and select relational, NoSQL, and cloud-native database technologies based on business/technical needs
• Design scalable database solutions covering data modeling, availability, resiliency, backup/recovery, replication, and disaster recovery
• Provide expertise across platforms such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, or similar
• Design and support database solutions on AWS, Azure, or GCP
• Lead or support on-premises-to-cloud database migrations and modernization initiatives
• Optimize database performance through query tuning, indexing, partitioning, and capacity planning
• Establish database security standards: encryption, access controls, auditing, data protection, compliance
• Use Python for database automation, scripting, data processing, validation, and operational tasks
• Work with AI/ML and GenAI teams; provide architectural guidance on embeddings, vector databases/search, and RAG patterns
• Create and maintain architecture diagrams, database standards, and technical documentation
• Provide technical leadership, architecture reviews, troubleshooting support, and mentoring
REQUIREMENTS / MUST-HAVES
• Strong experience in database architecture, engineering, or administration
• Deep understanding of relational database concepts: SQL, data modeling, normalization, indexing, transactions, performance optimization
• Experience with one or more major database platforms (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, MongoDB, or equivalent)
• Hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP, particularly managed database services
• Understanding of cloud architecture: scalability, high availability, security, monitoring, backup, disaster recovery
• Experience with database migration and modernization initiatives