Senior Azure Data Platform Engineer

Role Overview

We are seeking a senior-level Azure Data Platform Engineer with deep expertise in Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Data Factory (ADF), and enterprise database administration. This individual will play a hands-on leadership role in managing, troubleshooting, and driving data platform reliability and performance across a complex client environment.

This is not a passive support role. The ideal candidate is someone who will step in, take ownership of data pipelines and database operations, and proactively identify and resolve issues—often in high-pressure or ambiguous situations with demanding stakeholders.

This role is best suited for a practitioner who can balance deep technical execution with client engagement, operate across vendor ecosystems, and lead critical data loading and platform operations end-to-end.

Engagement Focus

• Long-term contract supporting a mission-critical data platform
• Emphasis on stability, performance improvement, and operational ownership
• Requires a resource who can operate independently and lead through ambiguity
• Not advisory—this is a hands-on execution and delivery role

Key Responsibilities

Azure SQL Platform Administration & Optimization

• Administer and manage Azure SQL Managed Instance and Azure SQL databases in production environments
• Perform database performance tuning, including indexing strategies, query plan analysis, and workload optimization
• Diagnose and resolve locking, blocking, and concurrency issues
• Implement and manage database security, user access, and role-based permissions
• Ensure robust backup, recovery, and high availability practices

Data Factory (ADF) Engineering & Operations

• Design, build, and maintain ADF pipelines for batch and incremental data loading
• Administer ADF environments, including monitoring, scheduling, and failure handling
• Troubleshoot pipeline failures, integration issues, and performance bottlenecks
• Analyze execution logs and metrics to identify systemic issues in data processing workflows
• Ensure pipelines are resilient, scalable, and operationally supportable

Data Load Process Ownership

• Take end-to-end ownership of data loading processes, from ingestion through validation
• Lead efforts to stabilize, standardize, and improve existing pipelines
• Identify root causes of failures and implement durable, repeatable fixes
• Coordinate across teams to ensure data availability and integrity
• Establish and enforce monitoring, alerting, and operational discipline

 Automation & Scripting

• Develop and maintain automation using Python and/or PowerShell
• Automate operational workflows such as environment validation, monitoring, and remediation
• Reduce manual intervention through repeatable scripting solutions

 Azure Infrastructure & DevOps Integration

• Work within Azure environments to support infrastructure dependencies impacting data workloads
• Utilize Azure DevOps (ADO) for:
• Managing database schema changes
• Versioning and promoting ADF pipelines
• Contribute to CI/CD practices for data platform deployments

 Delivery & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work directly with client stakeholders, internal teams, and third-party vendors
• Operate effectively in environments with unclear ownership, legacy systems, or process gaps
• Communicate clearly around issues, risks, and remediation strategies
• Demonstrate a willingness to take initiative, assume ownership, and drive outcomes

 Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in database administration, data engineering, or data platform operations
• Deep hands-on expertise with:
• Azure SQL Managed Instance / Azure SQL Database
• Azure Data Factory (pipeline development and administration)
• Strong experience in SQL query optimization and performance tuning
• Proven ability to diagnose and resolve:
• Locking/blocking issues
• Data pipeline failures
• Performance bottlenecks
• Experience managing database user access and security administration
• Hands-on experience with Python and/or PowerShell scripting
• Experience with Azure DevOps (ADO) for managing code and deployments
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret logs and debug data processes
• Ability to work independently in complex, high-pressure environments

 Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting large-scale or high-volume data environments
• Exposure to multi-vendor or hybrid data ecosystems
• Familiarity with broader Azure services supporting enterprise data platforms
• Prior experience in client-facing or consulting roles
• Experience stabilizing or inheriting underperforming data environments

 What Success Looks Like

• Data pipelines run reliably with minimal disruption
• Database performance issues are identified early and resolved quickly
• Data load processes are owned, documented, and continuously improving
• Stakeholders gain confidence in the platform and its stability
• The environment shifts from reactive issue management to proactive control
• The individual becomes the go-to resource for platform reliability and execution

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