Senior Data Engineer (Graph focused), Fixed Term - Toronto

Dept; Toronto; On-site; CAD 102,286 - 145,681; Full time

Job summary

Dept is seeking a Senior Data Engineer for a 3‑month fixed-term contract in Toronto, Ontario. The role involves pulling data from Databricks, managing graph databases, and implementing benchmark queries. Candidates should have hands-on experience with Databricks and familiarity with graph databases like Neo4j or TigerGraph.

The anticipated hourly rate is $90, commensurate with experience. Dept is committed to inclusivity and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

Qualifications

• Fluency in Databricks required.
• Hands-on experience with at least two graph databases, Neo4j and/or TigerGraph preferred.
• Strong PostgreSQL skills including recursive CTEs and query plan analysis.

Responsibilities

• Pull data from Databricks and load it into graph databases.
• Build relationship structures and entity linkages in databases.
• Implement benchmark queries in native languages and as PostgreSQL CTEs.
• Build APIs to evaluate query performance.
• Contribute evaluations and analysis to technology recommendations.

Skills

Databricks fluency

Experience with Neo4j and/or TigerGraph

Strong PostgreSQL skills

Comfort with database environments

Experience with technology benchmarks

KYC/AML domain knowledge

Kubernetes for database workloads

AWS-native database deployment

Job description

Senior Data Engineer

This is a 3‑month fixed‑term salaried contract located in Ontario, Canada, preferably in Toronto.

What you’ll do

• Pull data from Databricks, transform it, and load it into multiple graph database candidates — then tear them down and repeat under controlled, repeatable conditions.
• Build and manage relationship structures and entity linkages within each graph database to mirror real production data models.
• Implement benchmark queries in each technology’s native language (Cypher, GSQL, nGQL, AQL, openCypher) and as PostgreSQL recursive CTEs for the baseline.
• Build APIs against each candidate to evaluate real‑world query performance across use cases.
• Contribute scored candidate evaluations and written analysis to a final technology recommendation presented to engineering and architecture leadership.

What you bring

• Databricks fluency.
• Hands‑on experience with at least two graph databases — Neo4j and/or TigerGraph strongly preferred — and working proficiency in Cypher at minimum.
• Strong PostgreSQL skills: recursive CTEs, materialised views, query plan analysis, index strategy.
• Comfort spinning up and tearing down database environments repeatedly in a structured evaluation context.
• Experience designing and executing structured technology benchmarks at enterprise scale.
• Bonus: KYC/AML domain knowledge, Kubernetes for database workloads, or AWS‑native database deployment.

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $90, based on relevant experience, expertise, and organisational impact.

Equal Opportunity Employer

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier‑free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s lived experience, race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. Please let us know if you need any accommodations. It’s confidential and used only to ensure you feel fully supported.

DEPT® participates in E‑Verify, meaning your Form I‑9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

We support diverse talent and encourage everyone to apply, even if they believe they may not meet every qualification. We provide a fair chance for all candidates.