Senior Database Developer – AI/ML Data Systems

Profit Recovery Partners LLC; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Gym discount

Phone stipend

Job summary

Profit Recovery Partners is seeking a Senior Database Developer – AI/ML Data Systems in Santa Ana, fully onsite. You will lead the design and optimization of complex database systems powering both traditional apps and AI-driven solutions, including RAG and LLM-powered workflows.

You will architect data infrastructure, build data pipelines, and integrate AI services, while mentoring the team and driving best practices in data governance and security.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in database development, administration, and optimization with AI/ML data exposure preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/Data Science or related field.
• Advanced certifications in DBMS or AI/data engineering preferred.
• Expert in relational databases, especially SQL Server, with T-SQL mastery.
• Hands‑on with AI/ML data technologies and vector databases (e.g., pgvector).
• Proficiency in Python for data engineering tasks and ML libraries.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and optimization of scalable database systems supporting transactional and AI workloads.
• Architect data infrastructure for AI solutions including vector stores and semantic search capabilities.
• Design and build data pipelines for ML models, feature engineering, and analytics.
• Integrate AI services (Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenAI) into data-driven apps.
• Mentor junior developers and promote best practices in data/AI engineering.

Skills

Database design

SQL Server / T-SQL

AI/ML data tech

Python

Data modeling

Data integration

ETL

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

Azure Data Factory

Informatica

Apache Kafka

pgvector

Azure OpenAI

Job description

Santa Ana, CA

Work Location:

At Profit Recovery Partners (PRP), we believe that collaboration and innovation thrive when we're together. This position isfully onsiteat our Santa Ana office, allowing for real-time teamwork, immediate problem-solving, and a strong sense of community among our team members.

Who You Are:

As a Senior Database Developer – AI/ML Data Systems, you will be a senior member of our database development team, responsible for leading the design, development, optimization, and maintenance of complex database systems that power both traditional business applications and modern AI-driven solutions. You will provide technical expertise and guidance to the team, drive innovation in AI-enabled data engineering, and contribute to the overall data and AI strategy of the organization. In this role, you will collaborate with stakeholders, architects, data scientists, and engineering teams to deliver scalable, efficient, and secure database and AI data infrastructure. This position requires strong leadership skills, expert-level knowledge of database management systems, hands‑on experience with AI/ML data technologies, and the ability to solve complex data challenges.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of complex and highly scalable database systems, including data models, schemas, tables, views, and stored procedures, supporting both transactional workloads and AI/ML applications.
• Architect and implement data infrastructure for AI solutions, including vector databases, embedding stores, and semantic search capabilities (e.g., Azure AI Search, pgvector, Pinecone) to support retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) and other LLM‑powered applications.
• Design and build data pipelines that prepare, transform, and serve high‑quality data for machine learning models, LLM fine‑tuning, and analytics, including feature engineering and feature store management.
• Integrate AI services and APIs (e.g., Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenAI) into database‑driven applications and workflows, including intelligent document processing, natural language querying, and automated data classification.
• Leverage AI‑assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, AI code assistants) to accelerate development, improve code quality, and champion responsible adoption of these tools across the team.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including software developers, data scientists, system administrators, and business analysts, to understand requirements, provide technical expertise, and deliver data and AI solutions that meet business objectives.
• Provide technical support and training to users and clients on the use of data systems, AI‑enabled tools, processes, and custom applications built.
• Conduct advanced performance tuning and optimization activities, including query optimization, indexing strategies (including vector indexing), and database configuration enhancements, to maximize system performance and efficiency. Develop and implement proactive monitoring solutions to detect and resolve performance issues, system bottlenecks, and database errors in a timely manner.
• Investigate and resolve complex database‑related issues, including data anomalies, performance bottlenecks, and system failures, using advanced troubleshooting techniques and tools.
• Contribute to data and AI architecture standards, guidelines, and governance frameworks, ensuring data consistency, integrity, interoperability, and responsible AI practices across the organization.
• Develop and implement robust security measures, access controls, and data encryption techniques to protect sensitive data including data used in AI systems and ensure compliance with industry regulations, data privacy requirements, and best practices.
• Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to junior members of the database development team, fostering a collaborative and knowledge‑sharing environment.
• Stay abreast of emerging database and AI technologies, trends, and industry best practices; evaluate their applicability to the organization’s data landscape and propose innovative solutions.
• Develop and implement data quality assurance processes, data cleansing techniques, and data governance strategies to maintain high‑quality data for both operational systems and AI/ML training and inference.
• Design and implement robust data integration and ETL processes, leveraging advanced tools and technologies (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Informatica, Apache Kafka) to ensure seamless data flow and integration across multiple systems and sources.
• Provide expert‑level database administration, including capacity planning, backup and recovery strategies, disaster recovery planning, and high availability configurations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Need:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in database development, administration, and optimization, with a focus on complex database solutions; recent hands‑on experience building or supporting AI/ML‑enabled data solutions strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related field preferred.
• Advanced certifications in database management systems or AI/data engineering (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate, Azure AI Engineer Associate, Oracle Certified Master) preferred.
• Expert‑level proficiency in working with relational databases, preferably Microsoft SQL Server; demonstrated mastery of T‑SQL; and in‑depth knowledge of advanced SQL concepts, database performance tuning, and optimization strategies.
• Hands‑on experience with AI/ML data technologies, such as vector databases and embeddings (e.g., Azure AI Search, pgvector, Pinecone), retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) architectures, and LLM APIs (e.g., Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, OpenAI).
• Proficiency in Python for data engineering and AI integration tasks, including working with data and ML libraries (e.g., pandas, LangChain or similar orchestration frameworks) alongside SQL‑based development.
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing complex data models, including conceptual, logical, and physical design phases, and a deep understanding of data architecture principles and best practices.
• Strong expertise in designing and implementing large‑scale data integration and ETL processes using advanced tools and frameworks (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Informatica, Apache Kafka).
• Familiarity with MLOps concepts and practices, including model data lifecycle management, monitoring data drift, and supporting model training and inference pipelines.
• Understanding of responsible AI principles, including data privacy, bias mitigation, and governance considerations for AI systems handling sensitive business data.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to lead and mentor a team of database developers, providing technical guidance, conducting code reviews, and fostering professional growth.
• Expert‑level proficiency in advanced database administration tasks, such as performance monitoring, capacity planning, backup and recovery strategies, and high availability configurations.
• Exceptional problem‑solving and analytical skills to identify and resolve complex database‑related issues and data challenges.

Who We Are:

Profit Recovery Partners is a management consulting firm specializing in enterprise cost optimization and spend reduction. We partner with FORTUNE 1000 corporations, leading law firms, private equity firms, and private enterprises across North America to design, implement, and sustain transformative cost‑reduction strategies. Leveraging deep category expertise, proprietary analytics, and supplier‑negotiation intelligence, PRP delivers measurable financial impact and operational efficiency. Our client engagements have generated more than $11 billion in verified savings, reinforcing PRP’s reputation as a trusted advisor to executives seeking lasting performance improvement and sustainable cost reduction results.

Why Join Us:

At PRP, we provide a dynamic, supportive environment where you can thrive personally and professionally. Here’s what you can expect when you join our team:

• Full medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Optional pet insurance
• Access to a gym membership discount (offered through our healthcare provider and available for select fitness centers)
• $200/month waived medical benefit for employees who opt out of our health plans
• Cell phone stipend for applicable roles
• Financial Wellness: 401(k) plan with company match
• Time Off to Recharge: Generous paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, bereavement, and jury duty leave
• Strong Foundation: Over 29 years of consistent growth and success
• Fun & Connection: Annual summer retreat, holiday parties, happy hours, and themed celebrations throughout the year
• Career Growth: A collaborative, high‑performing team with frequent recognition and opportunities for internal promotion
• Our Culture: Fast‑paced, team‑driven, and fueled by a shared commitment to excellence
• Giving Back & Getting Involved:
  We’re proud of our employee‑led committees that support causes and initiatives that matter to us all:
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Youth Rising Group
• Women’s Empowerment Group
• Wellness Committee

These groups offer meaningful opportunities to give back, connect with colleagues, and help shape a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

The salary range for this position is: $118,640.00-$163,130.00. Actual compensation within the range will be dependent upon the individual's skills, experience, education, qualifications, and applicable employment laws.

Equal Opportunity Employer