Senoir Data Engineer

Strategic Staffing Solutions; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Strategic Staffing Solutions seeks a Senior Data Engineer to lead data infrastructure modernization and migration efforts, including Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations and AWS-based cloud transition. The role emphasizes building scalable data foundations, governance, and real-time processing capabilities across enterprise systems.

The candidate will design robust PostgreSQL data models, implement CDC and auditing, and collaborate with developers and stakeholders to ensure secure, compliant data

Qualifications

• Strong PostgreSQL expertise including architecture, schema design, SQL, admin, performance tuning.
• Experience with large enterprise migrations; Oracle-to-PostgreSQL preferred.
• Hands-on AWS experience focusing on RDS, EC2, networking and security.
• Experience with streaming/real-time data processing using Kafka and Flink.
• Familiarity with lakehouse tech like Apache Hudi or Delta Lake.

Responsibilities

• Design and build PostgreSQL databases, schemas, and data models with focus on performance and scalability.
• Lead Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations to AWS RDS PostgreSQL while minimizing downtime.
• Analyze existing schemas and recommend improvements for modernization.
• Build and optimize real-time data pipelines using Kafka, Flink, and similar lakehouse tech.
• Design and implement CDC, auditing, data lineage, and change-tracking solutions.
• Develop normalized and denormalized models supporting OLTP and analytics.
• Establish data validation and quality controls during migration and modernization.
• Create data catalogs and schema/architectural documentation for teams.
• Collaborate with developers, architects, and stakeholders on modernization initiatives.
• Ensure data security, access controls, encryption, and compliance.

Skills

PostgreSQL

Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations

AWS

Data modeling

Real-time data processing

CDC / data lineage

OLTP & analytical workloads

Data security / auditing

Tools

Apache Kafka

Apache Flink

Apache Hudi / Delta Lake

RDS / AWS networking / security

Terraform / CloudFormation

Job description

Senior Data Engineer
Charlotte, NC

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Engineer to lead critical data infrastructure, database modernization, and migration initiatives supporting a next-generation application platform. This role will be responsible for building a scalable data foundation while transitioning large-scale legacy systems to a modern AWS cloud architecture.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in PostgreSQL, Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations, AWS, data modeling, and real-time data processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and build PostgreSQL databases, schemas, and data models from the ground up, with a focus on performance, scalability, and maintainability.
• Lead large-scale Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations, moving databases from on-premises environments to AWS RDS PostgreSQL while maintaining data integrity and minimizing downtime.
• Analyze existing database schemas and recommend structural, performance, and scalability improvements.
• Build and optimize real-time data pipelines and products using Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, and Apache Hudi or similar lakehouse technologies.
• Design and implement Change Data Capture (CDC) and auditing solutions to track data changes, lineage, and historical activity.
• Develop normalized and denormalized data models supporting both OLTP and analytical workloads.
• Establish data validation and quality controls throughout migration and modernization efforts.
• Develop and maintain data catalogs, schema documentation, and architectural documentation for application and engineering teams.
• Partner with application developers, architects, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders throughout modernization initiatives.
• Ensure appropriate data security, access controls, encryption, and compliance practices.

Required Qualifications

• Strong hands-on expertise with PostgreSQL, including database architecture, schema design, SQL, administration, performance tuning, and optimization.
• Demonstrated experience performing large enterprise database migrations; Oracle-to-PostgreSQL experience is strongly preferred.
• Hands-on AWS experience, particularly RDS, EC2, networking, and security.
• Experience with Apache Kafka and Apache Flink for streaming and real-time data processing.
• Experience with Apache Hudi, Delta Lake, or comparable lakehouse technology.
• Strong understanding of relational database design and normalized/denormalized data modeling.
• Experience implementing CDC, audit logging, data lineage, and change-tracking solutions.
• Ability to evaluate legacy database structures and design improved schemas for modern applications.
• Strong technical documentation and stakeholder communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS data services such as Glue, Lambda, and Step Functions.
• Data quality and validation frameworks.
• Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Application modernization or legacy platform replacement experience.
• Knowledge of data security, encryption, and regulatory requirements such as GDPR or HIPAA.