Job Title: Senior Database Management Specialist Location: Baltimore, MD 21202 (Hybrid combination of on-site and remote as determined by the client) Employment Type: Contract (Initial short base period + two optional 1-year extensions) Anticipated Start Date: March 2026 Duration:
- Base: March 2026 June 2026
- Option Years: July 2026 June 2027 and July 2027 June 2028 (client option to extend)
About the Role The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) is seeking an experienced Senior Database Management Specialist to support Maryland Health Connection the state s health insurance marketplace (ACA / Health Insurance Exchange).
You will be responsible for designing, building, optimizing, securing, and maintaining complex enterprise databases (primarily PostgreSQL and MongoDB) in an AWS cloud environment, while ensuring high availability, performance, data quality, and compliance with strict federal security standards (including access to Federal Tax Information FTI).
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain complex enterprise databases, data lakes, and data warehouses
- Create and optimize database architecture: data modeling, schema design, normalization, indexing, partitioning, replication
- Perform PostgreSQL and MongoDB database administration (RBAC, patching, upgrades, replication, high availability, disaster recovery)
- Implement and support large-scale data migrations between environments (on-prem AWS cloud)
- Design, develop, and maintain ETL processes to extract, transform, and load complex data
- Monitor production database performance (CPU, memory, disk, I/O), troubleshoot issues, and perform tuning
- Write and optimize complex SQL queries, stored procedures, and NoSQL queries; create and manage indexes
- Perform database maintenance activities (VACUUM, ANALYZE, full vacuum, reindexing, etc.)
- Harden database security (access controls, Linux OS parameters, file system encryption)
- Plan, test, and execute backup & recovery strategies; support disaster recovery environments
- Collaborate with development, infrastructure, and operations teams to automate database operations in AWS
- Support CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices using tools such as Jenkins, Bamboo, Maven, Bitbucket, Jira, Git
- Ensure data quality, governance, metadata management, and compliance with health insurance marketplace requirements
- Provide database support for system testing (unit, integration, load, end-to-end, UAT)
- Participate in deployment planning, batch sequencing, and system health monitoring
- Work with stakeholders to define data strategies, implement performance improvements, and reduce costs
- Be available for overtime, weekend, holiday, and off-hours support as required
Mandatory (Minimum) Qualifications
- 6+ years of experience designing databases, queries, reports, and solutions for large-scale enterprise systems
- 4+ years of hands-on experience building complex data extractions, queries, and databases using PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Informatica
- 4+ years of PostgreSQL Server administration (patching, maintenance, complex SQL/stored procedures, performance tuning)
- 4+ years supporting applications in AWS cloud (EC2, AMI, CI/CD pipelines)
- 4+ years monitoring production databases and batch jobs for operational improvements
- 4+ years hands-on database maintenance in production and non-production environments
- 2+ years of experience leading or performing large-volume database migrations
- Strong experience with high-availability database setups, disaster recovery, backup/restore
- Deep knowledge of database architecture (normalization, indexing, partitioning, replication)
- Proven ability to optimize large databases (performance tuning, capacity planning, query optimization)
- Experience with ETL processes, data modeling, and data warehousing
- Familiarity with CI/CD tools: Jenkins, Bamboo, Maven, Bitbucket, Jira, Git
- Experience working with document management systems
Highly Preferred / Strongly Desired Qualifications
- 5+ years supporting federal/state health insurance marketplaces, ACA systems, or large health & human services applications
- Experience processing EDI transactions (834, 820, 999, 270/271 eligibility transactions)
- Strong experience optimizing PostgreSQL and MongoDB in production AWS environments
- Knowledge of disaster recovery planning, backup validation, and high-availability strategies
- Familiarity with health insurance exchange operations, eligibility/enrollment processes, and healthcare data challenges
- Experience with data governance, metadata management, data quality frameworks
- Exposure to analytics tools (Tableau, QlikSense, Power BI)
- Experience with Corticon or similar complex business rules engines
- Understanding of PMO processes, change control, and security compliance in regulated environments
Security & Background Requirements
- Must successfully pass enhanced background investigation including FBI fingerprint-based criminal check, citizenship/employment eligibility verification, and local law enforcement check
- Ongoing obligation to report any arrests/charges that could impact FTI access authorization
- Comfortable working with Federal Tax Information (FTI) under strict IRS Publication 1075 and 26 U.S.C. 6103 rules
Other Important Notes
- Hybrid work model (on-site days required at Baltimore office 750 E Pratt St)
- Must be flexible for overtime, weekends, holidays, and off-hours support
- Only candidates who clearly meet all minimum qualifications will be considered
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