Cloud Data Architect - Redshift SME

Hi,

We are looking for Cloud Data Architect - Redshift SME at Linthicum Heights, MD (Hybrid)

Role: Cloud Data Architect - Redshift SME

Location : Linthicum Heights, MD (Hybrid)

Mode: Long term Contract

Job Description :

The AWS Redshift Subject Matter Expert (SME) is responsible for providing technical leadership, architecture, optimization, and strategic guidance for enterprise cloud data warehousing solutions using Amazon Redshift. The role supports both Provisioned (RA3) and Serverless deployments and ensures that data warehouse environments are scalable, secure, cost-efficient, and highly performant. This position requires deep hands-on expertise, strong architectural skills, and the ability to mentor teams and communicate effectively with stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Solution Design

• Architect, design, and implement scalable, secure, and cost-effective data warehouse solutions using Redshift Provisioned and Redshift Serverless.
• Evaluate and recommend the appropriate deployment model (Provisioned vs. Serverless) based on workload predictability, concurrency, cost, and performance requirements.
• Lead migration and modernization initiatives from on-premise or cloud data warehouses (e.g., Teradata, Snowflake) to Redshift.
• Define and implement integration patterns with AWS analytics and data services within Amazon Web Services, including Amazon S3, AWS Glue, Amazon Kinesis, Amazon EMR, and Redshift ML.

Performance Optimization & Cost Management

• Analyze, tune, and optimize complex SQL queries to improve performance and reduce cost.
• Configure and manage Workload Management (WLM) for Provisioned clusters and capacity settings for Serverless environments.
• Optimize data models using appropriate distribution styles, sort keys, and compression encodings.
• Monitor system health, query performance, and resource utilization using CloudWatch and Redshift system tables.
• Implement cost controls including node sizing, reserved instances (Provisioned), and Redshift Processing Units (RPUs) capacity limits (Serverless).

Data Governance, Security & Operations

• Implement enterprise-level security including IAM-based access control, database permissions, encryption at rest and in transit, and VPC endpoint configurations.
• Define and maintain High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) strategies using automated snapshots, backup/restore, cross-region replication, and Multi-AZ deployments.
• Guide and implement best-practice data modeling approaches such as Dimensional Modeling and Data Vault.
• Design and support efficient ETL/ELT pipelines leveraging AWS-native and third-party tools.
• Ensure data reliability, compliance, and operational stability across environments.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a technical mentor and advisor to Data Engineers, Database Administrators, and Analysts.
• Collaborate with application teams, business stakeholders, and leadership to align technical solutions with business objectives.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Required Skills & Experience

Technical Skills

• Deep hands-on experience with AWS Redshift (Provisioned RA3 nodes and Serverless).
• Strong expertise in data warehousing concepts, architectures, and best practices.
• Advanced SQL skills, including complex query optimization and Redshift-specific commands (COPY, UNLOAD).
• Proven experience with performance tuning, WLM configuration, query execution plans, distribution styles, sort keys, and compression.
• Hands-on experience with AWS services: Amazon S3, AWS Glue, IAM, CloudWatch, Lambda, Lake Formation, Kinesis, and EMR.
• Programming and scripting experience using Python or similar languages for automation, ETL, and integrations.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15 years of overall data warehousing experience.
• At least 3 years of hands-on experience working with AWS Redshift in production environments.

Regards,