Cloud Data Architect

Description
Pennymac is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Cloud Database Architect to design, implement, and manage our modern cloud data ecosystem. This is a pivotal role in shaping enterprise data strategy and ensuring performance, scalability, security, and automation across both cloud-native and hybrid platforms. You will work across cloud data warehouses, lakehouses, event streaming pipelines, NoSQL platforms, and SQL Server in the cloud, bringing deep expertise in automation, modern data architecture, and DataOps practices. This is a highly visible opportunity to influence Pennymac's next-generation data strategy and enable high-impact business solutions.

The Cloud Database Architect will:
Design and implement cloud-native data platforms leveraging AWS services, including data warehouses (Redshift, Snowflake) and lakehouses (Databricks, Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg).
Define modern data architecture blueprints, incorporating multi-model strategies (SQL, NoSQL, streaming, unstructured) to support enterprise-scale analytics and applications.
Architect and deliver event streaming solutions using platforms such as Kafka, Kinesis, enabling real-time ingestion, enrichment, and downstream processing.
Architect, manage, and optimize SQL Server on AWS (RDS & EC2) with automation around high availability, disaster recovery, backup, and scaling.
Lead and execute SQL Server to PostgreSQL migration initiatives, ensuring minimal disruption, optimized performance, and cost-efficiency.
Implement advanced performance tuning, indexing, and workload management strategies across relational data platforms.
Architect and implement data replication and masking strategies using Delphix, with a strong emphasis on automated provisioning and configuration.
Provide replication, masking, and virtualization support for Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQLenvironments, ensuring security, compliance, and efficiency in non-production environments.
Implement Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) practices using Terraform, OpenTofu, or AWS CDK for provisioning and managing data platforms.
Establish DataOps practices, including CI/CD for data pipelines, automated schema management, continuous testing, and monitoring.
Proactively identify opportunities for automation across database operations, including provisioning, patching, backups, monitoring, and performance tuning - with a strong focus on automating infrastructure deployment using Terraform or OpenTofu and automating performance analysis and optimization across all database types.
Build automation frameworks for provisioning, patching, performance optimization, HA/DR, compliance, and security operations.
Continuously monitor, analyze, and optimize performance across SQL, NoSQL, data warehouses, lakehouses, and streaming platforms.
Implement security best practices, including encryption, masking, key management, RBAC, and compliance with industry regulations.
Utilize observability tools (CloudWatch, OTEL, New Relic, or similar) to provide end-to-end monitoring, alerting, and self-healing automation.
Partner with engineering, InfoSec, and DevOps teams to design scalable, automated, cloud-native data solutions.
Define and publish standards, patterns, and reusable templates for enterprise data platforms.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to other team members, promoting a culture of automation and best practices for managing diverse database environments, including Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, and various NoSQL databases, with a strong emphasis on writing and optimizing efficient queries/data access patterns.
Skills
Cloud, Data, Aws, Sql
Top Skills Details
Cloud,Data,Aws,Sql
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Database Architect or in a similar role with 3+ years in cloud-native data platforms.
Minimum of 5 years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server, including database design, administration, performance tuning, and high availability solutions, with a strong focus on automation and expert-level query optimization skills.
Proven experience with cloud-native data warehouses and lakehouses: AWS Redshift, Snowflake, Databricks, Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg.
Strong expertise in event streaming platforms (Kafka, Kinesis, or MSK) for real-time pipelines.
Hands-on experience with NoSQL platforms such as DynamoDB, MongoDB, or Cassandra.
Deep expertise in SQL Server on AWS, including high availability, automation, migrations, and performance tuning.
Experience implementing Delphix-based replication, masking, and provisioning strategies across SQL Server and PostgreSQL.
Strong in Python, PowerShell, AWS CLI, or equivalent programming languages for automation.
Proven hands-on experience with IaC tools (Terraform, OpenTofu, AWS CDK) for cloud data infrastructure provisioning.
Demonstrated success implementing CI/CD pipelines for database and data workloads using GitLab CI, Jenkins, or AWS CodePipeline.
Expert in query optimization, indexing, and schema design across SQL and NoSQL.
Solid understanding of cloud data security, governance, and compliance practices.
Experience with observability and monitoring frameworks to ensure resilient, self-healing data systems.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication, able to influence stakeholders and mentor peers.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and highly visible environment.
Significant experience with PostgreSQL, including database design, administration, performance tuning, high availability, and replication, with a deep understanding of
Experience Level
Expert Level
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Westlake Village, CA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $85.00/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Westlake Village,CA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Feb 20, 2026.
>About TEKsystems:
We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

About TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services

We're a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. We're a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. We're strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. We're building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at TEKsystems.com.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.