Senior SQL Pipeline Developer

Inserso is seeking a hands-on Senior Data Engineer to design, build, and troubleshoot SQL-based data pipelines supporting mission-critical DevSecOps operations for the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins AFB. This role is focused on building and maintaining production data pipelines - not reporting or dashboard development. The ideal candidate has strong SQL coding skills, hands-on experience working with large datasets, and a proven track record of diagnosing and resolving complex data issues in operational environments. This position requires someone who can go beyond writing queries and take full ownership of data pipeline performance, reliability, and scalability across both NIPR/SIPR environments. Pipelines in this environment are code-first, built using SQL Server, C#/.NET microservices, and scheduling frameworks.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain end-to-end data pipelines (ETL/ELT) that move, transform, and load large-scale datasets reliably in production environments.
  
• Write and optimize complex SQL using stored procedures, CTEs, window functions, and performance tuning techniques.
  
• Design, develop, and maintain SQL Server 2016+ databases including stored procedures, functions, triggers, views, and other database objects.
  
• Diagnose and resolve data inconsistencies, failed pipeline jobs, and performance bottlenecks in production environments.
  
• Design and implement data warehousing solutions, including incremental load strategies, staging patterns, and large-volume data handling.
  
• Implement and maintain database security measures to protect sensitive data across NIPR/SIPR environments.
  
• Troubleshoot and resolve database-related issues in both production and development environments.
  
• Collaborate on data modeling decisions including normalized vs. denormalized schema design.
  
• Participate in code reviews and ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices.
  
• Mentor junior developers and provide technical guidance on SQL Server development and pipeline engineering.
  
• Collaborate with application developers, system administrators, and stakeholders to deliver effective data solutions.
  
• Contribute to pipeline documentation, runbooks, and data architecture documentation.
  
• Support the team's ongoing migration to Azure cloud infrastructure as the effort progresses.
  

Required Skills/Experience:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen with an active Secret Clearance.
  
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, a related field, or equivalent experience.
  
• 5-8 years of experience building data pipelines, data engineering solutions, or production database systems.
  
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting production data pipelines and resolving performance issues under operational conditions.
  
• Deep understanding of SQL Server architecture including database engine, storage engine, and query processor.
  
• Extensive experience with T-SQL: stored procedures, functions, triggers, views, CTEs, and window functions.
  
• Proficiency in SQL Server 2016 or later (2022 preferred).
  
• Strong understanding of indexing strategies, query optimization, and performance tuning.
  
• Solid understanding of relational database design principles, normalization, and dimensional modeling (star schema, fact/dimension tables).
  
• Experience designing and implementing incremental ETL processes including watermark strategies, staging tables, and idempotent load patterns.
  
• Understanding of data warehousing concepts including slowly changing dimensions, batch loading, and large-scale data handling.
  
• Experience working with large datasets (millions+ records) in production environments.
  
• Strong understanding of database security principles and experience implementing security measures.
  
• Experience with .NET/C# for pipeline or application development - our environment uses a code-first pipeline architecture built on C# microservices alongside SQL Server.
  

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Experience with pipeline scheduling and orchestration tools (SQL Agent, Hangfire, or similar).
  
• Experience with Agile development methodologies.
  
• SQL Server certification (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate).
  
• Experience with data visualization tools (Power BI or Tableau) - secondary to pipeline work.
  
• Experience with Python or PySpark for data processing tasks.
  

Future-Relevant as We Migrate to Azure:

• Familiarity with ETL/ELT tooling (SSIS, Azure Data Factory, or similar) - not currently in use but relevant as cloud migration progresses.
  
• Exposure to NoSQL databases - our current environment is SQL Server RDBMS, but awareness of NoSQL concepts is a plus.
  
• Experience with cloud-based database solutions (Azure SQL Database, AWS RDS) - we are targeting Azure adoption and this experience will become directly applicable.
  
• Experience with database administration tasks in hybrid on-prem/cloud environments.
  

Physical and/or Mental Qualifications:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
  
• Ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
  
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements.
  

EOE, including Disability/Vets.

Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified individuals with a disability, where such accommodation will not impose an undue hardship during the application process and on the job.