AWS Data Engineer

Syms Strategic Group, LLC is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer specializing in Amazon Web Services data engineering for a Veterans Affairs healthcare data modernization initiative. The role will lead the transition from an MSSQL XML object store to a scalable AWS-native data platform, designing data storage, query, reporting, migration, cataloging, and infrastructure automation solutions. The engineer will collaborate with business stakeholders and backend engineers to deliver performant, discoverable healthcare data capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the next phase of the healthcare data platform modernization
• Implement the evolution from a Microsoft SQL eXtensible Markup Language (MSSQL XML) object store toward a scalable, cloud-native AWS data architecture that enables business stakeholders and analysts to run performant, SQL-based reports and queries against healthcare data seamlessly
• Evaluate and decide the right AWS data strategy for the platform
• Evaluate and recommend the optimal AWS-native data storage and query architecture for the XML object store data, assessing options such as S3 + Athena, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, and OpenSearch based on query patterns, reporting needs, cost, and scalability
• Design and build the reporting and query layer that allows business stakeholders and non-technical users to run relational SQL queries against healthcare data using familiar tooling
• Architect the migration path for XML object store data from MSSQL into the target AWS platform, defining storage formats, partitioning strategies, and data organization for optimal query performance
• Build and maintain AWS data catalog, schemas, and metadata management so that object store data is discoverable and queryable by business users
• Optimize query performance and cost across chose AWS services – partitioning, compression, file formats, and query pattern tuning
• Work directly with business stakeholders and analysts to understand reporting requirements and translate them into durable, performant data models and query patterns
• Collaborate with back-end C#/.Net engineer to ensure data flows cleanly from Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) processing pipelines into the new data layer
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines for data infrastructure using AWS-native tooling (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy)
• Apply Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices using AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), CloudFormation, or Terraform
• Document architecture decisions, data flows, and data dictionaries clearly for both technical and non-technical audiences

Requirements:

• • 8+ years' experience in software or data engineering with a strong AWS focus
• • Proven experience architecting and executing cloud data platform migrations in production enterprise or healthcare environments
• • Track record of evaluating and selecting AWS data services to meet business reporting and query requirements
• • Experience delivering reporting or analytics solutions that serve non-technical business users
• • Deep hands-on AWS experience across data-oriented services – S3, Athena, Glue, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, OpenSearch, Lambda, IAM, and Cloudwatch
• • Strong SQL skills with the ability to design relational query layers over semi-structured or non-relational data (XML, JSON)
• • Experience working with XML-heavy data stores – parsing, querying, and transforming XML at scale
• • An ability to evaluate trade-offs across AWS data services and make architecture recommendations based on cost, performance, and business requirements
• • Familiarity with AWS analytics and reporting services, including Athena, QuickSight, RedShift, or equivalent Business Intelligence (BI) tooling
• • Proficiency with Git and GitHub - branching strategies, pull requests, and collaborative workflows
• • Familiarity with CI/CD practices and AWS-native tooling (CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy)
• • IaC experience (AWS CDK, CloudFormation, or Terraform)
• • Strong ability to communicate technical architecture decisions and trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders
• • Experience gathering and translating business reporting requirements into technical data models
• • Comfort driving ambiguous architecture decisions to resolutions with limited direction
• • Experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and JIRA
• • Strong documentation habits – architecture diagrams, data dictionaries, migration runbooks
• • X.12, Medical Claims (837, 835, 277CA, etc), Health Level (HL7), Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
• Familiarity with C#/.Net back-end services for integration touchpoints
• Experience with Entity Framework migration or deprecation projects
• Experience with healthcare payer/Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) systems, clearinghouses, or pharmacy operations
• Knowledge of HIPAA compliance requirements in cloud data architecture
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent practical experience considered
• U.S. Citizenship required for this specific opportunity
• Must possess or qualify for a Public Trust (MBI)
• This is a 100% U.S. based remote position. However, candidates from CA, CO, IL, MN, NJ, NY, OR, or WA will not be considered
• Professional Certifications None but AWS certifications are a bonus