Remote: Modern Data Stack Architect - Subject Matter Expert

Client Type: US Client

Location: Remote

This is a 6-month freelance contract, offering up to 30 hours per week.

Microsoft Data Architecture

As this is a freelance position, we're seeking individuals with a proven track record of successfully managing freelance engagements and multiple client relationships.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with a team of learning experience designers to help create and validate training materials. 
• Review a skills task or job task analysis for accuracy and completeness, providing feedback on essential vs. nice-to-know tasks and suggesting improvements. 
• Review a high-level program outline and provide feedback on the order and complexity of topics for the intended audience. 
• Review a detailed program outline, ensuring alignment with the high-level program outline, and helping to confirm that content is presented in the correct order and format. 
• Validate AI-generated content to ensure it conforms to learning objectives and is technically accurate. 
• Support creation of content-specific graphics such as tables, flow charts, screen captures, etc. 
• Create any assets required to make demonstrations that showcase specific procedures and skills. 
• Create recordings of software demonstrations and related audio scripts. 
• Coordinate with learning experience designers to build out the assets, steps, and technical elements needed for hands-on projects such as exercises, labs, and projects. 
• Be available during US business hours, M-F, for content reviews, questions, and occasional meetings. 
• Work on the company's systems for all work, including email, messaging platform, and cloud-based file storage systems. 
• Log time weekly and invoice time monthly.

Essential Tools & Platforms

• Microsoft Fabric 
• OneLake 
• Fabric Lakehouse
• Fabric Data Warehouse 
• Data Factory (Fabric) 
• Dataflows Gen2 
• Event Streams 
• Data Activator 
• Microsoft Purview 
• Power BI 
• Copilot in Fabric 
• Copilot Studio 
• Azure Monitor 
• Azure Stream Analytics 
• Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) 
• SQL Server / T-SQL 
• Visual Studio Code (for development, if applicable for notebooks/scripts)  

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven hands-on experience designing, building, and optimizing modern data architectures using Microsoft Fabric, including OneLake, Fabric Lakehouse, Fabric Data Warehouse, Data Factory (Fabric), Dataflows Gen2, Event Streams, Data Activator, Microsoft Purview, and Power BI. 
• Demonstrated ability to architect and implement unified data lakes with OneLake, leveraging open data formats (Delta, Parquet, Iceberg), and medallion architectures (bronze/silver/gold zones). Skilled in building and managing Lakehouse solutions using Delta tables, managed folders, and notebooks.  
• Expertise in designing, deploying, and querying Fabric Data Warehouses with advanced T-SQL, including schema design (star, snowflake, data vault), partitioning, indexing, and compute scaling. Experience with distributed and replicated tables, and DirectLake mode for high-speed analytics. 
• Practical experience creating robust ETL/ELT pipelines using Data Factory (Fabric), mapping dataflows, notebooks, and SQL transformations. Skilled in handling schema evolution, parameterization, error handling, and performance tuning. Experience with real-time data processing using Event Streams and Data Activator. 
• Deep understanding of data governance using Microsoft Purview, including data cataloging, classification, sensitivity labeling, lineage visualization, and compliance mapping (GDPR, HIPAA). Ability to define domain ownership, stewardship, and glossary terms within Purview. 
• Proficiency in enforcing identity and access control with Microsoft Entra ID, configuring row level and column-level security, and applying RBAC and service principal authentication across Lakehouse, Warehouse, and Power BI. Experience with auditing, monitoring, and securing data architectures. 
• Strong experience building reusable Power BI semantic models, defining DAX measures, implementing incremental refresh, and leveraging DirectLake connectivity. Skilled in designing and publishing secure, interactive dashboards and embedded analytics solutions. 
• Ability to recognize and apply Lakehouse, Warehouse, Mesh, and hybrid patterns based on business needs. Experience with performance optimization, cost control, modular design, and decentralized domain architectures. 
• Familiarity with Copilot in Fabric, Data Agents, and AI-powered automation in Power BI for pipeline generation, natural language querying, and workflow optimization. Demonstrated success designing, reviewing, and delivering hands-on labs, real-world projects, and portfolio artifacts (architecture diagrams, pipeline configs, governance plans, BI reports) for intermediate data professionals. 
• Exceptional ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly for diverse audiences. Experience creating technical documentation, screencasts, and video tutorials. Strong understanding of adult learning principles and instructional best practices. 
• Experience in reviewing training materials for technical accuracy and clarity.
• A strong understanding of adult learning principles is a plus. 
• Essential experience in training, learning, and development, or teaching. 
• Proven ability to create and deliver effective screencasts and video tutorials.
• Strong ability to articulate complex technical concepts in an accessible manner.
• Availability to work during the US time zones' business hours.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical field. 
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and deploying complex data solutions specifically on Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, and Power Platform, covering areas like data lakes, lakehouses, data warehouses, ETL/ELT, and governance. 
• Demonstrable expertise with key Microsoft data services and tools, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Fabric, OneLake, Fabric Lakehouse, Fabric Data Warehouse, Data Factory (Fabric), Microsoft Purview, Power BI, Event Streams, and Data Activator. 
• Proven experience in technical training, learning & development, or teaching, with a strong ability to create, review, and deliver high-quality, technically accurate training materials (e.g., course outlines, hands-on exercises, video tutorials). 
• Exceptional technical communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences and a strong understanding of adult learning principles.
• Strong problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills.