Data and Analytics Lead

3RD PARTY CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!!Candidates MUST be local to Atlanta, GAOur client is seeking a highly technical, hands-on contractor to serve as an Individual Contributor (IC) Lead within their Data & Analytics team. This role blends strategic data architecture leadership with hands-on execution, driving modernization across reporting and data platforms.The immediate focus is delivering high-volume SSRS report conversions—transitioning from T-SQL stored procedure-based datasets to an SSAS Tabular semantic model using DAX. This individual will play a key contributor role in the conversion effort while also helping evolve the Snowflake data warehouse and semantic reporting layer. Over time, this position will shape broader data architecture strategy and elevate team capabilities through modern engineering practices and AI-driven development.Key ResponsibilitiesImmediate Priorities (0–6 Months)Lead end-to-end delivery of assigned SSRS report conversions, including dataset redesign and migration to SSAS Tabular models using DAXRefactor legacy SSRS reports from T-SQL stored procedures to semantic model-based reporting, ensuring accuracy and improved maintainabilityDesign and optimize SSRS reports with consistent layout, parameters, and interactive features for enhanced user experienceConfigure and manage report subscriptions (standard and data-driven), scheduling, and troubleshootingCollaborate with data engineers and analysts to validate business logic, reconcile outputs, and ensure data qualityImprove performance and scalability by tuning DAX queries, optimizing semantic models, and resolving bottlenecksLong-Term Priorities (6+ Months)Serve as an IC architecture leader, defining best practices, standards, and patterns for reporting, semantic modeling, and data warehouse usageContribute to the evolution of the Snowflake data warehouse and dimensional data models aligned with reporting needsChampion DevOps best practices including source control, CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, and automated deploymentsDrive adoption of AI/LLM tools to accelerate development, testing, documentation, and analysis workflowsMentor team members through pairing, code reviews, and sharing reusable assets to improve overall engineering qualityDevelop and maintain comprehensive documentation, including report logic, data lineage, and operational runbooksRequired QualificationsCore Expertise (0–6 Months)Advanced experience building and refactoring enterprise reports in SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)Strong hands-on experience with SSAS Tabular models and deep proficiency in DAX development and optimizationExpert-level SQL/T-SQL skills, including stored procedures, debugging, and performance tuningExperience implementing SSRS datasets, parameters, and subscription modelsStrong understanding of performance optimization across reporting and semantic layersDemonstrated ability to leverage AI-assisted tools to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and maintain engineering rigorOngoing Success Factors (6+ Months)Proven ability to lead technical initiatives as an IC, including defining architecture and guiding team best practicesExperience working in DevOps environments using GitHub and/or Azure DevOps with CI/CD pipelinesStrong communication skills with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutionsHands-on experience applying AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Copilot, LLMs) to improve delivery speed and qualityPreferred Qualifications (Platform Modernization & Architecture)Experience with Snowflake or other modern cloud data warehouse platformsStrong background in dimensional modeling (Kimball methodology, star schemas, fact/dimension design)Experience building or modernizing data pipelines and ELT processesKnowledge of Azure SQL Database and OLTP systems, including 3NF modeling principlesFamiliarity with SQL projects, deployment automation, and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions)Experience implementing automated testing, data quality validation, and monitoring frameworksExposure to API integrations and tools such as Postman or SwaggerFamiliarity with Azure AI Search or modern search/indexing strategiesExperience using VS Code for database development, schema management, and version-controlled deployments