Location: Atlanta, GA
Employment Type: Contract
Experience Level: Senior (10+ Years)
Position Overview:
We are seeking a Power BI Lead Developer / Architect with deep expertise in Microsoft Fabric and enterprise-scale analytics platforms to lead the migration of legacy Power BI environments into modern Fabric-based architecture.
This role requires strong technical leadership in Power BI architecture, advanced DAX optimization, VertiPaq performance tuning, and Fabric-native data engineering patterns, along with hands-on development capabilities in SQL, Python, and CI/CD automation.
You will work closely with business stakeholders, architects, offshore teams, and engineering groups to design and deliver scalable, high-performance analytics solutions that support enterprise decision-making.
Key Responsibilities:
Power BI & Microsoft Fabric Architecture
- Lead enterprise migration from Power BI Fixed Capacity environments to Microsoft Fabric architecture
- Design scalable semantic models, datasets, and enterprise BI architectures
- Implement and optimize Direct Lake architecture and Fabric-native analytics solutions
- Define best practices for Power BI and Fabric performance, governance, and scalability
Performance Engineering & Optimization
- Perform advanced DAX optimization and query tuning across Formula Engine and Storage Engine
- Analyze and optimize VertiPaq models, including:
- Data compression strategies
- Cardinality tuning
- Partitioning design
- Data type optimization
- Query execution plans
- Improve performance through caching strategies, workload balancing, and query optimization techniques
- Conduct deep performance assessments and provide actionable optimization recommendations
Microsoft Fabric Engineering
- Drive optimization initiatives across Microsoft Fabric workloads
- Implement:
- Data compaction strategies
- Parquet file optimization
- Workload performance tuning
- Cache and storage optimization patterns
- Support Fabric migration strategies and modernization initiatives
- Ensure efficient integration between Power BI, Fabric, and enterprise data sources
Data Engineering & Development
- Develop and maintain solutions using:
- SQL (performance-tuned enterprise queries)
- Python (automation, data transformation, analytics support)
- Build reusable frameworks for reporting, transformation, and automation
- Support end-to-end data pipelines feeding Power BI and Fabric environments
CI/CD, DevOps & Release Management
- Design and maintain CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions and DevOps best practices
- Support version control, release automation, and deployment pipelines
- Ensure safe and scalable promotion of Power BI and Fabric assets across environments
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Lead offshore and distributed development teams in delivery execution
- Collaborate with business stakeholders, architects, and engineering teams
- Translate business requirements into scalable technical BI solutions
- Conduct workshops, architecture reviews, and technical enablement sessions
- Mentor teams on Power BI, Fabric, and performance engineering best practices
Governance & Production Support
- Support enterprise governance, security, and compliance models
- Manage production deployments and release activities
- Ensure stability, reliability, and scalability of enterprise BI platforms
- Participate in incident resolution and production support when needed
Required Qualifications:
Experience
- 8+ years in Business Intelligence, Data Engineering, or Analytics platforms
- 5+ years of hands-on Power BI development and architecture
- 3+ years of experience with Microsoft Fabric or Fabric migration projects
- Experience leading offshore or distributed delivery teams
Technical Skills
- Strong expertise in:
- Power BI architecture and semantic modeling
- Advanced DAX development and optimization
- Formula Engine and Storage Engine tuning
- VertiPaq optimization (compression, cardinality, partitioning)
- Strong SQL development and performance tuning skills
- Strong Python programming experience for data engineering and automation
- Experience with Microsoft Fabric workloads and Direct Lake architecture
- Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps
Soft Skills
- Strong communication skills with ability to engage technical and executive stakeholders
- Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business value
- Strong leadership in distributed/global delivery environments
- Proven mentoring and team enablement experience
- Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset
Nice to Have:
- Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, or Azure certifications
- Experience with enterprise-scale Power BI Premium or Fabric environments
- Hands-on experience with Direct Lake implementations
- Knowledge of enterprise data governance and security models
- Industry experience in retail, consumer goods, or manufacturing
- Prior consulting or managed services experience
