We are looking for a Senior DataOps/Data Platform Administrator to manage and maintain our hybrid data ecosystem. This is a hands-on role focused on the stability, performance, and day-to-day operations of both our on-premises and cloud-based data tools. You will be the primary gatekeeper of our data infrastructure, ensuring that our systems —from Source to Delivery—are available, performant, and secure. Your goal is to manage the environment so effectively that our data engineers can focus entirely on building data products within a stable, secure framework.
Primary Responsibilities
On-Premises Administration (Denodo and SQL Server)
- System Maintenance: Execute regular upgrades, patching, and configuration of VDP servers to ensure environment stability.
- Operational Health: Monitor system uptime and manage environment-specific settings across Dev, QA, and Production.
- Performance Tuning: Manage caching and resource allocation to maintain optimal query speeds for the business.
- Troubleshooting: Act as the Tier 3 point of escalation for any data connectivity or performance issues.
Cloud Platform Administration (Snowflake & Databricks)
- Access Control: Day-to-day management of Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), user provisioning, and security integrations.
- Cost Management: Monitor Snowflake credit usage and Databricks consumption; manage resource monitors and alerting to prevent budget overages.
- Service Maintenance: Oversee the operational health of cloud services.
Orchestration & Transformation Support (Astro/Airflow, Fivetran and dbt Cloud)
- Environment Management: Manage deployments for Astro/Airflow, ensuring environment variables and secrets are correctly configured and updated.
- Job Oversight: Monitor dbt Cloud job runs, manage environment configurations, and troubleshoot integration issues between dbt and Snowflake.
- CI/CD Maintenance: Maintain existing CI/CD pipelines to ensure code moves from development to production without manual intervention.
Platform Reliability & Guardrails
- Operational Standards: Maintain the "guardrails"—security policies, naming conventions, and deployment standards—that keep the platform organized.
- Documentation: Keep system documentation, environment diagrams, and administrative procedures up to date.
- Support: Ensure the data engineering team has the necessary permissions and stable environments required to meet their delivery timelines.
Technical Profile
- Experience: 5+ years in a Systems Admin, Database Admin (DBA), or DataOps role.
- Denodo Admin: Practical experience managing on-prem Denodo with a focus on data delivery and performance tuning.
- Cloud Admin: Strong administrative background in Snowflake (managing warehouses, roles, and usage) and familiarity with Databricks.
- Tooling: Proficient in dbt Cloud, Fivetran, and Airflow.
- Skills: Strong understanding of SQL, Git/DevOps, and basic CI/CD pipeline maintenance.
Why This Role?
This is a critical "Specialist" position. You will own the health of a sophisticated, high-growth data stack. If you enjoy the challenge of managing a hybrid environment and take pride in building highly available, "bulletproof" systems, this is the role for you.
SM Energy offers competitive compensation and benefits programs which include, but are not limited to, variable pay, health care coverage, retirement plan, protection coverage, time off and leave programs, training and development opportunities and a range of allowances connected to specific work situations. Details are available at Careers :: SM Energy Company (SM) (sm-energy.com).
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of experience in systems administration, database administration, or DataOps
- Practical experience administering on-premises Denodo
- Experience with Denodo data delivery and performance tuning
- Strong Snowflake administration experience, including warehouses, roles, and usage management
- Familiarity with Databricks administration
- Proficiency with dbt Cloud, Fivetran, and Airflow
- Strong understanding of SQL
- Experience with Git and DevOps practices
- Basic CI/CD pipeline maintenance experience
What We Do
SM Energy Company is an independent energy company focused on the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas and crude oil in the United States. The company was founded in 1908, incorporated in 1915, and became a public company through an initial public offering in 1992. SM Energy trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SM. At SM Energy, we also take seriously the manner in which we conduct our business. We strive to be recognized as an employer, partner, and customer of choice.
