Cloud Data Engineer (SQL, AI Search, and Observability)

Date: 10.2025 

Function: Engineering 

Reports to: Director, Platform Engineering 

Location: Remote, United States 

 

Position Summary 

 

As a Cloud Data Engineer, you will be at the intersection of traditional database engineering, modern AI search, and advanced observability practices. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in hybrid environments—combining deep SQL expertise with modern search platforms like Azure AI Search and ElasticSearch. OnBoard is looking for someone who is excited about building intelligent, observable data systems for LLM-powered applications. 

You’ll work across structured data platforms, real-time indexing pipelines, and AI-enhanced retrieval systems, ensuring reliability, performance, discoverability, and security. You’ll also contribute to the infrastructure that supports observability for search relevance, query performance, and LLM pipeline diagnostics. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Design, deploy, and operate Microsoft SQL Server workloads across Azure IaaS (VM) and PaaS (Azure SQL DB / SQL Managed Instance). 

• Build, scale, and tune AI Search and ElasticSearch clusters, pipelines, and relevance models for both keyword and semantic search. 

• Collaborate with developers and ML teams to build retrieval pipelines for LLM applications, including vector indexing, prompt metadata enrichment, and embeddings. 

• Integrate observability into all layers of the data/search stack. 

• Analyze and optimize SQL queries and indexing strategies using Query Store, DMVs, and execution plans. 

• Secure data access using encryption (TDE, Always Encrypted), private endpoints, and RBAC. 

• Automate recurring operations using PowerShell/Azure DevOps Pipelines, including job scheduling, alerting, index maintenance and schema validation. 

• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) for SQL and search platforms using Bicep. 

• Drive incident resolution and root cause analysis for issues across SQL, search, and LLM pipelines. 

• Maintain technical documentation and operational runbooks for the combined SQL + Search + AI infrastructure. 

 

Skills and Experience Needed 

• 3–5 years of experience managing Microsoft SQL Server in production, both IaaS and PaaS. 

• Strong experience with full-text and semantic search using Azure Cognitive Search and/or ElasticSearch. 

• Experience building or maintaining RAG/LLM architectures, including vector stores, embedding generation, and retrieval APIs. 

• Proficiency in tuning and debugging database performance (wait stats, execution plans, indexing). 

• Hands-on experience with observability platforms and standards (OpenTelemetry, Grafana, APM tools, etc.). 

• Automation scripting with PowerShell or Python. 

• Proficiency with Infrastructure-as-Code (Bicep, Terraform, ARM templates). 

• Familiarity with compliance, RBAC, and secure data practices in cloud environments. 
  
  
• Bonus: experience instrumenting and debugging LLM inference chains or vector database retrieval quality. 

Competencies 

• Accountability 
• Adaptability 
• AI Aptitude
• Applied Learning 
• Business Acumen 
• Collaboration 
• Customer Focus 
• Dealing w/Ambiguity 
• Decision Making 
• Driving for Results 
• Initiating Action 
• Planning & Organizing 
• Technical/Professional Knowledge/Skills 

About the company:

Boards set the standard for what organizations can achieve. At OnBoard, our board management software helps boards function at a higher level so every organization can make a bigger difference in the world.

Launched in 2011, today, OnBoard serves as the board intelligence platform for more than 5,000 organizations and their 12,000 boards and committees in 60 countries worldwide. With customers in higher education, nonprofit, healthcare systems, government, and enterprise business, OnBoard is the leading board management provider.

OnBoard has grown from a class project at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2003 into the world’s leading board management software platform today. Backed by JMI Equity and the acquisitions of eScribe and Govenda, OnBoard is positioned to become the industry leader in Board Management and Meeting Solutions for private and public sector entities. 

 

Benefits and Perks: 

• Company provided equipment (laptop, software, etc.) 
• Employment with a growing, casual, fun, philanthropic minded company
• Employer paid extended health benefits, including health spending account (CAN based employees)
• US Based Employees
  • Comprehensive, high-quality medical/prescription drug plan options, as well as dental and vision plan offerings.   
  • An employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (HSA) if you participate in a High Deductible Healthcare Plan.  
  • Medical Flexible Spending Accounts available.   
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts available.  
  • Basic life insurance in the amount of $50,000 or 1 X’s your salary (whichever is higher).  
  • Short and long-term disability and Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefits at no cost to you.  
  • 401K Retirement Savings Plan with automatic enrollment at the first of the month following 60 days of employment at 5% to help you secure your financial freedom. We offer a generous company match that starts on the first of the month following 60 days of employment. The company match is dollar for dollar on the first 3% of your pay that you contribute and $0.50 on the dollar on the next 2%, for a total match of 4%. 
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)/Holiday  

 

Diversity Statement - Culture of Togetherness:  

At OnBoard, our mission is to encourage and celebrate a culture of togetherness. We acknowledge that uniqueness is powerful, and we welcome, foster, and appreciate all. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness fuel the Pathfinder atmosphere and all our efforts. Our power is in our people and we Pledge 1% to give back to our communities and across the globe.  

OnBoard is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive working environment. Passageways does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation please email peopleops@passageways.com.