Work Experience
Senior Data Engineer
sterlingalston@gmail.com
Seattle, WA, USA | 443-410-4284
A seasoned Data Engineer with deep expertise in data warehousing, ETL processes, cloud-based data platforms, SQL, Python
programming, data visualization, and orchestration/scheduling tools, actively seeking new challenges and opportunities.
Authorized to work in U.S. for any employer.
MATTHEW S ALSTON
Senior Data Engineer
Thomson Reuters Special Services | McLean
–
Utilized scheduling tools and ETL tools (Apache Nifi, Snowflake Tasks, Cron Jobs) to manage and streamline data
processing tasks, improving operational efficiency by 25%
Managed the company’s data requirements, ensuring data infrastructure, integrity, and accessibility for business
operations
Engineered robust stored procedures and User Defined Functions (UDFs), establishing a standardized and automated
framework for seamless data manipulation and retrieval.
Collaborated with team members on data engineering to coordinate implementation and maintenance of parts of the data
warehouse
Managed Git version control and Snowflake version control systems for CI/CD (continuous integration and deployment)
pipeline including code review, development, testing, and deployment.
Effectively managed project timelines and provided regular updates on development status using JIRA, ensuring
alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Implemented performance tuning strategies on company databases leading to an improvement in data processing speed
by 30%
Dec 2022 Present
Senior Data Engineer
Nordic Consulting Partners, Inc.
–
Developed and maintained complex a total of 5 data pipelines using Python programming, leading to enhanced
efficiency and productivity in the team
Improved data pipeline scalability and performance through design, coding, and testing of AWS Glue Jobs and Step
Functions for ETL processing.
Demonstrated technical proficiency by leading engaging presentations and conducting code walk-throughs to describe
complex data ingestion processes, fostering team collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Developed and refactored SQL User Defined Functions (UDFs) and Stored Procedures for Snowflake (JavaScript), SQL
Server, and AWS Redshift to substantially reduce transaction times and ensure data integrity and validation.
Improved data quality and integrity by establishing and enforcing data management best practices, including regular
system performance checks through use of dashboards and alerts.
Played a key role in code review sessions and provided comprehensive documentation for the Emory DevOps team to
ensure compliance and data security pursuant to HIPAA standards
Dec 2021 Dec 2022
Data Engineer
Tripoint Solutions | Rockville
–
Executed the construction, maintenance, and scheduling of a robust AWS Data Lake utilizing Workflows, Glue Crawlers,
and custom ETL Jobs developed in PySpark, Python, and Spark, ensuring service .
Jul 2020 Dec 2021
Leveraged external Python and Java API libraries such as Pandas, Spark, Textract, sqlalchemy, and PDFBox for seamless
ETL operations, facilitating data ingestion into Glue Catalog and AWS Redshift database.
Applied Power BI in developing visualizations and KPI scorecards, supporting the monitoring of business performance
metrics
Implemented parquet files within AWS Redshift staging schema, for ingestion into Azure SQL Database
Configured Amazon Redshift clusters to efficiently read external schemas of the Data Lake, optimizing data accessibility
and retrieval.
Implemented data ingestion pipelines for XML-formatted documents and PDFs, enabling efficient extraction and
processing of diverse data sources.
Boosted performance and efficiency through expert database administration.
Managed AWS Glue, Redshift, and S3 resources using AWS CLI and Boto3, ensuring smooth operation and optimization
of cloud-based infrastructure.
Program Analyst
CPMC LLC
–
Spearheaded the automation of Pivot Tables and Charts/Graphs creation using ODBC DATABASE resources and VBA,
streamlining data analysis processes and enhancing reporting efficiency.
Implemented strategies to efficiently manage cloud resources and optimize the performance of data processing tasks
Served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for data integration and mapping between program web-based data
warehouses, ensuring accuracy and consistency in data exchange processes.
Implemented enhancements on Department of Treasury legacy system, improving system performance by 30%.
Successfully deployed AWS EC2 instance with Oracle database to establish a link to MS Access ODBC connection,
facilitating seamless data transfer and integration across platforms.
Developed and implemented Python scripts for data cleansing and analysis, enhancing data quality and providing
valuable insights for program analysis and decision-making.
Apr 2019 Jun 2020
Data Analyst
General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service | Washington
–
Conducted data collection and analysis from Oracle backend applications, utilizing MS Access SQL/VBA and
establishing Oracle ODBC connections to fulfill data requests from Central Office, ensuring timely and accurate delivery
of insights.
Built in-house application for Cost Estimation Department, saving $1 million labor hours and over estimates.
Identified and communicated information gaps and discrepancies between paper documentation and data-driven systems,
such as lease documents and information in the REXUS application, facilitating data accuracy and alignment with
business objectives.
Developed and maintained automated data extraction processes using SQL queries and scripting languages, optimizing
efficiency and reducing manual workload.
Collaborated cross-functionally with stakeholders to understand business requirements and translate them into actionable
insights, driving informed decision-making and strategic initiatives.
Mar 2016 Apr 2019
Database Analyst and Developer
Bozman Group | Rockville
–
Compiled and summarized over 500, 000 rows of transaction-based information to pinpoint processing gaps, facilitating
informed decision-making and process improvement initiatives.
Incorporated SQL Development methodologies to streamline data integration and migration tasks across multiple
platforms
Employed various data-parsing techniques, including XML node-based extraction and .txt file conversion, to match
external datasets to internal records, extracting relevant information for delivery to clients and stakeholders, enhancing
data accessibility and usability.
Implemented database optimization techniques, including indexing and query optimization, to enhance system
performance and efficiency, resulting in significant reduction in query execution time and resource utilization.
Jul 2013 Mar 2016
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design and develop automated data validation processes, ensuring data
accuracy and consistency across multiple systems and platforms, improving overall data quality and reliability.
Core Skills
• Data Analysis, • Data Pipeline Development, • Data Architecture Design, • Agile Methodologies, • ETL (Extract, Transform,
Load) Principles, • Python, JavaScript, • Snowflake, CI/CD, • SQL, • Linux / Shell, AWS, • Redshift, Software Engineering,
Performance Optimization, Data Visualization, Data Insights, Software Engineering, Ability To Lead, Build Relationships,
Data Model, Collaboration Skills, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Data Lifecycle Management, Programming Skills,
PowerShell, Information Systems, ETL Development, Data Systems, Data Products, Technical Writing, Computer Science,
Cloud Infrastructure, Big Data
Education
American University
Bachelor of Science Management Information Systems
University of Maryland
Master of Professional Studies Economics