Microsoft Fabric Data Architect Needed to Build New Healthcare Data Environment

Overview We are a growing healthcare company specializing in durable medical equipment, sleep diagnostics, CPAP therapy, oxygen, and respiratory services. We are establishing a brand-new Microsoft Fabric environment and need an experienced Microsoft Fabric Data Architect to design and implement the initial data architecture. Our operational systems include healthcare/DME platforms such as Brightree, QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, and other cloud-based applications. Data may be obtained through APIs, database connections, scheduled exports, Excel/CSV files, SFTP, and other integration methods. This is an architecture and hands-on implementation role. We are looking for someone who can build the foundation—not simply provide recommendations or create Power BI reports. Project Objectives The selected contractor will help us: Evaluate our anticipated data sources, reporting requirements, security needs, and expected data volumes. Design a scalable Microsoft Fabric architecture using the appropriate combination of OneLake, Lakehouse, Warehouse, Data Factory pipelines, notebooks, and semantic models. Recommend whether a Lakehouse, Warehouse, or hybrid architecture is appropriate. Establish a clear Bronze, Silver, and Gold data-layer strategy. Create database naming conventions, schemas, tables, relationships, and data models. Build an initial framework for importing data from multiple systems. Establish development, testing, and production workspaces where appropriate. Design the environment to support Power BI reporting, operational dashboards, financial analysis, KPI reporting, and future automation. Implement appropriate security, access controls, logging, monitoring, backup/recovery considerations, and data-governance practices. Design the system to support healthcare privacy and HIPAA-aligned security requirements. Document the architecture so that it can be maintained and expanded by future employees or contractors. Initial Deliverables The first phase is expected to include: Discovery and Requirements Assessment Review business goals and planned data sources. Identify reporting, refresh-frequency, retention, security, and performance requirements. Identify technical limitations or risks associated with each source system. Recommend an implementation roadmap and priorities. Architecture Design Produce a Microsoft Fabric architecture diagram. Recommend Lakehouse, Warehouse, or hybrid design. Define Bronze, Silver, and Gold data layers. Define workspaces and development, testing, and production structure. Develop naming conventions and folder, schema, table, and pipeline standards. Recommend an appropriate Fabric capacity and cost-management approach. Environment Configuration Configure the initial Microsoft Fabric workspaces and core data components. Establish OneLake/Lakehouse/Warehouse structures. Configure user roles, service accounts, and least-privilege access. Set up source control, versioning, and deployment procedures where appropriate. Configure monitoring, error handling, logging, and pipeline notifications. Initial Data Integration Build one or more pilot ingestion pipelines from selected source systems. Preserve raw source data and create standardized, validated tables. Implement incremental loading, duplicate handling, error handling, and reconciliation controls. Create initial dimensional or analytical data models for reporting. Demonstrate that data can be consumed effectively through Power BI or another approved reporting tool. Documentation and Knowledge Transfer Provide architecture and data-flow diagrams. Provide a data dictionary for the initial tables and fields. Document pipelines, transformations, dependencies, security settings, and refresh schedules. Provide operating and troubleshooting instructions. Conduct a recorded knowledge-transfer session with our team. Provide recommendations and estimated effort for subsequent implementation phases. Required Qualifications Demonstrated experience architecting and implementing Microsoft Fabric environments. Strong knowledge of OneLake, Fabric Lakehouse, Fabric Warehouse, Data Factory pipelines, notebooks, and Power BI semantic models. Strong SQL and dimensional data-modeling experience. Experience building ETL/ELT pipelines and incremental data-loading processes. Experience designing Bronze, Silver, and Gold data architectures. Experience with Azure/Microsoft Entra ID security, role-based access, and service principals. Experience with Git integration and development/test/production deployment practices. Ability to produce clear architecture diagrams and technical documentation. Strong written and spoken English. Ability to explain architectural decisions to business leaders who are not database engineers. Preferred Qualifications Microsoft Fabric certification or relevant Microsoft data certification. Experience working with healthcare, DME, revenue-cycle, claims, patient-order, or medical billing data. Experience with Brightree or similar healthcare/DME systems. Experience integrating QuickBooks, Microsoft 365, APIs, SFTP, Excel, CSV, and cloud-based business applications. Understanding of HIPAA, PHI, audit trails, data retention, and healthcare security requirements. Experience designing Power BI models and executive KPI dashboards. Experience optimizing Fabric capacity utilization and controlling cloud costs. Important Security Requirements The contractor may eventually work with sensitive healthcare and financial information. The selected candidate must be willing to: Sign a confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement. Follow our access-control and credential-management procedures. Use company-approved accounts and secure access methods. Avoid downloading or storing company data on unauthorized personal systems. Build and test with de-identified or non-production data until security controls are approved. Document all administrative accounts, service accounts, connections, and permissions created during the engagement. Return or transfer all project materials, credentials, documentation, and intellectual property at the completion of the project. What We Are Not Looking For A Power BI report developer with no Microsoft Fabric architecture experience. Someone who only provides high-level recommendations without implementing the solution. A developer who intends to build an undocumented environment that only they can maintain. An applicant submitting a generic proposal without describing relevant Microsoft Fabric projects. Proposal Requirements Please include the following in your response: A description of two or three Microsoft Fabric environments you have personally designed or implemented. Your specific experience with Lakehouse, Warehouse, OneLake, pipelines, notebooks, semantic models, and deployment pipelines. An example of a Bronze/Silver/Gold architecture you have implemented. Your experience handling healthcare, financial, or other sensitive data. Your proposed approach to the discovery and architecture phase. Your estimated hours, timeline, and cost for the initial phase. Whether you recommend hourly pricing or fixed-price milestones, and why. Your availability for meetings during U.S. Central Time business hours. Any Microsoft certifications you currently hold. Confirmation that you will provide complete technical documentation and knowledge transfer.