Albert Paulraj

Worked with multiple clients across various industries, utilizing Azure and Databricks technologies to implement data solutions. Below are details of the major projects undertaken, with specific mention of industries, tools, and technologies used.

Client: Rocket Lab

Role: Senior Data Architect
Industry: Aerospace / Rocket Manufacturing
Tools & Technologies: Azure Data Lake, Databricks, Power BI, Synapse Pipelines, Unity Catalog, PowerShell, SharePoint, Concur, Paylocity
Overview: Brought in during a strategic planning phase to modernize Rocket Lab’s data architecture, replacing fragmented on-prem systems with a unified lakehouse platform. Developed current-state and future-state architecture diagrams using Lucidchart and Visio, leading to executive approval and funding for full-scale implementation.
Key Contributions:

• Created detailed current-state and future-state architecture diagrams aligning with Rocket Lab’s business goals and system landscape.
• Defined medallion architecture layers (Raw, Bronze, Silver, Gold) with clear data ingestion paths, governance, and transformation logic.
• Integrated diverse sources including SQL Server, Concur, Paylocity, SharePoint, and Teamcenter into a cohesive ingestion framework.
• Built the initial semantic model structure and proposed Power BI consumption architecture aligned to operational use cases.
• Led workshops and client sessions to validate architecture decisions and transition planning from on-prem to cloud.
• Established the orchestration strategy using Synapse Pipelines and Function Apps for daily refresh and governance.
  Outcome:
• Signed a new multi-million dollar SOW based on the proposed architecture and roadmap.
• Generated new revenue for Hitachi Solutions; client specifically requested that I continue leading the modernization engagement.
• Migration plan enabled a 13–22 week execution timeline with projected savings of $150K–$200K.
• Positioned Rocket Lab to successfully transition from on-prem to a cloud-based data analytics platform with scalability for advanced ML/AI use cases.

Client: Centene

Role: Senior Data Architect, Power BI Architect
Industry: Healthcare
Tools & Technologies: Azure Data Lake, Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics
Overview: Brought in during the last four months of a long-running project, contributing significantly to the project's success.
Key Contributions:
Partnered with the Engagement Lead to test innovative data-loading techniques into the data lake and upload data back to Dynamics from the Data Warehouse.
Played a dual role as a Power BI Architect by assisting in a Power BI Model merger project.
Suggested improvements to data pipelines.
Outcome: The project was a huge success.

Client: Milliken

Role: Senior Data Architect
Industry: Manufacturing
Tools & Technologies: Azure SAP CDC Connector, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Factory, SAP BW4HANA, Data Lake
Overview: Led the first implementation of the Azure SAP CDC Connector in Azure Synapse Analytics, using Azure Data Factory to connect to the client’s SAP BW4HANA system.
Key Contributions:
Collaborated with Hitachi, Microsoft, SAP, and client teams to resolve technical issues and execute solutions.
Implemented a successful data-loading strategy and co-authored the first industry article on the Azure SAP CDC Connector.
Outcome: Praised by stakeholders, the project established Hitachi as a thought leader

Client: Kaizen

Role: Senior Data Architect
Industry: Public Sector (Internal Project for Hitachi Solutions Canada)
Tools & Technologies: Synapse Link for Dataverse, Apache Spark, Azure DevOps, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Data Lake
Overview: Internal Proof-of-Value project for Hitachi Solutions Canada, showcasing the use of Synapse Link for Dataverse and Apache Spark for data processing.
Key Contributions:
Created the Future State Architecture document and led collaboration efforts across technical teams.
Promoted open communication and visual representation to align stakeholders.
Outcome: The successful project paved the way for future Modern Data Estate implementations.

Client: Hyster Yale

Role: Senior Data Architect
Industry: Manufacturing
Tools & Technologies: Azure Data Lake, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL Server, SAP BW, Azure DevOps, Azure Key Vault, Azure SAP CDC Connector
Overview: Acted as the sole Hitachi resource, mentoring the client's Data and Analytics team and implementing governance strategies using Azure technologies.
Key Contributions:
Led interactive training on Azure tools and provided technical guidance in SAP CDC Connector setup.
Maintained constant client updates and created a successful POC for data extraction and transformation.
Outcome: The project progressed successfully, with the client valuing the hands-on training and documentation provided.

Client: Schawmut Construction

Role: Data Engineer and Power BI Architect
Industry: Construction
Tools & Technologies: Azure Synapse Pipelines, Power BI, Azure Data Lake, CI/CD Pipelines, Git Integration, Azure DevOps
Overview: Assessed the client’s data platform and reporting systems to provide future architecture and governance recommendations.
Key Contributions:
Delivered technical blueprints, including architecture recommendations and governance frameworks.
Proposed strategies for data platform adoption, reporting improvements, and Power BI governance.
Outcome: The client accepted recommendations, leading to a successful engagement and follow-up work.

Client: Adjacent Health

Role: Power BI Architect
Industry: Healthcare
Tools & Technologies: Azure Data Factory, Power BI, Azure DevOps, Microsoft Dynamics 365
Overview: Conducted an assessment of the current state architecture and proposed a roadmap for handling PHI and improving the data reporting environment.
Key Contributions:
Assessed and documented the current state, and proposed a future state architecture.
Provided a comprehensive cost estimation for implementation.
Outcome: The client was impressed, resulting in significant revenue generation for Hitachi.

Client: Fluke - Metadata Ingestion & Data Validation

Framework

• Role: Senior Data Architect
• Industry: Technology/Manufacturing
• Tools & Technologies: Azure Synapse, Azure Databricks, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Delta Lake
• Overview: Led the design and implementation of a metadata-driven framework for data ingestion and validation, improving orchestration, error tracking, and audit logging across Fluke’s enterprise BI architecture.
  Key Contributions:
  Built metadata tables and workflows using Azure Synapse and Data Factory.
  Enhanced data validation and error tracking in Azure Databricks.
  Established real-time Power BI pipeline orchestration and monitoring.
  Integrated Microsoft Fabric for scalable data management.
  Achievements:
  Delivered a scalable, efficient data ingestion and validation framework that streamlined operations and improved performance.

● Led the BI tools evaluation process, proposed and implemented Power BI platform as the
enterprise reporting solution.
● Led, architected and created a roadmap for transition of approx. 4500 SAP BusinessObjects
reports, Qlik Sense cubes to Power BI.
● Architected the On prem Power BI Report Server solution by sizing hardware and software
resources from a licensing cost and usage perspective.
● Advocated and implemented star schema data model, data mart and standardized the use of
shared datasets and parameters in Power BI to reduce the report count, increase report
throughput and usage.
● Installed, configured and successfully deployed Power BI Portal in a development and
production environment. Led the effort to collaborate with the infrastructure team to ensure
nightly backups, implement failover and recovery of the Power BI environment.
● Architected role based access control (RBAC) security model for Power BI Portal access,
dashboards and Paginated reports through Active Directory groups and creating custom groups
in the portal.
● Demonstrated to the executive sponsors the benefits of Power BI through presentations and
proof of concepts by designing Power BI reports and dashboards. Provider Achievement,
Surgery Volume, Occupancy and Quality dashboards to name a few.
● Constantly engaged with the development team in pilot projects by demonstrating the benefit
of Power BI shared dataset modeling for reporting. Demonstrated the benefit of star schema
data modeling using data warehousing best practices for efficient report building, performance
and standardization leading to adoption of Power BI by report writers.
● Mentored report writers on Power BI Report Builder (Paginated reports) for two dimensional
pixel perfect reporting and Power BI Desktop tool for building effective visual dashboards using
MSAS Cubes.
● Partnered with business in driving the user adoption of Power BI and inturn helped with
successful implementation of Power BI platform across the organization.

● Led the BI transformation of Majestic Steel culture from excel reporting to Business
Intelligence driven reporting and analytics.
● Led the BI tools evaluation process working with the sales team from Qlik, Tableau, Google
Looker and Sisense to evaluate the best BI platform for Majestic Steel from a cost, usage
and adoption perspective.
● Installed, configured and deployed Sisense on prem in both development and production
environments.
● Partnered with Sales, Finance and Inventory team to create dashboards to track, monitor,
alert and report on Key Performance Metrics.
● Sales Management (Daily/Weekly/Monthly) dashboard played a critical role in the decision
making process for Majestic Steel during COVID by enabling them to pivot their business
model to more strategic revenue lines with clients and partnership with suppliers. Sales staff
used the daily dashboard to track daily sales, the sales management team used the weekly
and monthly dashboards to track and report on sales performance to C level executives.
Sales Team Summary/Detail, Sales Order Analysis, Sales Management Phone were other
dashboards created to drive visibility into day today operations and in turn led to better
business decisions and outcomes during COVID times.
● Inventory and Finance dashboards had an equal impact on key business decisions and
outcomes. Due to COVID there was a sudden oversupply and low demand on steel. Through
the use of dashboards the management was able to see a trend in average price of steel in
the past and was able to make strategic decisions to buy more steel as the price was low
and was also able to invest in additional warehouses to stock up steel for future price
fluctuations. Supplier Scorecard, Supplier Management, Purchase Orders, Moving Aged
Inventory, Sales Budget Forecast, Spot Contract Invoice and Forecast Dashboards were
created to drive visibility and make strategic decisions.
● Advocated and implemented self service BI to enable users and management teams to
create their own dashboards.
● Created mobile dashboards and Mobile BI was adopted across the organization.
● Trained users and mentored developers on dashboard and data modeling best practices.

● Led the design, development and implementation of data warehouse architecture (Star &
Snowflake), logical data marts & table structures (fact & dimension), dashboards and reports
using IBM Cognos BI, Power BI tools to meet business and user needs.
● Worked with sysadmins in installing, configuring, updating, and maintaining higher security of
BI environment
● Coordinated with data architecture and modeling teams in designing databases and Cognos
reports. Provided support in all BI application development activities as per project
requirements
● Collaborated with senior data architect in creating model prototype designs in Framework
Manager and helped with other development activities using Cognos BI/Power BI application
development as per project requirements
● Recommended and developed effective strategies to improve performance and capacity of BI
systems and related toolset functionalities. Adhered to established data management and data
quality standards and best practices
● Developed, implemented and maintained analytical and reporting applications for
Cognos/Power BI environment. Designed effective solutions to improve architectures of data
warehouse and data mart as per business needs
● In depth knowledge of integrating spatial data with Business data to drive insights and make
better business decisions. Implemented ESRI maps for Cognos to enable GeoSpatial Analysis
of “Late & On Time Performance” of Vendor networks
● Successfully integrated OnBase software Suite, Cognos, and ARCGIS for GeoFencing project to
identify Vacant properties to help financial institutions be compliant with Government
regulations
● Created reusable Geodatabase using US-State-Zip census file to create Shape Map layers,
Polygon Map Layers on a map using GeoSpatial techniques like overlays,extract, join and
proximity. Automated the entire process using Python scripts
● Integrated relational and spatial data using Map data layers from NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration), live flood Map data layers from FEMA , live fire Map data layers
from NASA (LANCE | FIRMS) and Damages reported by Vendors in real time. Provided real
time reports, dashboards and map interactions by embedding damages information on Client
facing web sites by exposing through ArcGIS Server enterprise API calls
● Developed ETL processes, data models according to best Cognos BI practices
● Worked with QA team and developers in executing automation test plans and cases for
improving BI system performance and efficiency as required and led troubleshooting efforts
related to design, development and maintenance issues
● Created and customized SQL queries and OLAP cubes for high-level data analysis and also led
migration of existing Oracle, MSAS reports into Cognos to streamline reporting processes
● Created and enhanced reports, dashboards and scorecards in Cognos BI 10 and 11 and led the
design and development of data visualizations and data warehouse architectures to meet
business or user requirements
● Developed and maintained appropriate documentation related to BI reporting applications
design and deployment
● Developed efficient data models by creating different layers in the models like Database Layer,
Logical Layer, Presentation Layer and Shared Dimensions. Created Query subjects, query
items, Filters and Namespaces. Implemented stand alone filters, embedded Filters and
Prompts in Framework manager. Implemented Package level Security and Object Level
Security. Customized data by adding calculations, summaries and functions in the Framework
Manager
● Developed multidimensional models from multiple data sources using Cognos Transformer and
created drill-through from cubes to reports. Created complex and professional reports and
dashboards in Report Studio using MDX functions. Developed UNIX scripts for automating and
scheduling cube builds, archives and backups
● Extensively used Power BI Desktop and IBM Cognos Report Studio to create List Reports,
Grouped Reports, Cross tab Reports, Chart Reports, Drill-Down and Drill-Through Reports with
Filters, Calculations, Predefined Conditions and Prompts. Extensively used RAVE and data
visualization techniques in canned reports and dashboards applying best practices in
dashboards from industry leaders such as Stephen Few. Set up report bursting. Manually
modified the SQL in Report Studio to tune and write complicated reports. Used union/Join
objects in Report Studio
● Provide mentoring to junior business intelligence developers and power users to create their
own ad-hoc analyses