Database Architect – SME

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Lead the architecture and technical operations of enterprise databases across designated environments.

• Develop standards for database design, configuration, administration, monitoring, security, and documentation.

• Convert mission, application, analytical, and warehouse requirements into informed database architecture choices.

• Provide guidance on Microsoft SQL Server architecture, configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and modernization.

• Manage database performance monitoring, capacity planning, query optimization, indexing, and resource utilization.

• Address complex issues related to database availability, connectivity, integrity, concurrency, and performance.

• Design and assess high-availability and disaster-recovery strategies that comply with Government requirements.

• Supervise backup strategies, restoration procedures, recovery testing, and documented recovery readiness.

• Confirm recovery point and recovery time objectives with Government stakeholders and technical teams.

• Coordinate database recovery and restoration efforts during outages, incidents, exercises, and planned transitions.

• Develop database security protocols encompassing access, privileged accounts, encryption, auditing, and configuration controls.

• Collaborate with cybersecurity personnel on findings, remediation, authorization evidence, and approved security modifications.

• Direct database upgrades, migrations, platform refreshes, consolidation, and modernization efforts.

• Evaluate proposed changes for their impact on availability, performance, security, integrations, and downstream consumers.

• Review database schemas, data models, interfaces, and integration patterns to ensure scalability and maintainability.

• Coordinate database dependencies with data warehouse, application, infrastructure, analytics, and AI teams.

• Examine technical designs, implementation plans, test results, rollback procedures, and operational handoffs.

• Create architecture diagrams, technical decision records, standards, runbooks, and troubleshooting guidance.

• Mentor database administrators through technical coaching, design reviews, knowledge sharing, and development planning.

• Suggest enhancements that improve database reliability, operational efficiency, recovery capabilities, and maintainability.

• Communicate database health, technical risks, modernization priorities, and recommended actions to Government stakeholders and program leadership.

⛳️ Requirements

• Active Secret clearance or higher.

• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, database management, or a related field, or an equivalent qualification.

• Experience with enterprise database architecture.

• Proficiency in Microsoft SQL Server.

• Background in implementing or supporting high availability for databases.

• Experience with database backup, restoration, and recovery processes.

• Knowledge of database security practices.

• Experience in planning or executing database modernization initiatives.

• Capability to lead database operations and establish technical standards.

• Ability to oversee database performance, resolve complex technical challenges, and guide the development of database administrators.

• Relevant database platform certification is preferred.

• CISSP certification preferred, aligning with the proposed DoD 8570 IASAE Level II qualification preference.

• Experience supporting federal or Department of Defense database environments is preferred.

• Familiarity with SQL Server Always On availability groups, failover clustering, replication, or similar availability technologies is preferred.

• Experience in planning and executing database migrations, major upgrades, and platform transitions is preferred.

• Knowledge of cloud-hosted databases, managed database services, and hybrid architectures is preferred.

• Experience supporting data warehouses, ETL/ELT processes, analytical workloads, or AI-ready data platforms is preferred.

• Background in automating database administration, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery tasks is preferred.

• Experience conducting recovery exercises and validating recovery objectives is preferred.

• Strong skills in technical mentoring, architecture documentation, troubleshooting, and stakeholder communication are preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

• Authorization to share resume and personal information with subsidiaries, affiliates, and teaming partners for consideration for this and similar positions.