Principal Database Architect – Multi-Region Data Platform

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

📋 Description

• Take responsibility for the multi-region data architecture utilizing six AWS-native engines: Aurora MySQL, Cassandra, ElastiCache (Redis / Valkey), DynamoDB, DocumentDB, and Neptune. For each engine, establish the cross-region replication pattern (including Aurora Global Database, DynamoDB Global Tables, DocumentDB Global Clusters, Cassandra multi-DC, MemoryDB or Valkey global datastore, and Neptune Global Database) along with the supporting operational model.

• Define and manage the recovery time objective (RTO) and recovery point objective (RPO) commitments across different tiers (Tier 0 / Tier 1 / Tier 2) and develop the cutover and failback runbooks, validating them through Fault Injection Service and Game Days.

• Coordinate the data-layer cutover throughout all three program phases. Distinguish between strong-consistency and eventual-consistency decisions for each workload, determining where active-active configurations are feasible versus scenarios that require region-sharded ledgers or single-writer models with replicated read models.

• Lead a team of Database Engineers across the various engines. Set technical standards, review designs, and facilitate implementation. Collaborate with the client's Database and Site Reliability Engineering leadership on architecture decisions and Operational Readiness Reviews.

• Convert data-layer constraints into strategies for application decomposition. As the monolith transitions into microservices, provide guidance on data ownership boundaries (aligned with Domain-Driven Design), extraction patterns, Change Data Capture (CDC) pipelines (including DMS, DDB Streams, and Kafka Connect), and the event-based contracts necessary for decoupling services from the monolith.

• Create the audit-grade documentation required by the client and their regulators, including replication runbooks, disaster recovery test evidence, RTO and RPO measurement methodologies, and alignment with the Well-Architected Reliability Pillar.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 12 years of experience in database engineering and architecture, including a minimum of 5 years in a Principal or Staff-level architect role within production systems at a fintech scale.

• Proven experience in designing and deploying multi-region active-passive and active-active data architectures on AWS, with at least one complete transition from single-region to multi-region in a production environment, preferably within financial services or similarly regulated/high-availability sectors.

• Extensive production experience with Aurora MySQL (including Global Database) and proficiency in at least three of the following: Cassandra, DynamoDB (Global Tables), ElastiCache or MemoryDB (Redis / Valkey), DocumentDB, and Neptune. Familiarity with the remaining engines is also required.

• Practical experience in decomposing monoliths from the data perspective: extracting bounded contexts from a shared relational database, managing CDC and dual-write patterns, and overseeing the transitional phase where both the monolith and microservices access the same data.

• Experience in the fintech or payments domain, including knowledge of idempotent write patterns, ledger accuracy, transaction reconciliation, and understanding the regulatory requirements associated with PCI-DSS, SOX, or equivalent standards.

• Proficient with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (Terraform or CDK) and observability tools (Datadog, New Relic, CloudWatch).

• Excellent written communication skills.

🏝️ Benefits

• Influence real-world AI-driven initiatives across various key industries, collaborating with clients ranging from startups to enterprises undergoing transformation.

• Join a global team that offers equal opportunities for collaboration across different continents and cultures.

• Flourish in an inclusive environment that emphasizes continuous learning, innovation, and adherence to ethical AI standards.