Principal Database Engineer

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

📋 Description

• Define, design, enhance, and oversee highly available, resilient, and secure enterprise database platforms utilizing AWS and GCP.

• Lead efforts to ensure reliability, performance, scalability, and lifecycle management of Microsoft SQL Server platforms.

• Spearhead enterprise-wide migrations and modernization projects transitioning to PostgreSQL and cloud-native database services.

• Create and implement automated frameworks for database provisioning, patching, backup validation, failover testing, and routine maintenance through Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and configuration management.

• Collaborate with Platform Engineering on automating database releases, CI/CD pipelines, schema versioning, and standardizing environments.

• Work in conjunction with application development teams on database architecture, query performance, schema evolution, and deployment strategies.

• Set standards for database observability, including telemetry, logging, alerting, and performance analytics.

• Define and enhance objectives for database reliability, recovery strategies, and operational readiness practices.

• Conduct root cause analysis and implement permanent corrective actions following significant production incidents.

• Create engineering standards, reusable automation modules, and comprehensive technical documentation.

• Align database technology roadmaps with organizational business objectives.

• Assess emerging database and data-tier technologies for reliability, scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness.

• Act as the primary technical authority for database architecture and cloud migration efforts.

• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers while influencing the technical strategy throughout the engineering organization.

• Support strategic cloud initiatives across both AWS and Google Cloud.

• Carry out additional responsibilities that support the overall goals of the position.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or a combination of education and experience that meets the required qualifications.

• Over 10 years of experience in the design, support, and management of enterprise relational database platforms in a production environment.

• Extensive experience working within public cloud environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure).

• Proficient in implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps methodologies.

• Experience in incident response, root cause analysis, SRE initiatives, schema versioning, and release automation.

• Proven track record of mentoring engineers, influencing enterprise technical standards, and leading legacy database migrations to cloud-native or open-source platforms.

• Familiarity with supporting cloud-native applications, Kubernetes, or containerized workloads; experience in SaaS, healthcare, or highly regulated industries is preferred.

• Microsoft SQL Server certification or equivalent experience is required.

• Expert-level knowledge in Microsoft SQL Server administration, engine internals, high availability and disaster recovery (HADR) strategies, and performance engineering.

• Understanding of PostgreSQL or other enterprise relational database platforms, including database design, query optimization, and modernization pathways.

• Knowledge of public cloud architectures (AWS/GCP), Kubernetes, and principles of infrastructure automation.

• Familiarity with observability and monitoring frameworks, such as Dynatrace, Prometheus, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry is preferred.

• Advanced scripting and programming skills in PowerShell, Python, Bash, or similar languages.

• Expertise in database performance engineering, advanced SQL query tuning, and troubleshooting distributed data systems.

• Ability to influence technical strategy and effectively translate complex technical concepts into actionable architectures.

• Strong communication skills to clearly present complex technical designs and author technical standards and documentation.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equal opportunity employer.

• Inclusive work environment.

• Opportunities for mentoring.

• Exposure to strategic cloud initiatives and enterprise technology modernization.