Principal Database Platform Engineer – Hybrid DC or Baltimore

Role Overview

• Lead the architecture and continuous advancement of enterprise database platforms in cloud and hybrid environments, with an emphasis on AWS-managed services.
• Act as the technical authority for AWS database platforms (Aurora PostgreSQL, Aurora MySQL, DynamoDB, Snowflake) and related services.
• Develop and enforce database platform standards, reusable reference architectures, and patterns to streamline adoption and minimize fragmentation.
• Design and execute migration strategies for traditional databases (Oracle, SQL Server) to cloud-native AWS solutions.
• Perform hands-on engineering to build automation, tooling, and performance enhancements using Infrastructure as Code and database-native features.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, scaling, backup, recovery, and lifecycle management of databases via Terraform, CloudFormation, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Implement performance optimization techniques, including query tuning, indexing, capacity planning, and cost management for large-scale workloads.
• Integrate security, resiliency, compliance, and operational best practices into database platforms.
• Collaborate with Application, Platform, Cloud Engineering, Security, and Enterprise Architecture teams to align strategy and execution.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex database issues involving performance, scalability, availability, and migration.
• Mentor senior engineers and database professionals, guiding technical direction across the organization.
• Support Agile delivery by contributing to epics, stories, and iterative platform improvements tracked in Jira.
• Produce high-quality documentation (platform guides, design standards, runbooks) to enable self-service adoption.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, leadership, and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years designing, building, and operating enterprise database platforms
• Advanced expertise with cloud databases: Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, Aurora MySQL, DynamoDB, Snowflake
• Strong experience with traditional databases: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server
• Proven experience migrating legacy/on-premises databases to AWS, including re-platforming and modernization
• Proficiency with database automation, Infrastructure as Code, performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery, and backup strategies
• Solid knowledge of cloud networking, IAM, and database security fundamentals
• Experience integrating database platforms with CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing clear documentation and explaining technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Tech Stack

• AWS
• Cloud
• DynamoDB
• MS SQL Server
• MySQL
• Oracle
• Postgres
• SQL
• Terraform

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• Annual bonus eligibility
• A generous retirement plan
• Hybrid work schedule
• Health and wellness benefits, including online therapy
• Paid time off for vacation, illness, medical appointments, and volunteering days
• Family care resources, including fertility and adoption benefits