Senior Cloud Database Engineer (Hybrid - Seattle, WA)

Job Description

About the Role

Nordstrom’s Database Platform Services team keeps the data infrastructure powering our business running — Oracle, MSSQL, and PostgreSQL at enterprise scale — while actively building the cloud-native database platform that will define the next decade. We’re looking for a Senior Cloud Database Engineer who brings AWS as their primary strength and genuine Oracle and MSSQL operational depth as a non-negotiable foundation.

This is not a pure cloud role. You’ll be the AWS subject matter expert on a team of seasoned DBAs, leading our cloud database platform buildout on RDS, Aurora PostgreSQL, and Aurora DSQL while also owning production responsibility for mission-critical Oracle and MSSQL systems through an active migration period. You’ll establish AWS standards from the ground up, mentor experienced engineers expanding into cloud-native practices, and carry accountability across both worlds.

What You’ll Do

AWS Cloud Platform Leadership

• Architect, deploy, and operate AWS database services with primary focus on RDS (Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL), Aurora PostgreSQL, and Aurora DSQL.
• Define enterprise-grade standards, governance frameworks, and deployment patterns for AWS database services at Nordstrom.
• Design backup, HA, and disaster recovery strategies meeting SLA and compliance requirements on AWS.
• Develop and own Terraform infrastructure-as-code for cloud database provisioning, parameter management, networking, and lifecycle automation.
• Lead knowledge transfer — run hands-on workshops, write runbooks, and actively mentor DPS engineers expanding into AWS cloud-native practices.
• Evaluate the broader AWS database services ecosystem (ElastiCache, DMS/SCT, DynamoDB, Redshift, and others) and guide adoption decisions.
• Monitor and optimize performance using CloudWatch, Performance Insights, and related AWS observability tooling.

Oracle, MSSQL & GoldenGate Operations

• Support Oracle 19c/21c on-premises fleet: patching cadences, OEM management, AWR/statspack analysis, RAC/ASM operations, and performance diagnostics.
• Manage MSSQL Server environments: HA/AG, backup strategy, performance tuning, security hardening, and P1 incident ownership.
• Operate GoldenGate CDC pipelines including Extract/Replicat configuration, OCI GoldenGate managed service, and GG4BD delivery to Confluent Cloud Kafka.
• Participate in on-call rotation and lead P1/P2 incident response across AWS and on-premises platforms.
• Partner with application teams on schema change management, query optimization, and database architecture reviews.

What You Bring

Required

• 7+ years of database engineering experience with at least 3 years of AWS cloud database operations carrying production accountability.
• Deep AWS expertise with hands-on production experience in RDS, Aurora PostgreSQL, and Aurora DSQL: parameter tuning, HA topology, failover, and replication.
• Solid Oracle DBA skills at enterprise scale: 19c/21c administration, fleet patching, OEM, ASM, AWR/statspack, and performance diagnostics. Production-depth required, not incidental exposure.
• Operational MSSQL Server depth: HA/AG, T-SQL, backup/recovery, performance tuning, and independent P1 incident ownership.
• Production Terraform for real infrastructure — state management, module design, and plan/apply discipline.
• Proven ability to establish cloud database standards and best practices in an enterprise environment.
• Experience enabling a team through a technology transition: training, runbooks, workshops, or hands-on mentorship.

Strongly Preferred

• Production GoldenGate CDC experience: Extract/Replicat configuration, trail file management, GG4BD, and bounded recovery. DMS or equivalent CDC experience considered.
• AWS Database Specialty or Solutions Architect Professional certification.
• Experience with DMS and SCT for Oracle or MSSQL to Aurora PostgreSQL migrations.
• AWS observability tooling: CloudWatch, Performance Insights, RDS Enhanced Monitoring, or equivalent.
• CI/CD pipeline integration for database deployments.

Nice to Have

• Broader AWS database services: ElastiCache (Redis/Memcached), DynamoDB, Redshift, Neptune.
• AWS data ecosystem familiarity: S3, Glue, Athena, Kinesis, Lake Formation.
• OCI experience or certifications.

Why Nordstrom

• Be the founding AWS cloud database expert on a team of seasoned Oracle and MSSQL professionals who are genuinely invested in growing their skills — your knowledge transfer work will have real impact.
• Work on systems that matter: database infrastructure supporting one of retail’s most recognize