Manager, Database Services

Important: This role will be onsite out of our Westlake Village corporate office on a hybrid basis (2 - 3 days per week). 

About the Role: 

Guitar Center is seeking an experienced and service-oriented Manager, Database Services to lead the design, implementation, operations, and continuous improvement of all enterprise database environments. This role is responsible for managing both on-premises and cloud-based database platforms and plays a strategic part in enabling Guitar Center’s data-driven initiatives and modern application development efforts. 
This leader will oversee a small but highly skilled team—including a dedicated technical lead or architect—and will work cross-functionally with infrastructure, cloud, and application teams to ensure high performance, availability, and scalability of database systems. The ideal candidate is a product- and service-focused leader with proven expertise in modern cloud database technologies and migration strategies. 

Why Join Us? 

This is a strategic leadership role at the core of Guitar Center’s evolving data and technology infrastructure. You’ll guide the modernization of critical data systems, drive innovation in cloud and database technologies, and support the high-performance platforms that power retail, supply chain, digital commerce, and analytics initiatives. 

Responsibilities: 

Daily Operations and Service Management 

• Oversee the end-to-end operational health and support of all enterprise database systems across on-premises and cloud environments 

Ensure stable, secure, and highly available database services using technologies such as SQL Server, Oracle, Exadata, Netezza, and cloud equivalents 

• Support and manage services on AWS (e.g., RDS, Aurora, Redshift) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (e.g., Autonomous DB, Oracle Exadata Cloud@Customer) 

• Manage and monitor system performance, usage patterns, backups, patching, and disaster recovery processes 

• Establish and track key SLAs, operational metrics, and performance indicators 

Strategic Leadership and Architecture 

• Lead the organization’s overall database strategy from design and implementation to continuous optimization and lifecycle management 

• Provide architectural direction aligned with cloud-native practices including high-availability design, infrastructure as code, and platform automation 

• Collaborate with application, cloud, and analytics teams to ensure database systems support broader platform needs 

• Develop roadmaps and project plans for technology modernization and cloud migration initiatives 

Cloud Migration and Modernization 

• Lead efforts to migrate legacy database platforms to cloud-based solutions with minimal risk and downtime 

• Support re-platforming and refactoring projects aligned with DevOps and product development practices 

• Identify opportunities for automation, containerization, and adoption of managed services to increase agility and reduce operational overhead 

Team Leadership 

• Manage a lean team of fewer than five individual contributors, including a dedicated Database Architect or Tech Lead 

• Coach and develop team members to strengthen technical expertise, operational excellence, and ownership of services 

• Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture with