Sr. Cloud Database Engineer - Hybrid - Seattle

Job Description

We're seeking an exceptional Senior Cloud Database Engineer to lead our database team's strategic expansion into AWS cloud-based database platforms. This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundation of our cloud database practice, establish best practices from the ground up, and mentor a team of highly experienced database professionals as they expand their expertise into modern cloud database technologies.

As the cloud database subject matter expert on our team, you'll work alongside seasoned DBAs with deep Oracle and MSSQL backgrounds, bringing your expertise in AWS and cloud-native databases to establish our cloud database standards and accelerate the team's skill development in this critical new platform.

While PostgreSQL/Aurora are our heaviest use cases currently, we're building comprehensive AWS database capabilities and will give preference to candidates with extensive experience across the full range of AWS database services and technologies.

What You'll Do

Platform Leadership

• Define and implement best-practice, standardized configurations for AWS databases that meet enterprise business requirements

• Architect solutions using the full spectrum of AWS database services including RDS, Aurora PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, Aurora DSQL, and other emerging AWS data services

• Establish governance frameworks, deployment standards, and operational procedures for databases across AWS environments

• Design backup, recovery, and high availability strategies that meet SLAs and regulatory compliance requirements

• Develop database strategies that leverage AWS-native capabilities and optimize for cost, performance, and scalability

Technical Excellence

• Deploy and manage diverse database systems across AWS environments (relational, NoSQL, in-memory, and data warehouse platforms)

• Monitor, optimize, and troubleshoot complex performance issues across various AWS database services

• Provide expert guidance on application database design patterns and query optimization for PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, and other AWS database platforms

• Develop automation and infrastructure-as-code solutions for database provisioning and management using AWS tools

• Support production databases with a focus on reliability, security, and performance

• Evaluate and implement emerging AWS database technologies and managed services

• Design appropriate database architecture based on workload characteristics (OLTP, OLAP, real-time, analytical)

Knowledge Transfer & Mentorship

• Train and mentor database engineers transitioning from traditional on-premises systems to AWS cloud-native platforms

• Conduct hands-on workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions on AWS database services, PostgreSQL, and cloud database strategies

• Create comprehensive documentation, runbooks, and training materials

• Collaborate with team members to bridge traditional database administration with cloud-native practices

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on database engineering experience with at least 4 years focused on cloud database platforms

• 3+ years of experience with AWS database services across multiple database types

• Deep expertise in PostgreSQL administration including performance tuning, high availability, replication, and disaster recovery

• Strong understanding of AWS infrastructure, networking, security, and cloud architecture patterns

• Proven experience establishing database standards and best practices in enterprise environments

• Experience with database backup/recovery strategies and ensuring compliance with SLA requirements

• Strong troubleshooting skills for complex database and application performance issues

• Excellent communication skills with ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS certifications (Solutions Architect Professional, Database Specialty, or similar)

• PostgreSQL certification or equivalent deep community involvement

• Extensive experience with multiple AWS database platforms:

  • Relational: RDS (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server), Aurora (PostgreSQL), DSQL

  • NoSQL/Key-Value: DynamoDB

  • In-Memory: ElastiCache (Redis, Memcached), MemoryDB for Redis

  • Graph: Neptune

  • Data Warehouse: Redshift

• Experience migrating from Oracle or MSSQL to AWS-native databas