Remote Database Engineer

Tyto Athene is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Database Engineer to architect and implement scalable, secure, and high-performing database solutions across mission-critical federal applications. As the first database-focused engineer on our team, you will play a key role in shaping data models, provisioning cloud-based databases, and enabling application developers through well-integrated, modern data architectures.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience managing both relational and non-relational databases in secure cloud environments, with a strong understanding of federal compliance requirements, performance tuning, and disaster recovery planning.

Responsibilities:

• Administer and tune relational databases (e.g. SQL Server and PostgreSQL) and non-relational databases in secure government cloud environments.
• Establish and enforce database standards, naming conventions, and operational procedures across teams.
• Define long-term strategies for database growth, scalability, and modernization.
• Serve as the go-to expert for all database-related architecture, performance, and compliance questions.
• Design, implement and test backup, disaster recovery, and continuity of operations plans (COOP).
• Ensure database security, access controls, encryption and compliance with federal standards (FISMA, NIST).
• Support performance optimization, ETL pipelines, indexing strategies, and data architecture design.
• Collaborate with software engineers, DevSecOps and program teams to align database solutions with mission and system requirements.
• Perform routine database maintenance, patching and version upgrades in accordance with change control policies.
• Document database configurations, policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support audits and knowledge transfer.
• Participate in agile delivery cycles and support release readiness for database-dependent features.

Required:

• Deep expertise in database performance tuning, backup and recovery operations, and high availability strategies.
• Experience with cloud-hosted database platforms (e.g. Azure SQL, AWS RDS, AWS Aurora). 
• Proficient in SQL and shell scripting in Windows and/or Linux environments.
• Proficient with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g. Terraform, Ansible) for database provisioning and configuration.
• Experience with database monitoring tools (e.g. Datadog, New Relic) to proactively identify issues.
• Ability to communicate technical risks and solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working within secure DevSecOps environments.
• US citizenship is required.

Desired:

• 8-15 years of technology experience and 5+ years of hands-on database engineering experience.
• Experience working with the Federal government is strongly desired.
• Familiarity with federal data standards (e.g. FISMA, NIST) is a plus.
• Experience with NoSQL databases (e.g. MongoDB, DynamoDB) is a plus.
• Security clearance is a plus but not required.

Location: Remote

 

Compensation:

• Compensation is unique to each candidate and relative to the skills and experience they bring to the position. The salary range for this position is typically $130K-$160K. This does not guarantee a specific salary as compensation is based upon multiple factors such as education, experience, certifications, and other requirements, and may fall outside of the above-stated range.

Benefits:

• Highlights of our benefits include Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off, STD/LTD/Life Insurance, Referral Bonuses, professional development reimbursement, and maternity/paternity leave.

Qualifications Tyto Athene is a trusted leader in IT services and solutions, delivering mission-focused digital transformation that drives measurable success. Our expertise spans four core technology domains—Network Modernization, Hybrid Cloud, Cybersecurity, and Enterprise IT—empowering our clients with cutting-edge solutions tailored to their evolving needs. With over 50 years of experience, Tyto Athene proudly support Defense, Intelligence, Space, National Security, Civilian, H