Senior Database Engineer

Role Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Database Engineer (Cloud DBA) to join our Database Engineering team. This is a hands-on, high-impact role designed for a database professional who thrives on deep SQL Server expertise, automation, operational excellence, and cloud modernization. You will partner closely with Engineering, DevOps, Analytics, and Infrastructure teams to improve reliability, eliminate operational toil, and build scalable database platform capabilities that support our growing business.

What You’ll Do

• The Senior Database Engineer (Cloud DBA) is responsible for the design, administration, optimization, automation, and reliability of enterprise database environments supporting mission-critical business applications.
• This role will lead initiatives to improve database performance, availability, security, and operational efficiency while helping transform traditional DBA practices into modern database engineering capabilities.

Essential Functions

• SQL Server & Cloud Operations
  • Administer, optimize, and support SQL Server 2019+ environments hosted on AWS EC2.
  • Design, implement, and maintain high availability and disaster recovery solutions, including Always On Availability Groups, clustering, replication, and failover testing.
  • Perform and continuously improve operational processes including backups, restores, database refreshes, index maintenance, patching, and capacity planning.
  • Monitor database performance and troubleshoot issues using execution plans, query analysis, Extended Events, SQL Profiler, and enterprise monitoring tools.
  • Participate in production support and on-call rotations while driving long-term improvements that reduce incident frequency and operational risk.
• Automation & Process Improvement
  • Identify, prioritize, and eliminate manual database administration tasks through automation and standardization.
  • Develop reusable automation solutions using PowerShell, T-SQL, SQL Agent, Terraform, CloudFormation, and other engineering tools.
  • Standardize platform management practices across environments to improve consistency, reliability, and scalability.
  • Promote database platforms as repeatable services rather than individually managed systems.
• DevOps & Engineering Integration
  • Partner with application, platform, and DevOps teams to integrate database deployments into CI/CD pipelines.
  • Support version-controlled database development and deployment practices.
  • Contribute to schema versioning, release automation, and database change management initiatives.
  • Advocate for database best practices within application architecture and development workflows.
  • Support low-downtime or zero-downtime deployment strategies to improve release quality and stability.
• Team Enablement & Collaboration
  • Mentor team members in automation, cloud technologies, operational excellence, and engineering best practices.
  • Contribute to the evolution of the database team from reactive operational support to proactive platform engineering.
  • Create and maintain documentation, standards, playbooks, and operational runbooks.
  • Collaborate with global database engineering resources, including India-based team members, to maintain consistent standards and operational practices.
• Cloud & Platform Modernization
  • Support AWS database services including RDS, Aurora, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and DynamoDB as business needs evolve.
  • Participate in cloud migration, modernization, and platform transformation initiatives.
  • Evaluate and implement new database and platform technologies that improve scalability, performance, and operational efficiency.
• Reliability, Security & Cost Optimization
  • Improve platform reliability through monitoring, alerting, performance baselining, and capacity planning.
  • Support service reliability initiatives, including SLIs, SLOs, incident reduction, and operational improvements.
  • Implement and maintain secure database practices including encryption, auditing, role-based access controls, and compliance requirements.
  • Optimize infrastructure utilization and storage costs through rightsizing, lifecycle management, and performance tuning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of hands-on SQL Server administration experience within enterprise production environments.
• Deep expertise with SQL Server performance tuning, monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Extensive experience designing and supporting high availability and disaster recovery solutions, including Always On Availability Groups, clustering, replication, and disaster recovery testing.
• Demonstrated success automating operational processes through scripting and Infrastructure as Code practices.
• Experience supporting SQL Server environments running on AWS infrastructure, particularly EC2-hosted deployments.
• Experience supporting highly available, business-critical systems with demanding SLA requirements.

Skills & Abilities

• Advanced SQL Server administration and performance tuning expertise.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using PowerShell and T-SQL.
• Experience with Terraform, CloudFormation, or other Infrastructure as Code tools.
• Working knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, deployment automation, version control systems, and DevOps practices.
• Experience with observability and monitoring tools including Idera, Redgate, CloudWatch, AppDynamics, Performance Insights, Extended Events, and SQL Profiler.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience implementing database CI/CD and schema versioning solutions such as Flyway, Liquibase, or SSDT.
• Advanced experience with Infrastructure as Code frameworks, including Terraform and CloudFormation.
• Experience supporting PostgreSQL, MySQL, Aurora, or DynamoDB environments.
• Familiarity with AWS services including Glue, Lambda, OpenSearch, and Bedrock.
• Knowledge of enterprise data modeling, schema design, and data architecture principles.
• Experience in healthcare, insurance, financial services, or other highly regulated industries.
• Exposure to AI/ML-enabled data platforms and modern data engineering practices.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Health Benefits: Access to health, dental, and vision plans to support your wellness and that of your family.
• Competitive Compensation: A compensation package that recognizes your skills, experience, and contributions, including performance-based incentives for most roles.
• Remote first, Office friendly environment!
• Retirement Savings Plans: Options to help you plan for a secure financial future with employer-sponsored retirement savings programs.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth, including training and access to resources to support your career progression.
• Supportive Culture: A work environment that encourages collaboration, open communication, and creative problem-solving, where your voice and ideas are valued.
• Employee Wellbeing Initiatives: Programs focused on mental health, financial planning, and wellness resources to help you thrive inside and outside of work.
• Make an Impact: At bswift, your work directly contributes to transforming how organizations approach benefits administration and client engagement.