Principal System Engineering - Database Architecture and Engineering

This position requires office presence of a minimum of 5 days per week and is only located in the location(s) posted. No relocation is offered. AT&T will not hire any applicants for this position who require employer sponsorship now or in the future. Join AT&T and reimagine the communications and technologies that connect the world. The Technology Services organization is responsible for advancing information technology performance and delivering solutions with a focus on maximizing ROI, increasing efficiency and enhancing the experience of end users. Guided by experienced leaders, Corporate Systems seamlessly integrate with advanced Technology and Operations to drive our enterprise forward. Our Systems Reliability and Software Delivery teams are unwavering in their commitment to excellence, ensuring every solution is robust and efficient. When you step into a career with AT&T, you won't just imagine the future, you'll create it.

About the Team The Database Architecture and Engineering team (DAE) is responsible for designing, automating, deploying, and supporting enterprise database platforms across cloud and hybrid environments. The team develops standardized deployment patterns, Infrastructure-as-Code solutions, database automation workflows, and operational tooling supporting Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, and related database technologies. The team works extensively with AWS, AWS Outposts, Azure, GitHub Actions, Terraform, security integrations, observability platforms, backup solutions, and migration tooling to deliver repeatable, compliant, and scalable database services. DAE partners closely with cloud engineering, security, operations, migration, architecture, and application teams to define engineering patterns, automate infrastructure provisioning, improve operational efficiency, and support large-scale cloud adoption and modernization initiatives.

What you’ll do:

The Principal Systems Engineer will provide technical leadership for the design, development, automation, and operational support of enterprise database platforms. This role will drive Infrastructure-as-Code initiatives, deployment automation, cloud platform engineering, database modernization efforts, and operational excellence across AWS, AWS Outposts, Azure, and hybrid computing environments. The ideal candidate combines deep infrastructure engineering expertise with strong software automation skills and the ability to work across database, cloud, security, operations, and architecture organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Platform Engineering & Automation Lead development of Infrastructure-as-Code solutions using Terraform, GitHub Actions, and related automation technologies. Design and maintain reusable deployment modules, workflows, and engineering patterns used to provision and manage enterprise database platforms. Develop automated build, deployment, validation, lifecycle management, and decommissioning workflows for cloud-hosted database infrastructure. Drive standardization of database deployment architectures, image management processes, and infrastructure provisioning patterns. Support modernization initiatives involving migration from legacy deployment technologies to GitHub-based automation frameworks.
• Cloud & Database Platform Engineering Design and implement cloud-based database hosting solutions across AWS, AWS Outposts, Azure, and hybrid environments. Define infrastructure requirements supporting Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, and emerging database platforms. Develop automated provisioning solutions for compute, storage, networking, backup, monitoring, and security integrations. Support platform expansion, feature development, image certification, and deployment pattern creation for new database technologies and cloud services.
• Operational Excellence Serve as a senior escalation resource for infrastructure, automation, deployment, and operational issues. Improve reliability, scalability, observability, and supportability of database platforms. Develop automated validation, monitoring, compliance, and operational readiness capabilities. Collaborate with support organizations to establish repeatable operational processes and governance controls.
• Architecture & Technical Leadership Lead architecture reviews and technical design discussions. Define engineering standards, automation frameworks, and platform roadmaps. Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that improve scalability, security, reliability, and operational efficiency. Mentor engineers and provide technical guidance across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with cloud architecture, migration, security, compliance, application, and operations teams. Coordinate engineering efforts across multiple workstreams and delivery organizations. Participate in strategic initiatives involving cloud adoption, migration acceleration, identity integration, backup modernization, and observability improvements.

What you’ll bring:

Required 7+ years of systems engineering, infrastructure engineering, or cloud platform experience. Strong expertise with Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code development. Experience building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions or similar automation platforms. Deep knowledge of AWS services, including EC2, IAM, KMS, SSM, VPCs, EBS, routing, security groups, and cloud-native automation. Experience designing and supporting enterprise database platforms, including one or more of the following: Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MySQL. Linux system administration expertise. Experience with scripting and automation using Bash, Python, PowerShell, or similar technologies. Knowledge of enterprise monitoring, logging, and observability solutions. Experience troubleshooting complex infrastructure, networking, authentication, and deployment issues. Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to drive technical discussions across multiple organizations.

Preferred Skills:

AWS Outposts experience. Experience implementing database migration and modernization solutions. Experience with HashiCorp Cloud Platform (HCP) or Terraform Enterprise. Knowledge of database high availability and disaster recovery technologies such as Oracle Data Guard, GoldenGate, MySQL replication, PostgreSQL replication, and Cassandra clustering. Experience with enterprise identity and access management integrations, including Entra ID and AWS Identity Center. Experience implementing backup and recovery automation solutions. Exposure to security, compliance, audit, and governance requirements within regulated environments. Experience supporting large-scale enterprise cloud transformation initiatives. Experience leading geographically distributed technical teams and mentoring engineers. Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering preferred #LI-Onsite Full-time office role.

Our Principal System Engineering jobs earn between $155,400.00 - $261,100.00 USD Annual.

Not to mention all the other amazing rewards that working at AT&T offers.

Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training.

Joining our team comes with amazing perks and benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Paid Time Off and Holidays (based on date of hire, at least 23 days of vacation each year and 9 company-designated holidays)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Additional sick leave beyond what state and local law require may be available but is unprotected
• Adoption Reimbursement
• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness/accident hospital indemnity/group legal
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Extensive employee wellness programs
• Employee discounts up to 50% off on eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, AT&T internet (and fiber where available) and AT&T phone

Weekly Hours: 40 Time Type: Regular

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA:TX:Dallas / Three AT&T Plaza (308 S Akard St) - Co:308 S Akard St

Salary Range: $155,400.00 - $261,100.00

AT&T and its subsidiaries are committed to equal employment opportunity. All hiring, promotion, and other employment decisions remain merit-based and free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. In addition, AT&T will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. AT&T is a fair chance employer and does not initiate a background check until an offer is made.

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