Database Tech Lead

The Database Tech Lead will serve as the owner and architect of the organization's core data infrastructure. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing scalable database systems while ensuring their performance, reliability, and scalability. The ideal candidate will lead efforts across database architecture, data pipelines, orchestration frameworks, and production operations, playing a key role in supporting the organization's data-driven initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Database Architecture & Design

Design and implement scalable, high-performance SQL-based databases with a focus on AWS Aurora (PostgreSQL/MySQL).

Utilize a broad suite of AWS services including Aurora, RDS, S3, Glue, Lambda, and Redshift to develop cloud-native data solutions.

Define and maintain database schemas optimized for performance, consistency, and long-term maintainability.

2. ETL and Data Pipeline Management

Design, develop, and manage data pipelines using tools such as AWS Glue and Apache Airflow.

Ensure data quality, lineage, and consistency across ingestion, transformation, and export processes.

3. Production Support & Operations

Maintain the stability, reliability, and performance of production databases and data systems.

Conduct capacity planning, performance tuning, backup/restore, and disaster recovery strategies.

Collaborate with DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) teams to implement monitoring, alerting, and automation.

4. Continuous Improvement & Governance

Implement data governance practices for schema changes, migration workflows, and data access controls.

Evaluate and introduce new technologies to improve system efficiency, resilience, and scalability.

Promote testing, automation, and accountability within the data engineering environment.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Minimum of 3 years of experience in a technical lead role for databases or data platforms.

At least 3 years of experience in database engineering, with a focus on SQL development and data infrastructure.

Deep expertise in SQL query optimization, indexing strategies, transaction management, and data modeling.

Strong understanding of production-grade database systems including high availability, replication, and disaster recovery.

Proficiency in at least one scripting or programming language (e.g., Python).

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with cloud-native architectures, particularly in AWS environments.

Familiarity with data governance, access control, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

Background in automation and CI/CD for data workflows.

Physical Requirements:

Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk during normal working hours.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.