Senior Database Engineer

Principal, Platform Engineering – Databases – Atlanta, GA (Hybrid)

Principal, Platform Engineering – Databases

📍 Location: Atlanta, GA (Hybrid – 3 Days Onsite / 2 Days Remote)
🏢 Industry: Information Technology / Enterprise Platforms
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🚫 Visa Sponsorship: Not Available
🚚 Relocation Assistance: None
💰 Compensation: $144,000 – $210,000 Base Salary

Overview

A global enterprise is seeking a Principal, Platform Engineering – Databases to serve as the technical authority responsible for enterprise database architecture, strategy, standards, and platform engineering initiatives.

This role will lead the design, implementation, optimization, and governance of complex database environments while providing technical leadership across engineering teams. The successful candidate will act as the organization's database subject matter expert, driving platform reliability, scalability, security, and modernization efforts across a highly complex global environment.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position rather than a people-management role.

Key Responsibilities

Database Strategy & Leadership

  • Define enterprise database standards, governance, and best practices.

  • Develop long-term database technology roadmaps.

  • Evaluate emerging database technologies and modernization opportunities.

  • Serve as the primary database subject matter expert across the organization.

  • Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership across platform teams.

Database Architecture & Design

  • Design conceptual, logical, and physical data models.

  • Architect scalable enterprise database solutions.

  • Design, implement, and maintain complex relational database systems.

  • Ensure database environments meet performance, security, and scalability requirements.

  • Lead database architecture reviews and strategic design decisions.

Platform Engineering

  • Design and develop enterprise platform solutions supporting critical business applications.

  • Improve database deployment, automation, and operational processes.

  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across database engineering functions.

  • Support CI/CD and platform modernization initiatives.

Performance, Reliability & Support

  • Lead troubleshooting of highly complex database and platform issues.

  • Ensure minimal downtime and rapid issue resolution.

  • Develop monitoring, optimization, and performance improvement strategies.

  • Establish documentation standards and operational procedures.

Collaboration & Technical Influence

  • Partner with architects, engineers, product teams, and business stakeholders.

  • Lead technical discussions with both technical and non-technical audiences.

  • Provide strategic guidance on enterprise data and platform initiatives.

Required Qualifications

Experience

✔ 10+ years of database engineering, architecture, or platform engineering experience.

✔ Experience defining:

  • Database standards

  • Technology roadmaps

  • Database governance frameworks

  • Long-term platform strategies

✔ Experience mentoring engineers and providing technical leadership.

Technical Expertise

Oracle Database

  • Expert-level Oracle Database administration and architecture.

  • Advanced SQL expertise.

  • Database performance tuning and optimization.

  • Database security and scalability.

Data Architecture

  • Conceptual data modeling.

  • Logical data modeling.

  • Physical data modeling.

  • Enterprise database design principles.

Platform Engineering

  • Complex relational database systems.

  • Enterprise-scale environments.

  • Documentation and operational standards.

  • Continuous improvement initiatives.

Must-Have Skills

Database Technologies

  • Oracle Database

  • SQL

  • Relational Database Design

  • Database Architecture

  • Data Modeling

Leadership & Strategy

  • Technology Roadmaps

  • Database Governance

  • Technical Mentorship

  • Enterprise Standards Development

  • Continuous Improvement

Engineering

  • Performance Optimization

  • Scalability Planning

  • Security Architecture

  • Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis

Screening Questions

  1. Have you defined enterprise database standards, technology roadmaps, and long-term database strategies?

  2. Do you have professional experience creating conceptual, logical, and physical data models for enterprise systems?

  3. Have you designed, implemented, and managed complex relational database environments focused on performance, scalability, and security?

  4. Do you possess expert-level Oracle Database and SQL expertise?

  5. Do you have experience designing, maintaining, and modernizing enterprise database architectures?

  6. Are you legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring current or future visa sponsorship?

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a highly technical database architect who:

  • Serves as the go-to expert for Oracle database technologies.

  • Has led database strategy and governance initiatives within large global enterprises.

  • Possesses deep expertise in enterprise database architecture and relational data modeling.

  • Can influence both technical and business stakeholders.

  • Enjoys mentoring engineers and raising technical standards across teams.

  • Has experience operating within highly complex, mission-critical environments.

  • Drives modernization, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Candidate Snapshot

Requirement

Details

Experience

10+ Years Database Engineering / Architecture

Database Expertise

Oracle DB & SQL (Expert Level)

Architecture

Conceptual, Logical & Physical Data Modeling

Leadership

Technical Leadership & Mentorship

Industry

Enterprise IT / Platform Engineering

Location

Atlanta, GA (Hybrid)

Compensation

$144K – $210K

Visa Sponsorship

Not Available

Relocation

Not Available

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

  • Deep Oracle database expertise.

  • Strong enterprise architecture and data modeling skills.

  • Ability to define standards and long-term technology direction.

  • Proven success leading complex database modernization efforts.

  • Strong communication skills with both business and technical stakeholders.

  • Passion for mentoring engineers and improving engineering practices.

  • Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on technical execution.