Sr. Database Engineer

Role: Sr. Database Engineer Location : Irvine, CA - Onsite Duration: 6+ Months Job Type: C2C We are looking for a Sr. Database Engineer to be a technical authority and lead designer of our high-performance data environments. You are "builder " who views databases as code-equally skilled at deep SQL performance tuning as you are at building automated deployment pipelines for global-scale clusters. You thrive on the challenge of high-stakes, large-scale data systems. As a key client-facing expert, you will guide our clients away from legacy "babysitting " models toward modern, self-healing, cloud-native database architectures on AWS. What You'll Do • Architect Scalable Data Systems: Design and oversee the implementation of enterprise-scale relational (RDS, Aurora) and NoSQL (DynamoDB, DocumentDB) database architectures. • Engineer Database Automation: Develop "Database-as-Code " using Terraform or CloudFormation to automate provisioning, scaling, and recovery processes across multi-region environments. • Optimize for Performance: Act as the final authority on complex performance tuning, including query optimization, indexing strategies, and hardware-level bottleneck analysis. • Modernize for AI: Design and implement specialized data storage solutions, such as vector databases (Amazon OpenSearch, pgvector), to support Generative AI and RAG-based applications. • Set the Standards: Define and enforce best practices for data modeling, security (encryption at rest/transit), and high-availability/disaster recovery (RPO/RTO) across the practice. • Lead & Mentor: Act as a technical mentor for junior engineers, leading deep-dive design reviews and fostering a culture of operational excellence. What You Bring (Requirements) • Professional Experience: 8-12+ years in database administration or engineering, with at least 4+ years in a Senior Engineering role focusing on cloud environments. • AWS Database Mastery: Expert-level knowledge of the AWS database ecosystem (Aurora, RDS, DynamoDB, Redshift). • Coding & Scripting: Proven mastery of Python and Advanced SQL for automation and sophisticated data manipulation. • Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Deep experience with Terraform or AWS CDK to manage database infrastructure. • Data Modeling: Expert-level understanding of both relational and non-relational data modeling techniques. • Client-Facing Excellence: Exceptional skills in leading technical workshops and translating ambiguous business needs into high-performance technical designs. • Startup Mentality: "builder " mindset with a focus on impact, ownership, and the agility to solve "unsolvable " technical challenges. Bonus Points (Nice-to-Haves) • Certifications: AWS Certified Database - Specialty or AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional. • AI/ML Fluency: Experience with vector databases and preparing data pipelines for LLM integration. • Consulting Background: Experience in a Professional Services or global consulting environment.