{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"c498cfa20489b3c99bb44392","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/c498cfa20489b3c99bb44392","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/c498cfa20489b3c99bb44392","title":"Principal Database Engineer – SQL Server & AI Data Infrastructure","description":"Principal Database Engineer – SQL Server & AI Data Infrastructure\n\nThe Opportunity\n\nWEX is looking for a highly experienced Database Engineer to help modernize and scale critical data platforms while supporting the next generation of AI-enabled applications.\n\nThis is a hands-on engineering role for someone who brings deep expertise in SQL Server and T-SQL, combined with the ability to solve complex database performance, scalability, and modernization challenges at enterprise scale.\n\nYou will work across large, business-critical data environments, partnering closely with application engineering, SRE, operations, and architecture teams. The role is highly technical and execution-oriented—you will be expected to independently identify problems, drive solutions, and take ownership from design through implementation and production.\n\nThe team is also applying modern AI capabilities to database engineering, including AI-assisted development, automation, semantic search, embeddings, and vector-based data infrastructure.\n\nWhat You'll Do\n\nDatabase Engineering & Modernization\n\nDesign, develop, optimize, and modernize large-scale SQL Server databases and data platforms.\n\nAnalyze and refactor complex T-SQL, stored procedures, functions, and database logic.\n\nIdentify and resolve database performance bottlenecks through execution-plan analysis, indexing, query optimization, and database tuning.\n\nDrive schema improvements and database modernization initiatives that improve scalability, maintainability, and reliability.\n\nDevelop migration strategies and automation that maintain data integrity and minimize disruption to business-critical systems.\n\nImplement and improve data replication and synchronization patterns across transactional and analytical environments.\n\nApply event-driven database patterns such as Change Data Capture (CDC), outbox patterns, and event publishing.\n\nEnterprise-Scale Data Platforms\n\nEngineer solutions for large, high-volume databases supporting critical business applications and partners.\n\nWork with databases containing terabytes of data and complex data relationships.\n\nDevelop data pipelines and integration patterns across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, and cloud data services.\n\nSupport both OLTP and OLAP environments and optimize data movement between systems.\n\nApply strong understanding of database internals, including indexing, locking, transactions, isolation levels, concurrency, and query optimization.\n\nAI-Enabled Database Engineering\n\nUse modern AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, or similar tools to accelerate development, analysis, debugging, and modernization.\n\nExplore and implement AI-powered approaches for analyzing stored procedures, documenting schemas, and automating database engineering workflows.\n\nContribute to AI-native data infrastructure, including embedding pipelines, vector databases, semantic search, and retrieval systems.\n\nDevelop data and retrieval capabilities that support AI applications and agentic workflows.\n\nEvaluate emerging AI tools and determine where they can improve engineering productivity and data platform capabilities.\n\nTechnical Leadership & Ownership\n\nIndependently lead complex database engineering initiatives from problem definition through production implementation.\n\nServe as a technical resource for complex database and performance challenges.\n\nPartner effectively with application engineering, SRE, operations, architecture, and AI/ML teams.\n\nProvide technical guidance through code reviews, design discussions, and engineering standards.\n\nMentor other engineers and contribute to the development of database engineering practices.\n\nTake ownership of outcomes rather than simply completing assigned tasks.\n\nProduction & Problem Solving\n\nParticipate in resolving high-impact production issues involving critical database systems.\n\nDiagnose complex problems using logs, database metrics, CPU/memory utilization, execution plans, and other observability data.\n\nQuickly determine root cause, coordinate with the appropriate technical teams, and drive issues through resolution.\n\nBalance immediate incident resolution with longer-term improvements that prevent recurrence.\n\nWhat You'll Bring\nRequired Experience\n\n15+ years of experience in database engineering, data platform engineering, software engineering, or a related technical discipline.\n\nDeep hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server and T-SQL, including complex stored procedures, query optimization, execution-plan analysis, indexing, and performance tuning.\n\nDemonstrated experience modernizing or refactoring legacy database systems, not simply maintaining existing environments.\n\nExperience working with large-scale, business-critical databases and high-volume data environments.\n\nStrong programming skills in Python, C#, or a similar language for automation, tooling, and data processing.\n\nExperience with data pipelines, ETL/ELT, data integration, batch processing, and/or event-driven architectures.\n\nStrong understanding of database internals, transaction management, concurrency, locking, and performance optimization.\n\nExperience working across engineering teams and independently driving complex technical initiatives.\n\nAI & Modern Data Technologies\n\nExperience using AI coding assistants such as Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Augment, or similar tools.\n\nFamiliarity with embeddings, vector databases, semantic search, or RAG concepts.\n\nExperience with or willingness to build AI-enabled data tooling and automation.\n\nExposure to technologies such as PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, AWS data services, or similar platforms.\n\nCloud & Engineering Practices\n\nExperience with infrastructure-as-code such as Terraform, ARM/Bicep, or similar technologies.\n\nExperience with CI/CD, source control, database migrations, schema versioning, and deployment automation.\n\nExperience with event streaming technologies such as Kafka is a plus.\n\nFamiliarity with NoSQL and document databases is a plus.\n\nPreferred Experience\n\nExperience in payments, financial services, healthcare, benefits, or other highly regulated environments.\n\nExperience supporting highly available, customer-facing or business-critical systems.\n\nExperience with Oracle PL/SQL in addition to SQL Server.\n\nHands-on experience with RAG, semantic search, vector databases, or AI-agent data infrastructure.\n\nExperience building internal engineering tools or automation using AI.\n\nWhy This Role Matters\n\nWEX operates at a significant enterprise scale, and our database platforms are foundational to critical customer and business experiences. This role sits at the intersection of deep database engineering, large-scale modernization, cloud data platforms, and emerging AI technologies.\n\nYou will have the opportunity to apply proven database engineering expertise to some of the industry's most challenging data problems while helping shape how AI can transform the way modern engineering teams build, operate, and evolve data platforms.\n\nThis is an opportunity for an engineer who wants to remain deeply technical while operating with the ownership and influence expected at the Senior Staff level.\n\nThe base pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual pay rates will vary and will be based on various factors, such as your qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Base pay is one component of WEX's total compensation package. Most sales positions are eligible for commission under the terms of an applicable plan. Non-sales roles are typically eligible for a quarterly or annual bonus based on their role and applicable plan. WEX's comprehensive and market competitive benefits are designed to support your personal and professional well-being. Benefits include health, dental and vision insurances, retirement savings plan, paid time off, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and more. For more information, check out the \"About Us\" section.\n\nPay Range: $165,800.00 - $204,400.00","company":"Wexinc","rawCompany":"wexinc","city":"Portland","state":"ME","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-09-09T08:57:35.274Z","occupations":[{"code":"15-1243.00","title":"Database Architects","slug":"database-architects"},{"code":"15-1242.00","title":"Database Administrators","slug":"database-administrators"},{"code":"15-1243.01","title":"Data Warehousing Specialists","slug":"data-warehousing-specialists"}],"industries":[{"code":"541512","title":"Computer Systems Design Services","slug":"computer-systems-design-services"},{"code":"513210","title":"Software Publishers","slug":"software-publishers"},{"code":"518210","title":"Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services","slug":"computing-infrastructure-providers-data-processing-web-hosting-and-related-services"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Principal Database Engineer – SQL Server & AI Data Infrastructure","description":"Principal Database Engineer – SQL Server & AI Data Infrastructure\n\nThe Opportunity\n\nWEX is looking for a highly experienced Database Engineer to help modernize and scale critical data platforms while supporting the next generation of AI-enabled applications.\n\nThis is a hands-on engineering role for someone who brings deep expertise in SQL Server and T-SQL, combined with the ability to solve complex database performance, scalability, and modernization challenges at enterprise scale.\n\nYou will work across large, business-critical data environments, partnering closely with application engineering, SRE, operations, and architecture teams. The role is highly technical and execution-oriented—you will be expected to independently identify problems, drive solutions, and take ownership from design through implementation and production.\n\nThe team is also applying modern AI capabilities to database engineering, including AI-assisted development, automation, semantic search, embeddings, and vector-based data infrastructure.\n\nWhat You'll Do\n\nDatabase Engineering & Modernization\n\nDesign, develop, optimize, and modernize large-scale SQL Server databases and data platforms.\n\nAnalyze and refactor complex T-SQL, stored procedures, functions, and database logic.\n\nIdentify and resolve database performance bottlenecks through execution-plan analysis, indexing, query optimization, and database tuning.\n\nDrive schema improvements and database modernization initiatives that improve scalability, maintainability, and reliability.\n\nDevelop migration strategies and automation that maintain data integrity and minimize disruption to business-critical systems.\n\nImplement and improve data replication and synchronization patterns across transactional and analytical environments.\n\nApply event-driven database patterns such as Change Data Capture (CDC), outbox patterns, and event publishing.\n\nEnterprise-Scale Data Platforms\n\nEngineer solutions for large, high-volume databases supporting critical business applications and partners.\n\nWork with databases containing terabytes of data and complex data relationships.\n\nDevelop data pipelines and integration patterns across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, and cloud data services.\n\nSupport both OLTP and OLAP environments and optimize data movement between systems.\n\nApply strong understanding of database internals, including indexing, locking, transactions, isolation levels, concurrency, and query optimization.\n\nAI-Enabled Database Engineering\n\nUse modern AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, or similar tools to accelerate development, analysis, debugging, and modernization.\n\nExplore and implement AI-powered approaches for analyzing stored procedures, documenting schemas, and automating database engineering workflows.\n\nContribute to AI-native data infrastructure, including embedding pipelines, vector databases, semantic search, and retrieval systems.\n\nDevelop data and retrieval capabilities that support AI applications and agentic workflows.\n\nEvaluate emerging AI tools and determine where they can improve engineering productivity and data platform capabilities.\n\nTechnical Leadership & Ownership\n\nIndependently lead complex database engineering initiatives from problem definition through production implementation.\n\nServe as a technical resource for complex database and performance challenges.\n\nPartner effectively with application engineering, SRE, operations, architecture, and AI/ML teams.\n\nProvide technical guidance through code reviews, design discussions, and engineering standards.\n\nMentor other engineers and contribute to the development of database engineering practices.\n\nTake ownership of outcomes rather than simply completing assigned tasks.\n\nProduction & Problem Solving\n\nParticipate in resolving high-impact production issues involving critical database systems.\n\nDiagnose complex problems using logs, database metrics, CPU/memory utilization, execution plans, and other observability data.\n\nQuickly determine root cause, coordinate with the appropriate technical teams, and drive issues through resolution.\n\nBalance immediate incident resolution with longer-term improvements that prevent recurrence.\n\nWhat You'll Bring\nRequired Experience\n\n15+ years of experience in database engineering, data platform engineering, software engineering, or a related technical discipline.\n\nDeep hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server and T-SQL, including complex stored procedures, query optimization, execution-plan analysis, indexing, and performance tuning.\n\nDemonstrated experience modernizing or refactoring legacy database systems, not simply maintaining existing environments.\n\nExperience working with large-scale, business-critical databases and high-volume data environments.\n\nStrong programming skills in Python, C#, or a similar language for automation, tooling, and data processing.\n\nExperience with data pipelines, ETL/ELT, data integration, batch processing, and/or event-driven architectures.\n\nStrong understanding of database internals, transaction management, concurrency, locking, and performance optimization.\n\nExperience working across engineering teams and independently driving complex technical initiatives.\n\nAI & Modern Data Technologies\n\nExperience using AI coding assistants such as Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Augment, or similar tools.\n\nFamiliarity with embeddings, vector databases, semantic search, or RAG concepts.\n\nExperience with or willingness to build AI-enabled data tooling and automation.\n\nExposure to technologies such as PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, AWS data services, or similar platforms.\n\nCloud & Engineering Practices\n\nExperience with infrastructure-as-code such as Terraform, ARM/Bicep, or similar technologies.\n\nExperience with CI/CD, source control, database migrations, schema versioning, and deployment automation.\n\nExperience with event streaming technologies such as Kafka is a plus.\n\nFamiliarity with NoSQL and document databases is a plus.\n\nPreferred Experience\n\nExperience in payments, financial services, healthcare, benefits, or other highly regulated environments.\n\nExperience supporting highly available, customer-facing or business-critical systems.\n\nExperience with Oracle PL/SQL in addition to SQL Server.\n\nHands-on experience with RAG, semantic search, vector databases, or AI-agent data infrastructure.\n\nExperience building internal engineering tools or automation using AI.\n\nWhy This Role Matters\n\nWEX operates at a significant enterprise scale, and our database platforms are foundational to critical customer and business experiences. This role sits at the intersection of deep database engineering, large-scale modernization, cloud data platforms, and emerging AI technologies.\n\nYou will have the opportunity to apply proven database engineering expertise to some of the industry's most challenging data problems while helping shape how AI can transform the way modern engineering teams build, operate, and evolve data platforms.\n\nThis is an opportunity for an engineer who wants to remain deeply technical while operating with the ownership and influence expected at the Senior Staff level.\n\nThe base pay range represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position. Actual pay rates will vary and will be based on various factors, such as your qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. Base pay is one component of WEX's total compensation package. Most sales positions are eligible for commission under the terms of an applicable plan. Non-sales roles are typically eligible for a quarterly or annual bonus based on their role and applicable plan. WEX's comprehensive and market competitive benefits are designed to support your personal and professional well-being. Benefits include health, dental and vision insurances, retirement savings plan, paid time off, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, and more. For more information, check out the \"About Us\" section.\n\nPay Range: $165,800.00 - $204,400.00","datePosted":"2026-09-09T08:57:35.274Z","dateModified":"2026-09-09T08:57:35.274Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Wexinc","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Portland","addressRegion":"ME","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"c498cfa20489b3c99bb44392"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/c498cfa20489b3c99bb44392"}}