Database Engineer IV (Lead)

About the role

A Database Engineer IV (Lead) provides technical leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s database platforms, services, and long-term data architecture.

Responsibilities

• Implements proactive database maintenance practices, including automated jobs, integrity checks, performance monitoring, and alerting.
• Troubleshoots and resolves database errors, failed jobs, data integrity issues, and deployment or configuration problems.
• Designs and implements best practice, standardized database administration functions, including backup and restore strategies, disaster recovery planning and testing, high availability, and failover solutions.
• Defines and maintains enterprise database architecture standards, strategies and technical roadmaps.
• Leads the design and implementation of secure, highly available and scalable database platforms.
• Oversees complex database initiatives, including modernization and cloud migration efforts.
• Establishes governance models, lifecycle management processes and operational best practices.
• Promotes collaboration with IT Security to ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational security standards.
• Provides technical leadership, mentorship and professional development guidance to database engineering staff, and utilizes matrix-management leadership cross-functionally to lead within the department and organization.
• Leads response efforts for critical database incidents and directs root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Leads and drives capacity planning, performance forecasting and cost optimization initiatives.
• Evaluates vendor tools, platforms and solutions and participates in technology selection and planning.
• Represents database engineering in enterprise planning, cross functional initiatives and leadership discussions.
• Safeguards comprehensive documentation and knowledge continuity across database platforms and services.

Requirements

• Deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) administration, architecture, and operations across multiple environments.
• Proven experience leading or owning core database administration functions, including backup and restore strategies, disaster recovery planning and testing, high availability, and failover solutions.
• Strong expertise in database and server performance tuning, including query optimization, execution plan analysis, index design and maintenance, and statistics management.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and resolve database performance bottlenecks, blocking, deadlocks, and resource contention.
• Experience administering SQL Server components such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
• Strong understanding of database security best practices, including role-based access control, least privilege, encryption, auditing, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with automation and scripting for database administration using tools such as PowerShell, Python, or similar scripting languages.
• Experience using Git or other version control systems to manage database objects and deployment workflows.
• Familiarity with Agile and DevOps practices, working closely with development and infrastructure teams.
• Strong leadership, communication, and documentation skills, including the ability to mentor developers and other technical staff.
• Ability to handle sensitive patient and organizational data in a confidential and compliant manner.
• Willingness and ability to participate in on-call rotations and provide after-hours support when required.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent field experience.
• Minimum Experience: 8 years of database administration experience, or equivalent experience with a minimum of 8 years' related work experience.