Principal Database Engineer

Principal Database Engineer, Bangalore Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Principal Database Engineer to lead our database infrastructure initiatives with a primary focus on Microsoft SQL Server environments. This senior-level position requires deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities to drive database architecture decisions across the organization. Key Responsibilities Database Architecture & Design 1. Design, implement, and maintain enterprise-scale SQL Server database solutions 2. Develop database architecture standards, best practices, and design patterns 3. Lead database capacity planning and scalability initiatives 4. Architect high-availability and disaster recovery solutions using SQL Server Always On, failover clustering, and replication technologies 5. Help with strategy, architecture and implementation of data warehouse across all of our products Performance & Optimization 1. Conduct advanced performance tuning and query optimization across SQL Server instances 2. Work with DBA to understand the database monitoring solutions and performance baselines 3. Design and implement indexing strategies for optimal query performance 4. Analyze and optimize database storage, memory allocation, and I/O patterns Leadership & Strategy 1. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to database engineering team members 2. Collaborate with application development teams on database design and integration 3. Lead database technology evaluations and migration projects 4. Participate in architectural review boards and technical decision-making processes Operations & Maintenance 1. Oversee database backup, recovery, and business continuity strategies 2. Implement database security policies, access controls, and compliance measures 3. Establish and maintain database documentation and operational procedures Data Management 1. Design and implement data governance frameworks and data quality initiatives 2. Lead ETL/ELT process design and optimization 3. Oversee data archival, retention, and purging strategies 4. Support business intelligence and analytics initiatives Required Qualifications Technical Skills 1. 10+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server 2. Expert-level knowledge of T-SQL programming, stored procedures, functions, and triggers 3. Extensive experience with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and related tools 4. Deep understanding of SQL Server internals, query execution plans, and performance optimization 5. Proficiency with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, failover clustering, and replication 6. Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Reporting Services (SSRS), and Analysis Services (SSAS) 7. Strong knowledge of database security, encryption, and compliance requirements Development & Automation 1. Proficiency in PowerShell scripting for database automation and administration 2. Experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools and practices 3. Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and database deployment automation 4. Familiarity with monitoring tools (SQL Monitor, SolarWinds, Nagios, etc.) 5. Hands-on experience with a data warehouse implementation Preferred Qualifications Additional Technologies 1. Experience with cloud platforms (Azure SQL Database, AWS RDS for SQL Server) 2. Knowledge of other database platforms (Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL) for comparison and migration projects 3. Familiarity with big data technologies and modern data platforms 4. Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) for database workloads Leadership Experience 1. Previous experience leading database engineering teams 2. Project management experience with large-scale database initiatives 3. Experience with vendor management and technology procurement Education & Experience 1. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field 2. 10+ years total experience in database engineering and administration 3. 5+ years experience in senior or lead database engineering roles 4. Experience in enterprise environments with high-availability requirements Key Competencies 1. Strategic Thinking: Ability to align database strategies with business objectives 2. Problem Solving: Strong analytical skills for complex database troubleshooting 3. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences 4. Leadership: Proven ability to mentor team members and drive technical initiatives 5. Adaptability: Willingness to learn new technologies and adapt to changing requirements Work Environment 1. Hybrid work environment with flexibility for remote work 2. Occasional on-call responsibilities for critical database issues 3. May require travel for system implementations or disaster recovery exercises 4. Fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent projects