Principal Database Engineer

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