Principal Database Engineer

The Role

TRG Screen 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.

Responsibilities

Database 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 products

Performance & 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 patterns

Leadership & 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 processes

Operations & 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 procedures

Data 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 initiatives

Qualifications and Experience

Education and 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 requirements

Technical 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 requirements
• 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 workloads

Development & 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 implementation

Leadership Experience

• Previous experience leading database engineering teams
• Project management experience with large-scale database initiatives
• Experience with vendor management and technology procurement

Key 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 requirements

Work 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