Principal Data Engineer

Job Description

As a Principal Data Engineer specializing in database architecture, optimization, and modernization, you will serve as the technical authority for all database initiatives across the Equity Management platform, reporting to the Sr Director of Engineering and working closely with the Solution Architect. This is a specialized technical leadership role that combines strategic data architecture thought leadership with hands-on implementation and influential team leadership - you'll analyze our current Oracle database architecture, identify optimization opportunities, and architect its transformation into a modern, performant data platform while rolling up your sleeves to execute key technical implementations. You'll need to not only identify and implement solutions but also teach, influence, drive change, and hold teams accountable to data engineering standards and best practices.

You will be joining the team at a pivotal transformation point as we modernize our data architecture to fully leverage cloud capabilities and support next-generation analytics. We are looking for someone who can evaluate our current Oracle database architecture, lead optimization initiatives for performance and scalability, and architect solutions that enhance integration with modern BI platforms. You'll work day-to-day with our Solution Architect and team of Principal Engineers to set the data roadmap and execute the transformation of our database systems.

This role focuses on database engineering, architecture, and optimization - not data science or analytics. You'll bridge the gap between application development and data operations, ensuring our database infrastructure supports both current operations for existing 1200+ enterprise clients and future cloud-native capabilities.

Responsibilities

Database Architecture & Strategy:

• Evaluate and lead efforts to normalize the database architecture and optimize data models for performance and scalability
• Assess current database bottlenecks, long-running queries, and performance issues, designing and implementing optimization strategies
• Design data architecture patterns to migrate business logic from Oracle stored procedures to proper application tiers in collaboration with application engineers
• Develop database modernization roadmap for read-optimization and tighter integration with modern BI tools
• Lead strategic decisions on database patterns, indexing strategies, partitioning, and data lifecycle management

Database Modernization & Tooling:

• Evaluate and replace our custom-built database deployment tool with enterprise-grade solutions (DACPAC, Liquibase, Flyway, or similar)
• Design and implement robust database deployment pipelines across multiple environments (Dev, QA, UAT, Prod)
• Architect database CI/CD processes that ensure reliability, repeatability, and auditability of schema changes
• Lead database migration strategies from write-optimized to read-optimized architectures
• Design and implement database observability, monitoring, and alerting solutions

Hands-On Implementation & Optimization:

• Analyze and optimize long-running queries and database performance issues impacting customer experience
• Design and implement database changes that support cloud-native application patterns
• Develop proof-of-concepts for database modernization approaches and data architecture improvements
• Implement database normalization initiatives while maintaining system stability
• Work hands-on with Oracle 19c to solve immediate performance challenges while planning long-term improvements

Cross-Team Collaboration & Technical Leadership:

• Collaborate with Solution Architect on data strategy and phased database modernization approaches
• Work closely with Principal Application Engineers to ensure application and database architectures are optimally aligned
• Bridge the gap between development teams and database operations, translating application requirements into database design
• Mentor and teach engineering teams on database best practices, performance optimization, and modern data patterns
• Drive adoption of database standards and hold teams accountable to data quality and performance requirements
• Lead by example through hands-on technical contributions while inspiring others to embrace modern data engineering practices

Qualifications

Minimum 10+ years of hands-on database engineering and architecture experience, with at least 5 years focused on enterprise-scale database systems

Database Architecture & Engineering Experience:

• 8+ years of deep Oracle database expertise including performance tuning, query optimization, and enterprise-scale deployments
• Proven track record of modernizing legacy database architectures and migrating business logic from databases to application tiers
• Strong experience with database deployment automation, CI/CD pipelines, and enterprise database tooling
• Experience with database normalization, data modeling, and designing for both transactional and analytical workloads
• Understanding of read-optimization patterns, indexing strategies, and integration with modern BI platforms
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent work experience

Core Technical Skills:

• Expert-level SQL and PL/SQL development and optimization skills
• Experience with database deployment tools (Liquibase, Flyway, Redgate, or similar enterprise solutions)
• Strong understanding of database performance monitoring, query analysis, and execution plan optimization
• Knowledge of cloud database services, particularly Azure SQL Database, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, or similar
• Experience with data migration strategies and zero-downtime database changes
• Understanding of database security, compliance, and enterprise data governance

Modernization & Cloud Experience:

• Experience transforming databases from on-premise to cloud-optimized patterns
• Knowledge of modern data architecture patterns including data warehousing and analytics optimization
• Experience integrating databases with modern BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.)
• Understanding of microservices data patterns and distributed data architectures

Collaboration & Technical Leadership:

• Proven ability to influence and drive change across development and operations teams
• Strong communication and teaching skills with ability to mentor senior engineers and hold teams accountable to standards
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence rather than authority, driving adoption of modern data practices
• Experience building consensus and driving technical decisions across diverse engineering teams
• Track record of transforming team approaches from legacy to modern data engineering practices

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or MBA with technical focus
• Background in financial services or equity compensation domain
• Experience with Oracle migrations to cloud-native alternatives
• Knowledge of data observability platforms and modern monitoring practices
• Experience with large-scale database transformations serving 1000+ enterprise clients

Additional Information

The ideal candidate combines deep Oracle database expertise with modern data architecture knowledge - someone who can understand complex legacy database systems while architecting their transformation into performant, scalable, cloud-optimized data platforms that support both operational excellence and modern analytics capabilities.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

** At this time insightsoftware is not able to offer sponsorship to candidates who are not eligible to work in the country where the position is located. **

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