Database Architect — Oracle & PostgreSQL, Cloud Migration

Carbon60

19h•$160,000 - $180,000•Remote

About The Position

OpsGuru is seeking a Database Architect with deep expertise in both Oracle and PostgreSQL for enterprise cloud migration and modernization projects. The role involves owning the data tier end-to-end, from assessing current Oracle systems with complex PL/SQL logic to designing and implementing supportable PostgreSQL platforms on cloud infrastructure. This position requires making critical decisions regarding migration strategies, conversion versus rewriting, cutover planning, and rollback procedures. The architect will set technical direction, defend it to clients, and remain hands-on in diagnosing and resolving performance issues. Additionally, the role contributes to developing reusable assets like reference architectures and migration patterns to improve delivery efficiency. The architect will also leverage agentic and AI-assisted workflows to accelerate tasks such as schema conversion and log analysis, while mentoring other engineers and setting standards.

Requirements

10+ years in database engineering, administration, or data platform work.
Several years in an architect or principal-level role with design authority over business-critical systems.
Deep Oracle expertise, including PL/SQL (packages, procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, sequences, dynamic SQL), partitioning, RMAN backup and recovery, Data Guard, and diagnostic tools (AWR, ASH, execution plans, optimizer statistics, SQL tuning).
Strong PostgreSQL expertise, including PL/pgSQL, EXPLAIN ANALYZE, index strategy, partitioning, autovacuum, connection pooling, replication (streaming and logical), WAL and PITR, and relevant extensions (pg_stat_statements, pg_repack, postgres_fdw, pgaudit).
Both Oracle and PostgreSQL expertise are required.
Proven experience architecting and executing Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations to production, with the ability to discuss design choices, challenges, and lessons learned.
Cloud infrastructure depth, ideally AWS: RDS and Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS for Oracle or self-managed Oracle on EC2, VPC and networking, IAM, KMS, Secrets Manager, CloudWatch, and Performance Insights.
Fluency with infrastructure-as-code and automation tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
Ability to read application code to understand database interactions and collaborate with developers and architects.
Practical experience with agentic AI tooling in technical delivery workflows.
Executive-ready communication skills, including leading design sessions, writing decision records, and explaining technical trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Migration tooling depth: AWS Schema Conversion Tool, AWS DMS, ora2pg, or equivalents.
Experience with MSSQL or other relational engines as a migration source or target.
Exposure to hybrid and private cloud environments (e.g., VMware, sovereign/regulated hosting).
Managed services or 24/7 operational accountability experience (on-call, incident command, SLA-backed environments, post-incident review).
Consulting or MSP background with North American enterprise clients, including scoping and estimation.
Experience working alongside .NET application teams during data-tier migrations, understanding ADO.NET or Entity Framework data access.
Data protection and compliance experience (encryption, auditing, data residency, SOC 2, PCI).
Experience with observability tooling beyond native cloud monitoring.
Database change management experience with tools like Liquibase or Flyway.
Relevant certifications (Oracle OCP, AWS Database Specialty or Solutions Architect Professional).

Responsibilities

Own the architecture of the data tier across migration and modernization programs, including current-state assessment, target-state design, migration strategy, sequencing, risk, and effort.
Make and defend critical decisions regarding conversion versus rewrite versus retire, cloud database service choices (e.g., RDS vs. Aurora vs. self-managed), and cutover strategies.
Design comprehensive Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations, covering schema conversion, PL/SQL to PL/pgSQL strategy, data type and collation mismatch resolution, query rewrite patterns, and performance validation.
Plan and execute cutovers to minimize downtime, utilizing techniques like CDC-based replication, dual-run approaches, rehearsals, and robust rollback plans.
Diagnose performance problems hands-on, analyze execution plans, and identify bottlenecks in SQL, schema, configuration, storage, or application access patterns.
Architect the database platform on cloud infrastructure, including sizing, HA/failover, backup/recovery, patching, encryption, observability, and cost optimization.
Define the operational model for managed services, including runbooks, monitoring standards, escalation paths, and health checks.
Act as the senior technical voice with clients, leading architecture sessions, presenting to stakeholders, and translating technical trade-offs into business terms.
Support pre-sales activities by scoping database workstreams, sizing effort, and contributing to proposals.
Build reusable assets such as reference architectures, migration playbooks, and conversion patterns.
Utilize agentic and AI-assisted workflows for tasks like schema conversion, test generation, and log analysis, verifying output and integrating into delivery methodologies.
Set standards and mentor senior and mid-level engineers in database work.