Principal Database Architect, Multi-Region Data Platform

Solvd

1d

About The Position

Solvd Inc. is seeking a Principal Database Architect to lead the data-layer strategy for a multi-year cloud modernization program for a Tier-1 US payments platform. This program involves migrating a single-region AWS footprint to a multi-region, active-active architecture. The role requires owning the data-layer strategy, leading a team of database engineers across two AWS regions, and serving as the senior design authority for cross-database disaster recovery (DR) strategy, RTO/RPO tradeoffs, consistency models, replication patterns, cutover planning, and executive-level technical decision-making. The data layer is critical and spans multiple AWS-native engines including Aurora MySQL, Cassandra, ElastiCache (Redis / Valkey), DynamoDB, DocumentDB, OpenSearch, and Neptune.

Requirements

• 12+ years in database engineering and architecture, with at least 5 years in a Principal or Staff-level architect role on production systems at fintech scale.
• Demonstrated experience designing and shipping multi-region active-passive AND active-active data architectures on AWS, including at least one full transition from single-region to multi-region in production, ideally for financial services or similarly regulated/high-availability environments.
• Deep, production experience with Aurora MySQL (including Global Database) and at least three of: Cassandra, DynamoDB (Global Tables), ElastiCache or MemoryDB (Redis / Valkey), DocumentDB, Neptune. Working knowledge of the remaining engines.
• Real experience with monolith decomposition from the data side: extracting bounded contexts out of a shared relational database, owning CDC and dual-write patterns, and managing the transitional period where both monolith and microservices read and write the same data.
• Fintech or payments domain experience: idempotent write patterns, ledger correctness, transaction reconciliation, and the regulatory posture that comes with PCI-DSS, SOX, or equivalent.
• Hands-on with IaC (Terraform or CDK) and observability tooling (Datadog, New Relic, CloudWatch).
• Strong written communication.

Nice To Haves

• Prior consulting experience delivering an AWS modernization program against an RFP-defined SOW.
• Experience with AWS Application Recovery Controller (ARC) Region Switch.
• Familiarity with cell-based architecture patterns and per-cell sharding for blast-radius reduction.
• AWS certifications (Solutions Architect Professional, Database Specialty) are a plus, not a filter.

Responsibilities

• Own the multi-region data architecture across six AWS-native engines: Aurora MySQL, Cassandra, ElastiCache (Redis / Valkey), DynamoDB, DocumentDB, and Neptune. For each, define the cross-region replication pattern and the operational model that supports it.
• Define and own the per-tier RTO and RPO commitments (Tier 0 / Tier 1 / Tier 2) and the cutover and failback runbooks and perform validation using Fault Injection Service / Game Days.
• Sequence the data-layer cutover across all three program phases. Identify strong-consistency vs eventual-consistency decisions per workload, and where active-active is feasible vs where region-sharded ledgers or single-writer with replicated read-models is the right pattern.
• Lead a team of Database Engineers across the engines. Set the technical bar, review designs, and unblock implementation. Partner with the client's DB and SRE leadership on architecture decisions and Operational Readiness Reviews.
• Translate data-layer constraints into the application decomposition strategy. Where the monolith is being broken up into microservices, advise on data ownership boundaries (DDD-aligned), strangler-fig extraction patterns, CDC pipelines (DMS, DDB Streams, Kafka Connect), and the event-based contracts that decouple services from the monolith.
• Produce the audit-grade artifacts the client and their regulators expect: replication runbooks, DR test evidence, RTO and RPO measurement methodology, and Well-Architected Reliability Pillar alignment.

Benefits

• Shape real-world AI-driven projects across key industries, working with clients from startup innovation to enterprise transformation.
• Be part of a global team with equal opportunities for collaboration across continents and cultures.
• Thrive in an inclusive environment that prioritizes continuous learning, innovation, and ethical AI standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees