Principal Database Engineer IRES - SSFB/HSV

Amentum•Huntsville, AL

7d•$115,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for a versatile Principal Database Engineer to act as the technical anchor for our database administration team. The Principal Database Engineer supports the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract. We run a complex, multi-platform environment, and we need someone who understands the nuances of several different database flavors—specifically Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL systems. You will be the technical point person. We have DBAs who are deep subject-matter experts in specific platforms, but your role is to see the big picture, jump into any of these environments when needed, and make sure everything is working together securely and efficiently. You will also bridge the gap between our database team, developers, and administrators to figure out exactly what kind of data solutions we need to build. Since we are moving toward modern infrastructure, you will also help guide how we run these databases in the cloud and within containers. The successful candidate will: Have a habit of researching and testing new database technologies to see if they fit into our application lifecycle. Have excellent communication skills—you need to be able to sit down with developers and business owners to map out database requirements for new projects.

Requirements

6 or more years of general (full-time) work experience (may be reduced with advanced education).
3 or more years of directly related experience.
Hands-on experience installing, configuring, and maintaining multiple database platforms (Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL).
Experience running databases in the cloud, specifically using AWS and Azure.
Hands-on experience with containerization and orchestration, including Kubernetes and Docker.
Ability to act as a technical coordinator and mentor for a team of DBAs.
Solid background in performance tuning, troubleshooting, and optimizing queries across different database types.
Experience with backup and disaster recovery strategies, capacity management, and running audits.
Strong understanding of database security policies and enforcement.
Current Security+ certification.
Active DoW Secret Security Clearance.

Nice To Haves

Advanced SQL query optimization skills.
Oracle WebLogic experience (deploying, upgrading, patching, and troubleshooting).
Experience working on government or defense contracts (like the Missile Defense Agency), or similar highly regulated enterprise environments.

Responsibilities

Act as the technical anchor for the database administration team.
Support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract.
Understand and manage multiple database flavors including Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL systems.
See the big picture and ensure all database environments work together securely and efficiently.
Bridge the gap between the database team, developers, and administrators to define data solutions.
Guide the implementation of databases in the cloud and within containers.
Research and test new database technologies for application lifecycle integration.
Communicate with developers and business owners to map out database requirements for new projects.
Act as a technical coordinator and mentor for a team of DBAs, guiding technical direction.
Perform performance tuning, troubleshooting, and query optimization across different database types.
Manage backup and disaster recovery strategies, capacity, and run audits.
Enforce database security policies across an enterprise network.