Principal Database Engineer

Job Description:

The Principal Database Engineer (DBE) is a senior technical leader responsible for the architecture, automation, performance, and operational excellence of NextGen's enterprise database platforms supporting cloud-first healthcare applications. This role bridges deep database engineering with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and DevOps practices to build highly available, scalable, secure, and observable data platforms across public cloud environments.

• Define, architect, evolve and govern highly available, resilient, and secure enterprise database platforms across cloud environments (AWS, GCP).
• Lead the reliability, performance, scalability, and lifecycle management of Microsoft SQL Server platforms while driving enterprise-wide migrations and modernization initiatives toward PostgreSQL and cloud-native database services.
• Design and develop automated frameworks for database provisioning, patching, backup validation, failover testing, and routine maintenance using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and configuration management.
• Partner with Platform Engineering to design and implement robust database release automation, CI/CD pipelines, schema versioning, and environment standardization.
• Collaborate with application development teams to optimize database design, query performance, schema evolution, and deployment strategies for cloud-native and microservices-based architectures.
• Establish comprehensive database observability standards, implementing telemetry, logging, proactive alerting, and performance analytics across all database environments.
• Define and improve database reliability objectives, recovery strategies, and operational readiness practices.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) and drive permanent corrective actions following major database production incidents, establishing post-mortem reviews to mitigate future risks.
• Author enterprise engineering standards, reusable automation modules, and comprehensive technical documentation to reduce operational complexity and improve platform consistency.
• Align database technology roadmaps with business goals in partnership with engineering leadership.
• Continuously evaluate emerging databases and data-tier technologies to recommend architectural improvements that enhance long-term reliability, scalability, security, and cost efficiency.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for database architecture and cloud migrations, mentoring junior and mid-level engineers while influencing technical strategy across the engineering organization.
• Support strategic cloud initiatives across AWS and Google Cloud while remaining cloud-provider agnostic wherever practical.
• Perform other duties that support the overall objective of the position.

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field.
• Or, any combination of education and experience which would provide the required qualifications for the position.

Experience Required:

• 10+ years of experience designing, supporting, and managing enterprise relational database platforms in production, with extensive experience operating in public cloud environments (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and DevOps practices.
• Experience participating in incident response, root cause analysis, SRE initiatives, and implementing database DevOps practices like schema versioning and release automation.
• Experience mentoring engineers, influencing enterprise technical standards, and driving legacy database migrations (such as SQL Server) to cloud-native or open-source platforms.
• Experience supporting cloud-native applications, Kubernetes, or containerized workloads, ideally within SaaS, healthcare, or other highly regulated industries (preferred).

License/Certification Required:

• Microsoft SQL Server certification or equivalent experience.
• AWS or Google Cloud Professional certification (preferred).
• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or equivalent containerization certification (preferred).
• Terraform Associate or equivalent Infrastructure as Code certification (preferred).
• ITIL Foundation or SRE-related certifications (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of: Expert-level Microsoft SQL Server administration, engine internals, high availability/disaster recovery (HADR) strategies, and performance engineering. PostgreSQL or other enterprise relational database platforms, including database design, query optimization, and modernization pathways. Public cloud architectures (AWS/GCP), containerized environments (Kubernetes), and modern infrastructure automation principles. Observability and monitoring frameworks, including tools like Dynatrace, Prometheus, Grafana, or OpenTelemetry (preferred).
• Skill in: Advanced scripting and programming using PowerShell, Python, Bash, or equivalent languages to eliminate manual operational toil through automation. Database performance engineering, advanced SQL query tuning, and deep troubleshooting of distributed data systems. Influencing and presenting technical strategies and architectures to both technical teams and executive-level leadership.
• Ability to: Influence technical strategy and translate complex technical concepts into actionable architectures across multi-disciplinary engineering organizations. Balance urgent operational support and platform maintenance with strategic, forward-looking engineering innovation. Communicate complex technical designs clearly and author comprehensive technical standards and documentation. Act as a cultural catalyst for DevOps and SRE adoption within the broader database engineering community.

The company has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the company may deem appropriate.

NextGen Healthcare is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.