Lead and execute a near-zero-downtime migration of active OLTP SQL Server databases to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. Provision and configure RDS, validate feature compatibility, define and rehearse cutover/rollback runbooks, diagnose and fix DB-layer issues during parallel runs, and establish monitoring, alerting, and backup/recovery. Collaborate with backend, DevOps, client DBAs, and QA to ensure HA/DR, performance baselining, and operational readiness.
Project: HR SaaS for the public sector. We are looking for a Senior Database Engineer to execute a production database migration from on-premises Microsoft SQL Server to Amazon RDS for a large HR/Learning SaaS platform serving public-sector and government agencies. You will own the migration mechanism end-to-end: moving multiple active OLTP databases with a near-zero-downtime cutover and a verified rollback path. This is a hands-on delivery role embedded in a cross-functional team (Backend, DevOps, and the client's existing DBA and QA teams). Beyond the migration itself, you will diagnose and resolve database-layer issues that surface during parallel run and cutover (latency, connection routing, read-only replica behavior). The platform's longer-term direction includes introducing PostgreSQL alongside SQL Server, so experience with a polyglot estate is a strong plus.
Key Responsibilities:
- Execute the migration of the OLTP database from on-prem SQL Server to Amazon RDS for SQL Server (Multi-AZ) for dependent products.
- Provision and configure RDS instances (Enterprise Edition for AG support), parameter groups, option groups, backups, and Multi-AZ HA across all environments.
- Validate RDS feature compatibility: Change Tracking (required for downstream ETL) and CLR SAFE assemblies; prepare and cost the fallback path
- Diagnose and fix database-layer issues during parallel run and cutover: Transit Gateway / cross-network latency, connection-string and read-only routing, command timeouts, and accidental writes to read replicas.
- Define and rehearse cutover and rollback runbooks (failover/failback timings, RPO/RTO targets, validation steps); support QA parity testing and performance baselining
- Establish monitoring, alerting, and backup/recovery (CloudWatch, Performance Insights, point-in-time recovery) for the migrated databases.
Tools and skills you will use in this role:
- Microsoft SQL Server (T-SQL, Always-On Availability Groups, Change Tracking, CLR)
- Amazon RDS for SQL Server (Multi-AZ), AWS DMS
- AWS (VPC/Transit Gateway, S3, CloudWatch, Performance Insights, IAM)
- Nice to have: Infrastructure-as-Code (AWS CDK)
- Nice to have: PostgreSQL / Amazon RDS / Aurora PostgreSQL
Requirements:
- 5+ years as a DBA / Database Engineer in production environments.
- Deep Microsoft SQL Server administration expertise: Always-On Availability Groups, replication, backup/restore, log shipping, Change Tracking, performance tuning, and T-SQL.
- Proven experience migrating SQL Server workloads to AWS, ideally Amazon RDS for SQL Server, including AG-based and/or DMS-based approaches.
- Strong understanding of HA/DR, RPO/RTO, cutover, and rollback planning for active production systems.
- Hands-on AWS experience: RDS, networking (VPC, Transit Gateway), S3, monitoring, IAM.
- Ability to troubleshoot database connectivity, latency, and routing issues in hybrid (on-prem + cloud) topologies.
- Experience working alongside a client-side DBA team and coordinating phased, multi-environment rollouts.
- English: Upper-Intermediate or higher.
Nice to have:
- PostgreSQL administration and SQL Server-to-PostgreSQL migration experience (schema, stored procedures, data-type mapping, dual-write/cutover).
- Familiarity with EF Core / Npgsql and .NET application data layers.
- Experience with AWS DMS for heterogeneous migrations.
- Infrastructure-as-Code with AWS CDK; CI/CD-driven database migrations.
- Exposure to regulated/compliance environments (e.g. FedRAMP).
We offer*:
- Flexible working format - remote, office-based or flexible
- A competitive salary and good compensation package
- Personalized career growth
- Professional development tools (mentorship program, tech talks and trainings, centers of excellence, and more)
- Active tech communities with regular knowledge sharing
- Education reimbursement
- Memorable anniversary presents
- Corporate events and team buildings
- Other location-specific benefits
*not applicable for freelancers
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