Principal Database Platform Engineer

Requisition Number: 80631

Position Title:

External Description:

About the Team

The Database Platform Engineering team is responsible for developing and maintaining enterprise-grade database platforms that drive the firm’s modernization initiatives. By delivering secure, scalable, and standardized database solutions, the team enables the adoption of modern technologies across the organization.

Role Summary

The Principal Database Platform Engineer is the highest-level individual contributor, providing technical leadership in database platform architecture, automation, and modernization. This role focuses on advancing cloud database capabilities, especially within AWS, and supports the firm’s transition to cloud-native environments. The position influences enterprise architecture, senior technologists, and engineering leaders, prioritizing platform modernization, automation, reusable services, and enablement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and continuous advancement of enterprise database platforms in cloud and hybrid environments, with an emphasis on AWS-managed services.
• Act as the technical authority for AWS database platforms (Aurora PostgreSQL, Aurora MySQL, DynamoDB, Snowflake) and related services.
• Develop and enforce database platform standards, reusable reference architectures, and patterns to streamline adoption and minimize fragmentation.
• Design and execute migration strategies for traditional databases (Oracle, SQL Server) to cloud-native AWS solutions.
• Perform hands-on engineering to build automation, tooling, and performance enhancements using Infrastructure as Code and database-native features.
• Automate provisioning, configuration, scaling, backup, recovery, and lifecycle management of databases via Terraform, CloudFormation, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Implement performance optimization techniques, including query tuning, indexing, capacity planning, and cost management for large-scale workloads.
• Integrate security, resiliency, compliance, and operational best practices into database platforms.
• Collaborate with Application, Platform, Cloud Engineering, Security, and Enterprise Architecture teams to align strategy and execution.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex database issues involving performance, scalability, availability, and migration.
• Mentor senior engineers and database professionals, guiding technical direction across the organization.
• Support Agile delivery by contributing to epics, stories, and iterative platform improvements tracked in Jira.
• Produce high-quality documentation (platform guides, design standards, runbooks) to enable self-service adoption.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to engineers, leadership, and non-technical stakeholders.

Business Knowledge & Impact:

• Deep understanding of how modern database platforms drive business agility, scalability, and performance.
• Demonstrated expertise in modernizing legacy database estates and leading cloud database transformations.
• Strong systems thinking, balancing standardization, governance, risk management, and developer productivity.
• Experience in regulated, risk-sensitive environments with high standards for data protection and availability.
• Operates at a principal engineering level, influencing enterprise architecture and long-term technology strategy.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field (or equivalent experience) and 10+ years designing, building, and operating enterprise database platforms.
• Advanced expertise with cloud databases: Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, Aurora MySQL, DynamoDB, Snowflake.
• Strong experience with traditional databases: Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server.
• Proven experience migrating legacy/on-premises databases to AWS, including re-platforming and modernization.
• Proficiency with database automation, Infrastructure as Code, performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery, and backup strategies.
• Solid knowledge of cloud networking, IAM, and database security fundamentals.
• Experience integrating database platforms with CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of producing clear documentation and explaining technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Preferred:

• Cloud or database certifications.
• Experience in large, global financial institutions.

FINRA Requirements

FINRA licenses are not required and will not be supported for this role.

Work Flexibility

This role is eligible for hybrid work, with up to three days per week from home.

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Community / Marketing Title: Principal Database Platform Engineer

Company Profile:

Location_formattedLocationLong: Maryland, US

CountryEEOText_Description: Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We strive for equity, equality, and opportunity for all associates. When we embrace the power of diversity and create an environment where people can bring their authentic and best selves to work, our firm is stronger, and we create greater value for our clients. Our commitment and inclusive programming aim to lift the experience for each associate and builds allies for our global associate community. We know that a sense of belonging is key not only to your success at the firm, but also to your ability to bring your best each day. Benefits: We invest in our people through a wide range of programs and benefits, including: • Competitive pay and bonuses as well as a generous retirement plan and employee stock purchase plan with matching contributions • Flexible and remote work opportunities • Health care benefits (medical, dental, vision) • Tuition assistance • Wellness programs (fitness reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program) Our policies may change as our working lives evolve. Yet, our commitment to supporting our associates’ well-being and addressing the needs of our clients, business, and communities is unwavering. T. Rowe Price is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity of thought, gender, and race. We believe our continued success depends upon the equal treatment of all associates and applicants for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, military or veteran status, pregnancy, or any other classification protected by country, federal, state, or local law.