Database Engineer, Technical Lead

DMBA (Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators) is a non-profit organization that administers benefits for companies who are owned or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Database Technical Lead is one of the most senior technical roles in the organization, responsible for the architecture, strategy, and long-term direction of all enterprise database platforms. This role serves as the technical authority for Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Azure SQL, ensuring our most critical systems are secure, resilient, scalable, and aligned with business growth.

This position provides deep technical leadership across on-premises and Azure environments, guiding modernization efforts, cloud adoption, and operational excellence for mission-critical workloads.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Database Architecture & Strategy

• Own and define the enterprise database architecture spanning Oracle, SQL Server, and Azure SQL (PaaS and IaaS).
• Establish architectural standards, reference designs, and best practices for transactional and operational workloads.
• Lead database modernization initiatives, including cloud migrations, hybrid architectures, and platform consolidation.
• Evaluate new Microsoft and Oracle technologies and advise leadership on adoption, lifecycle management, and roadmap planning.

Oracle, SQL Server & Azure SQL Technical Leadership

• Act as the highest-level technical escalation point for Oracle and SQL Server platforms.
• Provide expert guidance on:
  • Oracle RAC, Data Guard, RMAN, ASM
  • SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, Failover Clustering, Replication
  • Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure VMs
• Design and validate high availability, disaster recovery, and geo-redundant architectures.
• Ensure optimal performance through advanced tuning, indexing strategies, and workload optimization.

Cloud & Hybrid Enablement

• Lead database strategy for Azure-first and hybrid cloud architectures.
• Define best practices for security, identity integration, networking, and cost optimization in Azure SQL environments.
• Partner with cloud, infrastructure, and security teams to ensure consistent, secure database deployments.
• Guide teams in selecting the right platform (Oracle vs SQL Server vs Azure SQL) based on workload requirements.

Operational Excellence & Reliability

• Define standards for backup, recovery, monitoring, patching, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure database platforms meet strict SLAs for uptime, performance, and recoverability.
• Champion automation, Infrastructure as Code, and operational maturity for database services.
• Provide leadership during high-impact incidents and post-incident root cause analysis.

Mentorship, Governance & Influence

• Mentor senior DBAs, database engineers, and architects across the organization.
• Lead design reviews and approve database architectures for high-risk or high-visibility systems.
• Elevate database engineering practices through documentation, standards, and technical coaching.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to IT leadership and business stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with application development, data, infrastructure, security, and compliance teams.
• Translate complex database and cloud architecture concepts into executive-level guidance.
• Ensure database platforms align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and growth plans.

Training, Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• 15+ years of experience in database engineering, architecture, and technical leadership roles.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in:
  • Oracle Database (including RAC and Data Guard)
  • Microsoft SQL Server (Enterprise-scale deployments)
  • Azure SQL platforms (Database, Managed Instance, SQL on Azure VMs)
• Proven experience designing and operating mission-critical, highly available systems.
• Strong understanding of security, encryption, auditing, and compliance in enterprise databases.
• Demonstrated ability to influence architecture and strategy across large, complex environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale Oracle and SQL Server migrations to Azure.
• Background in regulated, high-availability environments (healthcare, enterprise IT).
• Familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD, and automation practices for database platforms.
• Prior role as a Database Engineer Staff or Senior Technical Leader.

Leadership Competencies

• Executive-level technical credibility
• Strategic and systems-level thinking
• Calm, decisive leadership during critical incidents
• Strong communication with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Mentorship-focused, collaborative leadership style

What We Offer

• Competitive pay
• Rich medical, vision and dental benefits with low premiums. One of the top health plans in Utah
• Rich retirement planning: including 401(k) company match, 8% EDRC Employer Discretionary Retirement Contribution (we just give you free money for retirement), life insurance, and full service Financial Planners onsite at no cost
• Generous paid leave plan that starts accruing your first day, your birthday off, additional sick leave and 12 paid holidays
• Award winning wellness program with health coaching, ability to earn 3 additional days off a year, fun activities and an onsite gym.
• Tuition reimbursement
• Career development through company sponsored programs and over 5000 on-demand online training courses.
• Hybrid work schedules available depending on position
• Employee Assistance Program