Senior Database Developer

Aquila; Ontario; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquila seeks a Senior Database Developer to lead database systems design and migration efforts. This fully remote role involves optimizing performance and collaborating with product teams to enhance financial software solutions. If you have extensive experience with SQL and cloud technologies, join us in making a significant impact.

Benefits

Career growth opportunities

Mentoring and leadership development

Flexible work environment

Qualifications

• In-depth experience in database development and architecture.
• Expertise in SQL, T-SQL, and relational databases.
• Familiarity with cloud technologies and data environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of secure, high-performance databases.
• Collaborate on migrating legacy systems to cloud environments.
• Optimize database performance and manage production environments.

Skills

SQL

T-SQL

Database optimization

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

SQL Server

MySQL

Snowflake

ETL tools

Power BI

Azure

AWS

Job description

Who we are

Aquila, a group within Constellation Software Inc., one of North America’s largest and most respected software companies, invests in category-defining B2B and B2G software businesses globally, providing long-term support and strategic guidance. Emphasys Software has been part of Aquila since 2008.

Operating across five specialized divisions, Emphasys provides mission-critical software that modernizes and streamlines complex processes for housing authorities, lenders, and government agencies in nearly every state. Through both products and services, Emphasys helps house roughly half of the families most in need in the country.

At Emphasys HFA (Housing Finance Agency), a division of Emphasys, we build and support the only end-to-end financial software in the U.S. dedicated to affordable housing. As the largest full-service provider in this space, we enable State Housing Finance Agencies and other public organizations to administer programs that help families access affordable homeownership or rental housing. Our solutions power the financial backbone that processes funding, manages compliance, and ensures every dollar of support is tracked and maximized.

Who we need

Reporting to the Manager, Development, we are looking for a Senior Database Developer to take full ownership of database development across multiple financial platforms. You will lead the design, optimization, and implementation of database systems that are integral to modernizing our technology stack, migrating legacy systems, and improving performance for clients nationwide. You will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Developers, and Infrastructure teams to deliver high-performance, secure, and scalable solutions, implement best practices, streamline processes, and define how this work is done.

This is a fully remote position within the US with standard work hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

What's in it for you

Purpose.Our work is essential, not optional; our products are required for core business functions, regardless of government budgets. You will shape the direction of data systems that power mission-critical workflows for agencies nationwide. You will directly influence how data is stored, secured, and leveraged across multiple financial modules. Your work will enable state-level agencies and their lenders to process funding, manage program eligibility, and allocate resources in communities that need it most.

Technical ownership.We are migrating legacy products from mainframe and on-premise environments to modern, cloud-based infrastructure. You will help define the database roadmap and lead the effort to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability across this transition. You will be the dedicated database owner for your product line, with full autonomy to implement architectural best practices, optimize performance, and drive innovation.

Career growth.You will work with a global team and have the opportunity to mentor other developers and contractors. As we continue to scale and unify our data strategy across more than 54 integrated products, you will help lead that transformation.

In this role, you will:

• Design and develop robust databases.You will architect and build secure, high-performance databases to support scalable financial systems. You will implement best practices for indexing, partitioning, and normalization.
• Lead cloud-based data migration.You will collaborate on the transition from legacy systems to cloud-hosted environments, ensuring seamless migration of historical data and minimizing downtime.
• Optimize performance and processes.You will monitor database performance and tune queries, indexes, and procedures for efficiency. You will analyze bottlenecks, troubleshoot system errors, and apply creative solutions to improve responsiveness and throughput.
• Oversee deployments and environments.You will manage hosting environments across Development, UAT, and Production. You will handle job scheduling, release packages, initial setup, and configuration for product updates and new feature rollouts.
• Collaborate with product teams.You will work closely with Product Managers, Developers, QA, and Business Analysts to align database development with product requirements and timelines. You will participate in design discussions and requirements gathering.
• Maintain documentation and compliance.You will create and maintain clear documentation for schema, stored procedures, data pipelines, and environment configurations. You will ensure compliance with data privacy, audit, and security requirements.
• Mentor and lead.You will provide technical guidance to contractors and junior developers. You will contribute to overall success by promoting knowledge sharing and process improvement. You will help define and enforce coding standards and best practices.

You bring:

• The technical expertise.You have in-depth experience in database development and architecture, with a proven track record of building, maintaining, and optimizing complex systems. You have expertise in SQL, T-SQL, and stored procedures and experience with relational databases including SQL Server, MySQL, and Snowflake. Knowledge of ETL tools and reporting systems such as SSIS, SSRS, and Power BI. You are familiar with cloud technologies and database environments (Azure or AWS). Experience with migrating legacy systems to the cloud is a strong asset.
• The analytical mindset.You have exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess performance issues, interpret system logs, and identify the best action in time-sensitive situations.
• The interpersonal skills.You have professional written and verbal communication skills. You can explain complex database concepts to non-technical stakeholders. You can build collaborative relationships across technical and functional teams.
• The leadership potential.You are self-directed and resourceful, taking initiative to seek out answers, and proactively identify opportunities for improvement. You are passionate about sharing knowledge, offering mentorship, guiding the work of contractors and helping others succeed.

Join us.

As an Aquila company, Emphasys Software brings together bright, talented people who aspire to excellence and share a commitment to upholding our mission: To be a company of outstanding people delivering vertical market software solutions through long-term partnerships with clients.

Our entrepreneurial culture, lean environment, and people come together to form a dynamic organization where purpose drives our growth. With the autonomy to be creative and curious, we collaborate and iterate to achieve real impact in the communities we support.