Senior, Database Engineer, Fixed Term - Toronto

Dept; Toronto; On-site; CAD 186,251,520 - 200,578,560; Full time

Job summary

DEPT is seeking a Senior Database Engineer to join a remediation program on a long-running production platform serving a global financial news and data client. You’ll focus on MySQL database infrastructure configuration, security hardening, and compliance requirements, delivering changes with autonomy in a fixed-term contract located in Ontario, preferably Toronto.

You will identify vulnerabilities, perform upgrades, strengthen access controls, and collaborate with application and platform teams

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on database experience in production environments focusing on MySQL.
• Experience in database security remediation, including vulnerability assessment, hardening and compliance controls.
• Experience performing major database upgrades in live systems with minimal disruption.

Responsibilities

• Identify and remediate security vulnerabilities across the MySQL database layer
• Perform database upgrades and apply compliance hardening measures
• Strengthen database security controls across configuration, access, and data
• Collaborate with application and platform teams to manage dependencies during re-platforming
• Support testing and validation to ensure changes are safe in production
• Document findings, risks, and remediation steps for the wider engineering team

Skills

MySQL

Security remediation

Database hardening

Vulnerability assessment

Production upgrades

Job description

We are pioneers at heart. What this means, is that we are always leaning forward, thinking of what we can create tomorrow that does not exist today. We were born digital and we are a new model of agency, with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. That’s why we hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating.

Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care. Meaning, that with people across 20+ countries, we’re big enough to provide you with the best tools, global opportunities, and benefits that help you thrive. While acting small by investing in you, your growth, your team, and giving you the autonomy to solve our clients' problems, no matter where you are in the world.

This is a 3 month fixed term salaried contract, located in Ontario Canada. Preferably in Toronto.

The Role:

We're looking for a Senior Database Engineer experienced with MySQL to join a focused remediation program on a long-running production platform serving a global financial news and data client. Your work will center on the database infrastructure’s configuration, system settings, and operational data, hardening it against security vulnerabilities, supporting version upgrades, and ensuring it meets compliance requirements.

The ability to get up to speed quickly in an unfamiliar environment is critical. You'll be working with systems you didn't build, under a defined remediation plan, and expected to deliver with a high degree of autonomy.

What You’ll Do:

• Identify and remediate security vulnerabilities across the MySQL database layer
• Perform database upgrades and apply compliance hardening measures
• Strengthen database security controls across configuration, access, and operational data
• Partner with application and platform teams to manage database dependencies during re-platforming
• Support testing and validation to ensure changes are safe and stable in production
• Document findings, risks, and remediation steps clearly for the wider engineering team

What You Bring:

5+ years of hands-on database experience in production environments with a focus on MySQL.

Proven experience with database security remediation — vulnerability assessment, hardening, and compliance controls

Comfortable performing major database upgrades in live, operational systems with minimal disruption

Ability to navigate unfamiliar database environments, trace issues, and resolve them methodically

Solid understanding of database access controls, configuration security, and operational best practices

Experience working alongside application teams on cross-cutting database dependencies

Strong communicator — able to document risk clearly and flag issues before they escalated

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $65-70 hourly. Rate is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're flexible.

WE SUPPORT YOU BEING YOU:

DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We believe our work is its best when our people feel safe and free to be themselves. We’re committed to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process and workplace, regardless of anyone’s lived experience, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. So tell us about any accommodations you need. It’s totally confidential and only used to make sure you feel fully supported at every step.

DEPT® participates in E-Verify, meaning your Form I-9 information will be sent to the federal government to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.

We are a B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work . Our hope is that you can feel good about the contributions DEPT® is making to the world and we always have an open door for your ideas in making the world a better place.

DEPT® is a pioneering technology and marketing services company that creates integrated end-to-end digital experiences for brands such as Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, eBay and more. Its team of 2,500+ digital specialists across 30+ locations on 5 continents delivers pioneering work on a global scale with a boutique culture.

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.