Cloud Database Platform Engineer

Echelon Services; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Echelon Services is seeking a Cloud Database Platform Engineer to manage Azure SQL Managed Instances, optimize SQL Server workloads, and lead migrations from on‑prem environments to the cloud. The role emphasizes automation, IaC, and secure data practices, with a focus on reliability and performance.

The engineer will collaborate across security, networking, and development teams from a remote US base, contributing to future data platform initiatives and AI-enabled solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS, SE, or related field.
• Must be a US citizen with Tier 1 DoD clearance; active clearance preferred.
• Deep expertise in SQL Server internals, T-SQL, concurrency control, and relational design.
• Hands-on experience with Azure SQL Managed Instances and high-availability architectures.
• Strong Azure networking knowledge (VNets, DNS, private connectivity).
• Experience with CI/CD, IaC (Terraform/Bicep/ARM), and automation tooling.
• Security focus: encryption, auditing, and privileged access management.

Responsibilities

• Maintain SQL Server health with performance tuning of T-SQL and indexing.
• Architect and manage Azure SQL Managed Instances (MI) including sizing and backups.
• Lead migrations from on-prem SQL Server to Azure SQL MI and validate cutovers.
• Implement IaC and automation using PowerShell, Azure CLI, Git, Bicep/ARM or Terraform.
• Establish CI/CD for database changes and rollback procedures.
• Enforce security, least-privilege access, and secret management.
• Design end-to-end telemetry with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics.
• Support data platform modernization for AI and RAG workflows.

Skills

SQL Server expertise

T-SQL performance tuning

Cloud architecture mindset

Automation mindset

Data platform modernization

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in CS/SE

Tools

PowerShell

Azure CLI

Git

Terraform

Bicep/ARM

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: OH 1 Remote - Clayton, OH 45315, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: Not Specified, Salary Range: $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 Salary/year, Job Category: Engineering, Cloud Database Platform Engineer

Location: Remote

Clearance Requirement: Must be a US citizen and hold a current Tier 1 DOD background investigationor DoD clearance

Key Responsibilities

• Database Engineering & Optimization: Maintain core database health with a deep focus on SQL Server and T-SQL performance tuning. Analyze execution plans, design advanced indexing strategies, manage statistics, resolve blocking/deadlocks, and proactively troubleshoot query regressions.
• Cloud Architecture & Lifecycle Management: Architect, provision, and maintain Azure SQL Managed Instances (MI). Define service tiers, calculate vCore/storage sizing, configure instances, and establish robust automated backup and restore testing procedures.
• Data Platform Migrations: Lead complex migration initiatives transferring workloads from on-premises SQL Server (and ideally Oracle) to Azure SQL MI. Own the entire lifecycle: dependency discovery, compatibility assessment, migration rehearsal, validation, cutover, and rollback planning.
• Infrastructure as Code & Automation: Treat database infrastructure as software. Utilize PowerShell, Azure CLI, Git, and Bicep/ARM or Terraform to construct repeatable, automated database environments and standard operations.
• Database DevOps Implementation: Establish database DevOps paradigms. Implement source-controlled schema changes, build CI/CD deployment pipelines, execute peer reviews, and orchestrate pre/post-deployment validation with clear rollback procedures.
• Cloud Security & Identity Management: Secure the data estate by enforcing least-privilege access using Microsoft Entra ID, database roles, and managed identities. Oversee secrets management, auditing, encryption, and regular privileged-access reviews.
• Telemetry & Operational Discipline: Design end-to-end monitoring using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics. Build query telemetry pipelines, establish proactive alerting, author runbooks, and manage capacity, service-level objectives (SLOs), and cost-to-performance ratios.
• Modern Data & AI Platform Awareness: Support AI-enabled enterprise applications by bridging the gap between database platforms and data pipelines. Provide foundational support for data governance, quality, metadata management, embeddings/vector search, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) patterns, advising on when to integrate MI with specialized analytics or search engines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Must be a US citizen and hold a current Tier 1 DOD background investigation. Active DoD security clearance is preferred.
• Core Database Expertise: Mastery of SQL Server internals, advanced T‑SQL engineering, concurrency control, and relational database design.
• Azure Data Platforms: In‑depth, practical experience managing Azure SQL Managed Instances and associated high‑availability architectures.
• Cloud Networking: Strong command of Azure networking concepts, including VNets, subnets, DNS, custom routing, private connectivity, network security groups (NSGs), hybrid connectivity, and latency optimization.
• Automation & DevOps Tooling: Proven experience with Git, CI/CD platforms, and Infrastructure as Code frameworks (Terraform, Bicep, or ARM templates).
• Security Frameworks: Solid understanding of modern identity management, encryption at rest/in transit, and cloud auditing compliance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of executing large‑scale Oracle-to-Azure database migrations.
• Familiarity with vector databases, AI integration frameworks, and specialized big data analytics solutions.