Database Engineer

CACI; Ashburn (VA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

CACI is seeking a Senior Database Engineer in Northern Virginia. You will serve as the data authority on an Agile Scrum team, designing, modeling, securing, and maintaining MongoDB and relational databases to support CBP and DHS missions.

The role emphasizes database architecture, performance tuning, security controls, and DevSecOps automation, with hybrid local work requirements in Ashburn, VA. Citizenship and clearance requirements apply.

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to pass CBP background investigation.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related technical field or equivalent experience accepted.
• 5–7+ years of database administration/engineering, with 3+ years in MongoDB environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and document data models for NoSQL and relational databases.
• Administer, upgrade, and maintain MongoDB environments including high-availability configurations.
• Administer and model relational databases (PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server).
• Perform query optimization, indexing decisions, and performance tuning of SQL and NoSQL workloads.
• Implement database security controls including RBAC, encryption, and auditing.
• Develop backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies for distributed databases.
• Collaborate in Agile Scrum ceremonies with developers and stakeholders.

Skills

NoSQL

Data modeling

RDBMS

Performance tuning

Scripting

Education

B.S. in Computer Science/Software Engineering/Info Tech

Tools

MongoDB

PostgreSQL

Oracle

Microsoft SQL Server

Job description

Job Title: Database Engineer

Job Category: Information Technology

Time Type: Full time

Minimum Clearance Required to Start: None

Employee Type: Regular

Percentage of Travel Required: Up to 10%

Type of Travel: Local

The Opportunity

CACI is currently looking for a Senior Database Engineer with Agile methodology experience to join our BEAGLE (Border Enforcement Applications for Government Leading-Edge Information Technology) Agile Solution Factory (ASF) Team supporting the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) client located in Northern Virginia!

Join this passionate team of industry-leading individuals supporting the best practices in Agile Software Development for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a member of the BEAGLE ASF Team, you will support the men and women charged with safeguarding the American people and enhancing the Nation's safety, security, and prosperity. CBP agents and officers are on the front lines, every day, protecting our national security by combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.

In this role, you will be the core data authority on an Agile Scrum team. You will spend your time designing, modeling, securing, and maintaining both modern document-based NoSQL database environments (primarily MongoDB) and relational database management systems (RDBMS like PostgreSQL). The ideal candidate is a blend of a highly skilled database administrator and a forward-thinking data architect who understands when to leverage NoSQL and when to utilize relational models to optimize mission-critical application performance.

Responsibilities

• Database Architecture & Schema Design: Design and document logical and physical data models. Guide software development teams on database schema design, indexing strategies, and data relationships for both NoSQL (document design patterns, referencing vs. embedding) and relational (normalization, foreign keys, indexing) systems.
• MongoDB Administration & Engineering: Administer, configure, upgrade, and maintain MongoDB environments. Design and manage high-availability infrastructure, including MongoDB replica sets, sharded clusters, and distributed systems.
• Relational Database Support: Administer, model, and maintain relational databases (such as PostgreSQL or Oracle) that interface with modern legacy and modernized systems.
• Performance Tuning: Perform continuous database tuning and query optimization. Analyze execution plans, evaluate indexes, and optimize MongoDB aggregation pipelines and SQL queries to eliminate bottlenecks.
• Data Security & Compliance: Implement and maintain database security controls, including authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), auditing, encryption-at-rest, and encryption-in-transit, ensuring alignment with CBP and DHS security regulations.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery: Develop, test, and implement robust backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies for distributed NoSQL and relational databases.
• Automation & DevSecOps: Automate database deployment, configuration management, patching, and routine maintenance tasks using scripting languages (Python, Bash) and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools.
• Collaborative Agile Delivery: Actively participate in Agile scrum ceremonies, collaborating closely with developers, cloud engineers, and government stakeholders to support rapid, short-sprint software releases.

Qualifications

• Citizenship & Clearance: Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to pass a CBP background investigation. Criteria include, but are not limited to: 3-year check for felony convictions; 1-year check for illegal drug use; 1-year check for misconduct such as theft or fraud.
• Education: College degree (B.S.) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field (equivalent experience accepted in lieu of degree).
• Professional Experience: 5-7+ years of database administration/engineering experience, with a minimum of 3+ years of dedicated, hands‑on experience designing and administering MongoDB environments.
• Location: Local candidates must be available to work a hybrid schedule in Ashburn, VA.

You are good at

• NoSQL Expertise: In-depth knowledge of MongoDB architecture, replica sets, sharded clusters, locking mechanisms, storage engines (WiredTiger), and transaction handling.
• Data Modeling: Designing scalable schemas for document-oriented databases (handling polymorphic schemas, bucket patterns, schema versioning) and relational databases.
• Relational Database Systems (RDBMS): Working knowledge of relational database administration, schema design, and SQL development (PostgreSQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server preferred).
• Performance Optimization: Tuning slow queries, creating compound and partial indexes, and debugging performance bottlenecks in both SQL databases and NoSQL systems.
• Scripting & Automation: Writing clean, maintainable automation scripts in Python, Bash, or Po