Principal Database Engineer IRES - SSFB/HSV

Amentum company; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Tax-saving options

Disability and life insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a Principal Database Engineer to anchor our database administration team across Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL environments. You will work with development and operations teams to design data solutions, guide cloud and container deployments, and ensure security and performance across platforms.

The role requires DoW Secret clearance, hands-on cloud and container experience, and strong collaboration skills to map database requirements for complex defense programs.

Qualifications

• Must have 6+ years of general (full-time) work experience.
• Must have 3+ years of directly related experience.
• Hands-on experience installing, configuring, and maintaining multiple database platforms (Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, SQL).
• Experience running databases in the cloud (AWS and Azure).
• Hands-on experience with containerization/orchestration (Kubernetes and Docker).
• Act as technical coordinator and mentor for a team of DBAs.
• Strong background in performance tuning, troubleshooting, and optimizing queries.
• Experience with backup/DR strategies, capacity management, and audits.
• Solid understanding of database security policies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical anchor for the database administration team and ensure multi-platform harmony.
• Bridge the gap between database, development, and operations teams to define data solutions.
• Guide migration toward cloud and containerized deployments of databases.
• Research and test new database technologies to fit application lifecycle.
• Communicate effectively with developers and business owners to map database requirements.

Job description

Position Title: Principal Database Engineer

Location: Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO or Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL

Relocation Assistance: None available at this time

Remote/Telework: NO - Not available for this position

Clearance Type: DoW Secret

Shift: Day shift

Travel Required: Up to 10% of the time

Description of Duties:

We are looking for a versatile Principal Database Engineer to act as the technical anchor for our database administration team. The Principal Database Engineer supports the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract. We run a complex, multi-platform environment, and we need someone who understands the nuances of several different database flavors—specifically Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL systems.

• You will be the technical point person.
  • We have DBAs who are deep subject-matter experts in specific platforms, but your role is to see the big picture, jump into any of these environments when needed, and make sure everything is working together securely and efficiently.
• You will also bridge the gap between our database team, developers, and administrators to figure out exactly what kind of data solutions we need to build.
• Since we are moving toward modern infrastructure, you will also help guide how we run these databases in the cloud and within containers.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a habit of researching and testing new database technologies to see if they fit into our application lifecycle.
• Have excellent communication skills—you need to be able to sit down with developers and business owners to map out database requirements for new projects.

Basic Requirements:

• Must have 6, or more, years of general (full-time) work experience
  • May be reduced with completion of advanced education
• Must have 3, or more, years of directly related experience
• Must have hands-on experience installing, configuring, and maintaining multiple database platforms (must have working knowledge of Oracle, DB2, Cassandra, MongoDB, and SQL).
• Must have experience running databases in the cloud, specifically using AWS and Azure.
• Must have hands-on experience with containerization and orchestration, including Kubernetes and Docker.
• Must be able to act as a technical coordinator and mentor for a team of DBAs, guiding the technical direction without needing the formal "Team Lead" title.
• Must have a solid background in performance tuning, troubleshooting, and optimizing queries across different database types.
• Must have experience handling the fundamentals: setting up backup and disaster recovery strategies, managing capacity, and running audits.
• Must have a strong understanding of database security policies and how to enforce them across an enterprise network.
• Must have a current Security+ certification
• Must have an active DoW Secret Security Clearance

Desired Requirements:

• Have advanced SQL query optimization skills.
• Have Oracle WebLogic experience (deploying, upgrading, patching, and troubleshooting).
• Have experience working on government or defense contracts (like the Missile Defense Agency), or similar highly regulated enterprise environments.

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days. If a candidate has not been selected at that time, it will continue to be posted until a suitable candidate is selected or the position is closed.

Compensation Details:

$115,000 – $145,000

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

09/24/2026 - 10/02/2026

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.