Senior Database Engineer II

Cambium Assessment, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambium Learning Group is seeking a Senior Database Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of database systems powering mission-critical, high-transaction applications in AWS.

You will collaborate with engineering and DevOps teams to ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability across microservice-based architectures. Strong SQL Server expertise and data modeling are essential, with Docker/Kubernetes experience valued.

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science or related field with 5+ years of experience; MS with 3+ years allowed.
• 5+ years of hands-on SQL Server development experience.
• Expert knowledge of SQL Server including writing triggers, stored procedures, and user-defined functions.
• Strong data modeling and database design skills, with normalization/denormalization.
• Experience operating SQL Server in AWS (RDS, EC2) and familiarity with AWS microservices.
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
• Experience designing databases to support microservice architectures in the cloud.

Responsibilities

• Develop state-of-the-art database solutions for high-transaction systems.
• Design database schema based on data modeling of business requirements.
• Write and deploy stored procedures, functions, views, triggers, and constraints.
• Create deployment and rollback scripts for database objects.
• Analyze access patterns and optimize indexes, constraints, and queries.
• Troubleshoot performance issues and implement long-term improvements.
• Collaborate with architects to evolve data layer and adopt new tools.
• Stay current with AWS, microservices, and cloud-native technologies.

Skills

Database design

Performance tuning

SQL development

Data modeling

AWS cloud

Microservices

Collaboration with SMEs

Education

B.S. in Computer Science

M.S. in Computer Science

Tools

SQL Server

AWS RDS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Cambium Learning® Group is an award-winning educational technology solutions leader dedicated to helping all students reach their potential through individualized and differentiated instruction. Using a research-based, personalized approach, Cambium Learning Group delivers SaaS resources and instructional products that engage students and support teachers in fun, positive, safe and scalable environments. These solutions are provided through Learning A-Z® (online differentiated instruction for elementary school reading, writing and science), ExploreLearning® (online interactive math and science simulations, a math fact fluency solution, and a K-2 science solution), Voyager Sopris Learning® (blended solutions that accelerate struggling learners to achieve in literacy and math and professional development for teachers), and VKidz Learning (online comprehensive homeschool education and programs for literacy and science). We believe that every student has unlimited potential, that teachers matter, and that data, instruction, and practice are the keys to success in the classroom and beyond.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Senior Database Engineer to join our dynamic team of 100+ software engineers, designers, project managers, and specialists who are passionate about building innovative, high-quality solutions. Our work spans a wide range of impactful and forward-thinking technologies, including:

• Advanced algorithms for computer-adaptive testing
• Highly scalable, high-performance distributed systems
• Comprehensive learning management systems
• Universally accessible user interfaces
• AI-driven scoring and assessment tools

As a Senior Database Engineer, you will drive the design, development, and optimization of database systems that power mission-critical, high-transaction applications. You will ensure data integrity, performance, and scalability within modern cloud environments and microservice-based architectures. Acting as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), you will collaborate closely with engineering and DevOps teams to shape and advance our data architecture and strategy in AWS.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop state of the art database solutions to meet the stringent performance, scalability and integrity needs of high transaction systems
• Design database schema based on data modeling of business requirements and entities
• Development work will involve writing stored procedures, functions, views, triggers, constraints, etc.
• Create deployment and rollback scripts for all database objects manually or auto generated
• Analyze access patterns and propose the best combination of indexes, constraints, foreign keys, and queries
• Troubleshoot performance problems and propose short-term fixes and long-term solutions
• Work with Architects and drive developers in the future evolution of the data layer researching options and developing prototypes before eventual introduction into the tech stack
• Stay current with evolving databases, AWS, microservices, and cloud-native technologies; prototype new tools/features for adoption.

Job Requirements

• B.S. in Computer Science (or related field) and 5+ years related experience or M.S. Degree and 3+yrs of experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on SQL Server development experience
• Expert knowledge of all aspects of SQL Server including the ability to write and deploy effective triggers, stored procedures and user defined functions
• Authoritative understanding of SQL Server concurrency features, transactions, and locking; Excellent data modeling and schema design skills, including normalization and de-normalization
• Thorough understanding of best practices for database maintenance, including index and file management, backups, failure recovery, database defragmentation, documentation; Ability to analyze disk space requirements and hardware utilization, automate error notification
• Basic SQL Server administration skills, such as backups, restores, taking and reverting snapshots, user/role security, access permissions, etc.
• Experience operating SQL Server in AWS: Amazon RDS for SQL Server, RDS Custom, or SQL Server on EC2.
• Familiarity with AWS microservices architecture: designing databases to support a microservice-based application in AWS.
• Experience optimizing data access from microservices (e.g. minimizing cross-service latency, designing efficient APIs, minimizing coupling).
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker), orchestration (Kubernetes, AWS ECS/EKS) in microservices context.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that celebrates unique backgrounds, ideas, and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.