Database Engineer

TL;DR
LOCATION
Foster City, CA, United States
WORK ENVIRONMENT
In-person

SCHEDULE
Full time (usually 30+ hours/week)
ASSIGNMENT LENGTH
Contract
OPPORTUNITY END DATE
12/02/2025
Basic information
JOB DESCRIPTION
*** is helping an on-demand, autonomous ride-hailing company find a Database Engineer, to design, build, and operate scalable, secure data stores that power the company's applications and analytics.

In this role, you'll partner closely with application and data teams to shape schemas, tune performance, and automate operations using AWS, Kubernetes, and infrastructure-as-code tools. Your work will improve reliability, reduce cost, and accelerate delivery from development through production.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on database professional with a strong foundation in AWS-based infrastructure, Kubernetes automation, and performance optimization. You're detail-oriented, collaborative, and skilled at building systems that scale efficiently and securely.

As a Database Engineer, you'll:
Design and develop efficient, scalable database solutions based on business and technical requirements.
Install, configure, and upgrade database software and related tools.
Monitor database performance and optimize for efficiency, reliability, and scalability.
Implement and maintain database security measures to protect sensitive data.
Collaborate with application developers to optimize schemas and queries for performance.
Troubleshoot and resolve database issues in a timely manner.
Develop and maintain documentation for database architecture, configurations, and processes.
Perform capacity planning and recommend infrastructure improvements.
Stay current with emerging database technologies and industry trends.
Manage AWS database infrastructure and provide ongoing operational support.
ABOUT AN ON-DEMAND, AUTONOMOUS RIDE-HAILING COMPANY
N/A
Role specifics and target candidate profile
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
Top Skills: PosgreSQL/MySQL databases Database and query optimization/tuning - hands-on On-prem and in cloud experience (AWS) Kubernetes/automation experience Biggest misses in past interviews are candidates misrepresenting their technical experience - are unable to go deep into responsibilities and technologies, problems they've solved related to the environments they've supported. Technical assessment before being sent over to client, if possible. Want to understand that we've had some sort of validation step before sending through.
DAILY TASKS
Responsibilities: • Design and develop efficient and scalable database solutions based on business requirements. • Install, configure, and upgrade database software and related tools. • Monitor database performance and optimize for efficiency and reliability. • Implement and maintain database security measures to protect sensitive data. • Collaborate with application developers to optimize database schema and queries. • Troubleshoot database issues and provide timely resolution. • Develop and maintain documentation related to database architecture, configuration, and processes. • Perform database capacity planning and recommend infrastructure improvements. • Stay up to date with emerging database technologies and trends. • Managing AWS database infrastructure and providing support.
REQUIRED SKILLS
Qualifications: • Strong understanding of AWS and IaC related to database resources. • Proven experience (5+ Years) as a Database Engineer or Database Administrator. • Strong knowledge of database management systems (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Redshift). • Proficiency in SQL and database query optimization. • Familiarity with database design principles and data normalization. • Experience in database performance tuning and monitoring. • Understanding of backup and recovery procedures. • Knowledge of database security best practices. • Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. • Strong communication and collaboration abilities. • Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
BUSINESS DRIVER OF ROLE
As a Database Engineer at client, you will design, build, and operate scalable, secure data stores that power our applications and analytics. You'll partner closely with application and data teams to shape schemas, tune performance, and automate operations using AWS and infrastructure-as-code. Your work will improve reliability, reduce cost, and accelerate delivery from development through production.
CONVERSION LIKELIHOOD
unlikely
CANDIDATE SELL
Opportunity to join a growing company in the autonomous vehicle industry as they scale production and shift from R&D to commercial service launch.
Employment information
FULL-TIME/PART-TIME
full_time
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT ON REMOTE HIRES
TIMEZONE PREFERENCES
Hiring logistics and due diligence
WORK SCHEDULE
Hybrid Schedule, On-Site in Foster City 3 days a week 40 hour work week but must be open to flexible hours (i.e. before or after typical business hours)
INTERVIEW PROCESS
30-minute Manager Zoom interview 1.5 hour panel interview