What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Database Engineer position at AutoNation?
This position is for a highly skilled and forward-thinking Senior Database Engineer to lead the modernization, automation, and optimization of our enterprise data platform. This role blends deep expertise in database administration, development, and automation engineering, with a strong focus on high-availability and disaster recovery, AWS and Azure data services, data replication technologies, and database DevOps. The ideal candidate will drive innovation in database performance, scalability, security, and automation/self-service enabling a resilient and high-performing data ecosystem across on-premises and hybrid cloud environments.
This position is remote.
At this time, we are not considering applicants who require employment authorization sponsorship (1) as a condition of eligibility for employment with the Company or (2) at any point during the term of their employment. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future visa sponsorship by the Company.
Key Responsibilities:
Database Platform Engineering
Engineer, deploy, manage, and optimize SQL Server environments including Failover Cluster Instances (FCI), Always-On Availability Groups (AG), performance tuning, indexing strategy, data lifecycle, patching, capacity planning, and HA/DR design.
Engineer and support AWS database services including Aurora Postgres, Aurora MySQL, DynamoDB, RDS, and S3-based data architectures.
Administer and optimize Snowflake compute/storage usage, governance, performance, and cost controls.
Implement enterprise-grade backup, restore, replication, and cross-region disaster recovery strategies across SQL Server, Aurora, Snowflake, and other platforms.
Modernization Automation
Drive modernization from legacy state to cloud-optimized, event-driven, automated database patterns.
Leverage infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and declarative database automation (DB DevOps).
Automate provisioning, patching, scaling, DR failovers, and schema deployments.
Implement platform-wide observability, monitoring, and telemetry to detect anomalies and prevent incidents before impact.
Performance Optimization
Lead proactive performance engineering including query tuning, index optimization, resource controls, workload management, execution plan analysis, monitoring, and right-sizing.
Partner with development teams to shift-left performance earlier into the SDLC.
Data Security Governance
Implement least privilege, identity-based access, audit controls, encryption, secrets management, and data protection controls.
Ensure compliance with corporate policies, regulatory expectations, and secure architecture patterns.
Identify platform risk, drive remediation plans, prevent platform drift.
Leadership Influence
Mentor platform engineering / data engineering teams and elevate organizational database engineering capability.
Influence roadmap direction, introduce new platform capabilities, challenge status-quo thinking.
Partner with product, cloud, platform, data, and application teams to drive engineering excellence.
Required Skills & Experience
7 years hands-on experience with enterprise databases at scale (10TB preferred)
Expert-level SQL Server engineering (FCI, Always-On Availability Groups, Extended Events, Query Store, backup/restore)
Strong in AWS data services (Aurora, RDS SQL Server, DynamoDB, S3, DMS/HVR)
Hands-on experience with Snowflake architecture, cost/perf optimization, workload management
Advanced database performance tuning (execution plans, indexing, concurrency, storage engine internals)
Proficiency in PowerShell and Python automation
Deep understanding of database security (RBAC, IAM integration, encryption, secrets management, network boundary controls)
Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or CloudFormation) and modern CI/CD pipelines
Experience with SSIS, SSRS and data movement/ETL modernization patterns
Demonstrated ability to influence architecture direction and platform engineering strategy
Preferred
Experience with DevOps/DataOps concepts and automation tooling (Liquibase / Flyway / DBMaestro, GitOps, Ansible, Azure DevOps, Secrets Manager / Vault integration)
Experience with data mesh or modern domain-based data platform approaches
Experience with cost optimization in cloud database environ
Exciting Benefits and Perks Await You:
Competitive compensation and 401k matching
Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with insurance plans (health, dental, vision) and maternity benefits.
Associate purchase and discount programs for new and pre-owned vehicles, services, parts, collision, accessories, and AutoGear
Access amazing deals and discounts through YouDecide, a website with offers from top providers and retailers
Join our DRVPNK mission to raise and donate millions of dollars to cancer research and treatment, partnering with cancer charities nationwide
AutoNation is one of the largest automotive retailers in the United States, offering innovative products, exceptional services, and comprehensive solutions, empowering our customers to make the best decisions for their needs. With a network of dealerships nationwide strengthened by a recognized brand, we offer a wide variety of new and used vehicles, customer financing, parts, and provide expert maintenance and repair services. Through DRV PNK, we have raised over $40 million for cancer-related causes, demonstrating our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our Associates, Customers, and the communities we serve.
AutoNation is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in our workplace and the services we provide. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds who are passionate about making a positive impact. Even if you do not meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. Join our team and help us foster a culture of belonging while contributing to our revolutionary work in the automotive industry. We value innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world.