Senior SQL Server Database Engineer

Your opportunity

At Schwab, you’re empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us “challenge the status quo” and transform the finance industry together.

We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).

Schwab is recruiting a driven, results-oriented Database Engineer who shares our passion for technology, innovation, and excellence. Our primary goal at Schwab is to transform people’s lives by changing the way the world invests. We are beginning the process of re-architecting and rebuilding our core recordkeeping software platform to support our rapidly growing and evolving business. The candidate will work aside a team of seasoned architects and engineers whose objective is to maintain all aspects of application health and ensure the on-time, quality delivery of software releases.

This position will be part of the Retirement Plan Services (RPS) Technology team at Schwab. RPS is responsible for the architecture, design, implementation, and support of Schwab's retirement platform serving our 401k participants, clients, and back-office operations. As a Database Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the performance, security, availability, and scalability of the databases that support our business-critical applications. You will work closely with development teams to ensure that database solutions are well-integrated with applications, optimized for performance, and meet business requirements.

Responsibilities

• Performance Tuning & Optimization: Monitor and tune SQL queries, indexing, and overall database performance to support application efficiency. Implement performance optimization strategies such as query rewriting, indexing strategies, and database schema modifications.
• Security & Compliance: Configure and enforce database security standards, including user access management, encryption, and data masking. Ensure that databases comply with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and internal security policies.
• Collaboration with Development Teams: Work closely with developers to ensure database designs align with application requirements. Assist in the creation and modification of database objects to ensure they are optimized for performance and scalability.
• Code Review: Review and approve all database code submitted by application teams before deployment to production.
• Monitoring & Incident Response: Use SQL Server monitoring tools to track key performance metrics, detect issues, and ensure high availability. Respond to database incidents, troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, and resolve issues promptly.
• Capacity Planning & Scalability: Assess and plan for database growth by monitoring usage patterns and recommending infrastructure changes to meet the growing demands of our business partners.
• Documentation & Best Practices: Maintain up-to-date documentation of SQL Server database configurations, procedures, and best practices. Provide recommendations for process improvements and enforce standards across the database environment.
• Troubleshooting & Support: Provide advanced troubleshooting for database issues affecting applications, including resolving database connectivity problems, performance issues, and data integrity concerns.
  
  

What you have

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Experience: 8 years of experience as a SQL Server Database Administrator/Engineer with a focus on performance tuning.
• Technical Skills:
  
  

Required

• Extensive experience in managing SQL Server databases (SQL Server 2016 or later).
• Expertise in SQL performance tuning, query optimization, and indexing strategies.
• Proficiency in T-SQL code development (e.g. stored procedures, functions, and triggers).
• Familiarity with SQL Server Availability Groups and Transactional Replication.
• Knowledge of SQL Server security best practices, including TDE.
• Experience with SSIS and SSRS.
  
  

Preferred

• Familiarity with SQL Server monitoring tools, preferably Foglight.
• Experience with Postgres.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP).
• Proficiency with source control applications, preferably GitHub and SQL Source Control.
• Experience working for a financial services firm or other highly regulated organization.
  
  

In addition to the salary range, this role is also eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.

What’s in it for you

At Schwab, you’re empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration—so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.

We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance