Database Engineer (RDS PostgreSQL & OpenSearch)

About the Role

The role involves architecting scalable, highly available data solutions on AWS, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting complex production issues across relational databases and search engine workloads. The engineer will work closely with application teams, cloud architects, and DevOps engineers to ensure reliable and efficient data operations. Key duties include designing robust database and search cluster architectures, optimizing schemas and index strategies, monitoring system health, and leading incident response for failures and performance bottlenecks. The engineer will also manage backup and disaster‑recovery processes, enforce security and compliance controls, and automate routine tasks using Infrastructure‑as‑Code and scripting tools. • Design and implement scalable, highly available Amazon RDS (PostgreSQL) and OpenSearch architectures. • Create optimized schema designs, index strategies, and data models for performance and storage efficiency. • Evaluate and recommend tools and best practices for data pipelines, ingestion, and replication. • Perform deep performance tuning of SQL queries, indexing, vacuum/analyze, connection pooling, and OpenSearch clusters. • Monitor system health using CloudWatch, Performance Insights, OpenSearch Dashboards, and custom telemetry. • Lead troubleshooting of failovers, replication lag, slow queries, cluster imbalances, and node failures; conduct root‑cause analysis. • Maintain backup, restore, and disaster‑recovery procedures for PostgreSQL and OpenSearch, defining RPO/RTO. • Automate administrative tasks with Infrastructure‑as‑Code (Terraform, CloudFormation) and scripting (Python, Bash). • Implement IAM policies, encryption at rest/in‑transit, security groups, and audit logging to meet compliance standards. • Collaborate with application teams, cloud architects, DevOps, and data stakeholders; mentor junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸database architecture
• ▸schema design
• ▸performance tuning
• ▸system monitoring
• ▸incident response
• ▸iac automation

What You Bring

KBR is seeking a Database Engineer specializing in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and OpenSearch to support mission‑critical systems. The position is contingent on contract award, customer approval, and funding, and requires the ability to obtain a government background check. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a preferred location in Sioux Falls, SD, though remote work may be considered. Candidates must have at least five years of PostgreSQL experience, three years with Amazon RDS in production, and two years managing OpenSearch clusters. A strong grasp of AWS services, IaC tools, and scripting languages is required, while experience with high‑throughput environments, log‑analytics pipelines, containerization, and AWS certifications is preferred. • 5+ years hands‑on PostgreSQL experience, including advanced SQL, performance tuning, and replication. • 3+ years production experience with Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. • 2+ years managing and tuning Amazon OpenSearch clusters. • Strong knowledge of AWS services such as EC2, IAM, VPC, S3, CloudWatch, Lambda, and KMS. • Experience with Terraform, CloudFormation, or other IaC tools and automation scripting. • Understanding of distributed systems, search indexing, and data lifecycle management. • Preferred: experience with mission‑critical/high‑throughput environments and log‑analytics pipelines. • Preferred: familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, and AWS certifications.

Requirements

• ▸postgresql
• ▸rds
• ▸opensearch
• ▸aws
• ▸terraform
• ▸docker

Benefits

This position directly contributes to the stability and scalability of core operational datasets and search capabilities, enabling faster analytics and more efficient data workflows. Compensation ranges from $86,500 to $129,800, adjusted for location, experience, and internal parity. KBR offers a competitive benefits package that may include 401(k) matching, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability benefits, paid time off, and flexible work schedules. The company emphasizes a Zero Harm culture, professional development, diversity, equity, inclusion, and equal‑opportunity employment. • Competitive salary $86,500‑$129,800, based on location and experience. • Benefits may include 401(k) match, medical/dental/vision coverage, life & AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability, PTO, and flexible work schedule.

Work Environment

Remote