Senior Database Solutions Architect (Hands-On Platform) – Remote (U.S.)
DIRECT HIRE ONLY - NO C2C
100% Remote | Must reside in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT
Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire or Direct Hire | Salary (Direct Hire): $175k–$200k
About the Role:
Our client is seeking a very senior, hands-on Database Solutions Architect to lead the design, implementation, and operation of highly available, cloud-native database platforms. This role is full-stack in platform engineering — combining deep architecture expertise with hands-on execution across Linux, Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code, and cross-region/bare-metal environments.
This is not a DBA-only role. The ideal candidate has independently built and operated production-grade, multi-region platforms and can handle networking, automation, and infrastructure challenges without heavy guidance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, implement, and optimize HA open-source database platforms (MariaDB, PostgreSQL, TiDB) across multiple regions and bare-metal/cloud environments
- Troubleshoot replication failures, slow queries, performance bottlenecks, and availability incidents independently
- Lead Infrastructure as Code automation initiatives using Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines
- Ensure data protection, backup, and recovery across production and non-production environments
- Collaborate on networking architecture and cross-region platform deployments
- Participate in on-call rotations supporting critical systems
- Partner with engineering teams to define architecture and enforce best practices
Required Skills & Experience:
- Deep Linux expertise (RHEL/CentOS/Rocky, Ubuntu), including package management, compiling, and managing code locally
- Strong experience with HA MariaDB/PostgreSQL/TiDB in production, multi-AZ/multi-region environments
- Experience with Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD, and Infrastructure as Code
- Strong cross-region/bare-metal infrastructure and networking knowledge
- Development experience in Golang and/or Python for automation and tooling
- Ability to troubleshoot complex systems independently without relying on enterprise tools or vendors
- Excellent communication skills for cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Proven ability to recall and apply previous experience, not just theoretical knowledge
Why This Role:
This is a highly senior, hands-on platform role where independence, deep technical expertise, and multi-region/cloud experience are critical. You will work directly on the client’s engineering team, influencing architecture and day-to-day platform reliability while collaborating across teams. Red Oak is serving solely as the recruiting partner — you will not be employed by Red Oak.