Sr Database Engineer-SQL

About the Role

The Senior Database Engineer serves as a senior technical contributor responsible for the architecture, engineering, implementation, reliability, security, performance, and continuous improvement of database platforms supporting business applications across cloud and on-premises environments.

Provides deep technical expertise and independently leads complex database initiatives spanning design, modernization, migration, performance, resiliency, security, automation, and operational excellence. Establishes and promotes standardized database patterns, self-service capabilities, automation, and engineering practices that improve developer autonomy while maintaining appropriate security, compliance, reliability, data protection, performance, and cost-management guardrails.

Partners with application, platform, cybersecurity, architecture, governance, and other technology teams to solve complex problems and establish scalable database capabilities. Provides technical leadership to Database Administrators and application teams through mentoring, design guidance, peer reviews, documentation, reusable patterns, and technical decision-making.

Continuously evaluates emerging database, cloud, automation, and artificial intelligence technologies and identifies opportunities to improve reliability, engineering productivity, developer experience, and business outcomes.

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, implement, and modernize secure, highly available, scalable, and cost-effective database solutions on Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, and Cosmos DB.
• Establish reusable architecture patterns, engineering standards, and guardrails for availability, performance, capacity, backup and recovery, disaster recovery, security, compliance, and lifecycle management that let application teams safely self-serve.
• Automate database provisioning, configuration, deployment, patching, monitoring, backup, recovery, and remediation using infrastructure as code, Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines, source control, scripting, APIs, and automated testing.
• Drive advanced performance engineering across queries, indexing, execution plans, and resource utilization, and proactively identify reliability, capacity, security, and technical-debt risks before they cause service disruption.
• Serve as a technical escalation point for complex incidents, database recoveries, disaster recovery exercises, and high-risk changes, leading root-cause analysis and preventative controls, and participate in on-call support.
• Apply AI and agentic development in day-to-day engineering, and evaluate opportunities to safely introduce AI-assisted and autonomous operations with appropriate human oversight, security, and compliance controls.
• Provide technical leadership through design, code, and infrastructure reviews; mentor Database Administrators and engineers; and influence database standards, roadmaps, and the adoption of emerging technologies that deliver measurable value.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of database administration, database engineering, or related experience supporting enterprise database environments
• Advanced experience with Microsoft SQL Server and/or Azure SQL, including administration, performance tuning, high availability, backup and recovery, and security
• Experience designing and operating database platforms in Azure or a comparable public cloud, including hybrid environments and managed database services
• Experience with infrastructure as code, CI/CD, source control, or scripting for infrastructure and operational automation
• Experience troubleshooting complex production database issues and performing root-cause analysis
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex technical initiatives, communicate risks and trade-offs to technical and business stakeholders, and mentor other engineers

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Terraform, Azure DevOps, GitHub, automated deployment pipelines, and automated testing
• Experience operating highly available, business-critical database platforms at enterprise scale, including observability and SRE practices
• Experience designing self-service infrastructure or platform capabilities for application development teams
• Experience applying AI or agentic automation to database engineering, operations, or software-development workflows
• Experience with Azure SQL and other platforms such as MongoDB, and/or Cosmos DB

Why work for us At H&R Block, our purpose is simple: to provide help and inspire confidence in our clients and communities everywhere. For more than 70 years, we’ve led the tax industry and we continue to evolve through our Block Next strategy, blending human expertise with digital innovation. That same commitment to care extends to our associates. When you join us, you become part of a High Performing, Connected Culture built on strong relationships, continuous learning, and a shared commitment to making a meaningful impact. We invest in your well-being through competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and support for life both in and outside of work. Pay Range Information The pay range for this position is listed below. Local minimum wage laws apply. This information is posted pursuant to local requirements to provide applicants with information about what they might be eligible to receive. Individual pay decisions will depend on job-related factors such as experience, education, skill, performance, and geographic location where work will be performed. Successful candidates may be able to participate in one or more incentive compensation or short-term incentive plans, which could generate additional earnings in accordance with the terms of each plan. Qualifying associates can enroll themselves and/or their eligible dependents in medical and prescription drug coverage; can participate in the H&R Block Retirement Savings Plan (401(k) Plan), the Employee Assistance Program, (virtual) fitness center programs, and the associate discount program; are automatically enrolled in Business Travel Accident Insurance; and receive Associate Tax Prep benefit. Pay Range $91,000.00 - $145,600.00/Yr. Sponsored Job