Senior Performance Database Engineer

At Caris, we understand that cancer is an ugly word—a word no one wants to hear, but one that connects us all. That’s why we’re not just transforming cancer care—we’re changing lives.

We introduced precision medicine to the world and built an industry around the idea that every patient deserves answers as unique as their DNA. Backed by cutting-edge molecular science and AI, we ask ourselves every day: “What would I do if this patient were my mom?” That question drives everything we do.

But our mission doesn’t stop with cancer. We're pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose.

Join us in our mission to improve the human condition across multiple diseases. If you're passionate about meaningful work and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, Caris is where your impact begins.

Position Summary
The Senior Performance DBA will ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of Caris Life Sciences’ database platforms across both AWS and on-premises environments. This role focuses on optimizing MySQL, PostgreSQL, Aurora, and RDS systems that support mission-critical clinical, analytical, and research workloads. The Senior Performance DBA will work within the DevOps organization and collaborate closely with Cloud Engineering, Data Engineering, and Security teams to improve performance, automate database operations, and support compliance initiatives such as SOX and HIPAA.

Job Responsibilities

• Design, optimize, and maintain MySQL, PostgreSQL, Aurora, and RDS databases across AWS and on-prem environments.

• Perform advanced performance tuning including query optimization, indexing strategy, schema refinement, and execution plan analysis.

• Diagnose and resolve performance bottlenecks across memory, CPU, I/O, caching, storage, and replication layers, and implement lasting improvements.

• Own the database high-availability and disaster-recovery program end to end: architect, implement, and routinely validate HA/DR strategies including point-in-time recovery (PITR), Aurora Backtrack, and cross-region failover, ensuring business-continuity readiness for mission-critical systems.

• Automate database provisioning, configuration, backups, patching, monitoring, and non-production data refresh with obfuscation using IaC and configuration tools.

• Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines for schema changes, versioning, testing, and compliance workflows.

• Monitor system performance using CloudWatch, DataDog, Prometheus, Grafana, and other observability platforms.

• Perform capacity planning, growth forecasting, workload analysis, and cost optimization for AWS RDS and Aurora.

• Collaborate with Engineering teams to review SQL queries, optimize access patterns, and provide best practices guidance.

• Ensure adherence to SOX, HIPAA, and internal security standards for encryption, auditing, backup, and access management.

• Develop and maintain detailed documentation, runbooks, operating procedures, and performance tuning guidelines.

• Establish and own in-house database engineering practices, runbooks, and knowledge, reducing reliance on external vendors and ensuring continuity of system ownership.

• Participate in on-call rotations and support production incidents requiring database expertise.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.

• 10+ years of experience as a DBA or Performance DBA supporting large-scale systems.

• 8+ years of hands-on experience with MySQL, PostgreSQL, and AWS RDS/Aurora.

• 5+ years of experience working in a cloud environment such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

• Deep expertise in SQL tuning, indexing, schema optimization, and execution plan analysis.

• Experience with Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, CloudFormation) and automation workflows.

• Strong scripting experience (Python, Bash).

• Expertise with replication, storage engines, locking mechanisms, and database internals.

• Experience designing high-availability and disaster recovery architectures.

• Familiarity with CloudWatch, DataDog, Prometheus, Grafana, or equivalent observability systems.

• Working knowledge of SOX and HIPAA compliance requirements.

• Excellent analytical and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AWS Redshift or similar data warehouse systems.

• Experience in healthcare, life sciences, or other regulated industries.

• AWS certifications (Database Specialty, Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer).

• Experience with MySQL/PostgreSQL benchmarking and profiling tools.

• Experience implementing cost optimization strategies for RDS and Aurora.

Physical Demands

• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.

Other

• This position may require periodic travel and some evenings, weekends, or holidays.

• Job may require after-hours response to emergency database issues.

• Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with emerging database and cloud technologies.

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Annual Hiring Range

$140,000 - $175,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level. The pay ratio between base pay and target incentive (if applicable) will be finalized at offer.

Description of Benefits

• Highly competitive and inclusive medical, dental and vision coverage options
• Health Savings Account for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
• Flexible Spending Account to pay for certain out-of-pocket expenses
• Paid time off, including: vacation, sick time and holidays
• 401k match and Financial Planning tools
• LTD and STD insurance coverages, as well as voluntary benefit options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance
• Legal Assistance
• Tuition Assistance

Conditions of Employment:  Individual must successfully complete pre-employment process, which includes criminal background check, drug screening, credit check ( applicable for certain positions) and reference verification.

This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Caris Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.