Database Engineer (MongoDB)

Description

C. Mack Solutions is looking for a Database Engineer with agile methodology experience to join our team and support a complex program to provide Agile development and operations and maintenance for critical systems on a mission-critical program for the Federal Government business needs. As the Database Engineer, you will be the core data authority on an Agile Scrum team. You will spend your time designing, modeling, securing, and maintaining both modern document-based NoSQL database environments (primarily MongoDB) and relational database management systems (RDBMS like PostgreSQL). The ideal candidate is a blend of a highly skilled database administrator and a forward-thinking data architect who understands when to leverage NoSQL and when to utilize relational models to optimize mission-critical application performance.

As a Database Engineer, here's what you'll be doing:

• Database Architecture & Schema Design: Design and document logical and physical data models. Guide software development teams on database schema design, indexing strategies, and data relationships for both NoSQL (document design patterns, referencing vs. embedding) and relational (normalization, foreign keys, indexing) systems.
• MongoDB Administration & Engineering: Administer, configure, upgrade, and maintain MongoDB environments. Design and manage high-availability infrastructure, including MongoDB replica sets, sharded clusters, and distributed systems.
• Relational Database Support: Administer, model, and maintain relational databases (such as PostgreSQL or Oracle) that interface with modern legacy and modernized systems.
• Performance Tuning: Perform continuous database tuning and query optimization. Analyze execution plans, evaluate indexes, and optimize MongoDB aggregation pipelines and SQL queries to eliminate bottlenecks.
• Data Security & Compliance: Implement and maintain database security controls, including authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), auditing, encryption-at-rest, and encryption-in-transit, ensuring alignment with CBP and DHS security regulations.
• Backup & Disaster Recovery: Develop, test, and implement robust backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies for distributed NoSQL and relational databases.
• Automation & DevSecOps: Automate database deployment, configuration management, patching, and routine maintenance tasks using scripting languages (Python, Bash) and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools.
• Collaborative Agile Delivery: Actively participate in Agile scrum ceremonies, collaborating closely with developers, cloud engineers, and government stakeholders to support rapid, short-sprint software releases

Requirements

You must live within the DC, MD, VA area.

U.S. Citizenship is required. Candidate must be able to obtain a CBP Public Trust clearance.

• College degree (B.S.) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field
• 5–7+ years of database administration/engineering experience, with a minimum of 3+ years of dedicated, hands-on experience designing and administering MongoDB environments.
• In-depth knowledge of MongoDB architecture, replica sets, sharded clusters, locking mechanisms, storage engines (WiredTiger), and transaction handling.
• Designing scalable schemas for document-oriented databases (handling polymorphic schemas, bucket patterns, schema versioning) and relational databases.
• Working knowledge of relational database administration, schema design, and SQL development (PostgreSQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server preferred).
• Tuning slow queries, creating compound and partial indexes, and debugging performance bottlenecks in both SQL databases and NoSQL systems.
• Writing clean, maintainable automation scripts in Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
• Configuring database security (TLS/SSL certificates, Kerberos/LDAP integration, auditing logs) and applying database STIGs/hardening guidelines.
• Comfortably navigating Linux operating systems (RHEL/CentOS) for database host configuration, volume management, and performance monitoring.

Work Location: This position is limited to candidates residing in U.S. states where the company is currently registered to employ team members.

Salary Range: $90,000 – $125,000 annually

This position may be filled at the Mid level based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. Final compensation will be determined based on level alignment, experience, education, and internal equity.

Benefits: In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for company-sponsored benefits, which may include medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off, and other supplemental programs.