Database Architect — Oracle & PostgreSQL, Cloud Migration

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential cloud consulting organization seeking a Database Architect with deep expertise in both Oracle and PostgreSQL. This role sits at the intersection of legacy enterprise systems and modern cloud infrastructure, leading data tier migrations that involve decade-old Oracle platforms transitioning to supportable PostgreSQL environments.

You will own the technical architecture for database migration and modernization programs from end to end — from current-state assessment through cutover execution. This is not a hands-off architecture position: you will make critical technical decisions, defend them to client stakeholders, and remain close enough to implementation to diagnose performance issues and validate outcomes yourself.

The work involves Oracle databases carrying years of business logic in PL/SQL packages, supporting applications that cannot tolerate downtime, and transforming them into well-instrumented PostgreSQL platforms on cloud infrastructure. Between those two points are the architectural decisions that determine program success: target-state design, conversion versus rewrite trade-offs, cutover strategy, and rollback planning.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture of the data tier across migration and modernization programs — current-state assessment, target-state design, migration strategy, sequencing, risk estimation, and effort planning
• Make and defend critical architectural decisions: convert versus rewrite versus retire, managed versus self-managed platforms, single cutover versus phased coexistence, and where to invest in performance optimization
• Design Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations in full: schema conversion, PL/SQL to PL/pgSQL strategy, data type and collation resolution, query rewrite patterns, and performance validation under real load
• Plan cutovers that minimize downtime using CDC-based replication, dual-run and output-comparison approaches, rehearsals, go/no-go criteria, and executable rollback plans
• Stay hands-on where it counts: diagnose performance problems yourself, read execution plans, isolate bottlenecks (SQL, schema, statistics, configuration, storage, or application access patterns), and land fixes with evidence
• Architect the database platform on cloud infrastructure — sizing, high availability and failover topology, backup and recovery, patching and version strategy, encryption and key management, observability, and cost optimization
• Define the operational model for managed services teams: runbooks, monitoring and alerting standards, escalation paths, and health checks
• Act as the senior technical voice with clients — lead architecture and design sessions, present to client architects and executives, translate trade-offs into business terms, and maintain technical integrity when requested shortcuts create risk
• Support pre-sales and delivery planning: scope database workstreams, size effort, contribute to proposals and statements of work, and identify assumptions that could break estimates
• Build reusable assets — reference architectures, migration playbooks, conversion patterns, assessment tooling — to ensure consistent delivery quality
• Use agentic and AI-assisted workflows to accelerate schema and stored-procedure conversion, test generation, log and plan analysis, and documentation — with the judgment to verify output rather than trust it blindly
• Set standards and grow capability: review database work from other engineers, mentor senior and mid-level engineers, and document decisions with clear reasoning

What We're Looking For

Required:

• 10+ years in database engineering, administration, or data platform work, including several years in an architect or principal-level role with design authority over business-critical systems
• Deep Oracle expertise: PL/SQL inside out (packages, procedures, functions, triggers, cursors, sequences, dynamic SQL), partitioning, RMAN backup and recovery, Data Guard, and full diagnostic stack (AWR, ASH, execution plans, optimizer statistics, SQL tuning)
• Strong PostgreSQL expertise: PL/pgSQL, EXPLAIN ANALYZE, index strategy, partitioning, autovacuum and bloat management, connection pooling, streaming and logical replication, WAL and PITR, and production-relevant extensions (pg_stat_statements, pg_repack, postgres_fdw, pgaudit)
• Both Oracle and PostgreSQL expertise are required — this role sits between the two platforms and depth in only one will not be sufficient
• Oracle-to-PostgreSQL migrations you have architected and seen through to production, with clear understanding of what broke, what you got wrong, and what you would do differently
• Cloud infrastructure depth, ideally AWS: RDS and Aurora PostgreSQL, RDS for Oracle or self-managed Oracle on EC2, VPC and networking fundamentals, IAM, KMS and Secrets Manager, CloudWatch and Performance Insights
• Fluency with infrastructure-as-code and automation — Terraform or CloudFormation, plus Python, Bash, or PowerShell
• Ability to read application code well enough to understand database interaction patterns and work as a peer to developers and architects
• Practical experience with agentic AI tooling in technical delivery workflows, with clear judgment of where it helps and where it doesn't
• Executive-ready communication: able to run design sessions, write decision records, and explain trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders without losing substance

Preferred:

• Migration tooling depth: AWS Schema Conversion Tool, AWS DMS, ora2pg, or equivalents — including understanding of where each falls short and how to compensate
• Experience with MSSQL or other relational engines as migration source or target
• Exposure to hybrid and private cloud environments — VMware-based platforms, sovereign or regulated hosting, and associated constraints
• Managed services or 24/7 operational accountability: on-call, incident command, SLA-backed environments, and post-incident review
• Consulting or MSP background with North American enterprise clients, including scoping and estimation exposure
• Experience working alongside.NET application teams during data-tier migrations — reading ADO.NET or Entity Framework data access to understand behaviour that must be preserved
• Data protection and compliance exposure: encryption at rest and in transit, auditing, data residency, SOC 2, PCI, or public-sector requirements
• Observability tooling beyond native cloud monitoring, and database change management with Liquibase, Flyway, or similar
• Relevant certifications (Oracle OCP, AWS Database Specialty or Solutions Architect Professional) are a plus but will not substitute for demonstrated migration outcomes

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will screen qualified applicants and coordinate interviews with the client organization. We will guide you through the entire process, from initial conversation through offer negotiation. Please do not contact the client directly — all communication should flow through our recruiting team to ensure the best experience for everyone involved.

Pay

Pay via Get A Job.ai: 160K - 180K CAD per year.

This is a remote-first position based in Canada with flexible work hours and location.

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with all levels of ability. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.