Database Engineer

Title: Database Engineer
Location: Washington, DC – Onsite
Terms: Full-Time
Clearance: Active Secret or Top-Secret Clearance Required (U.S. Citizenship Required)
Travel: Minimal; <10% Anticipated

RESULTS. INNOVATION. VALUES. ACCOUNTABILITY.

That’s RIVA. Our employee-first approach has cultivated a culture that attracts the best and brightest. By investing in people first and providing a flexible work environment, our employees experience higher morale, increased productivity, and lower turnover. At RIVA, people are our #1 priority.

Program Overview

RIVA Solutions is supporting the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the ISCOM Division to deliver mission-critical IT modernization and cybersecurity services. This effort focuses on enhancing the security, reliability, and efficiency of NTIA’s infrastructure, driving forward their mission of advancing broadband access, data-driven policymaking, and secure communications through modern digital tools and compliance with federal standards.

Position Overview

RIVA Solutions is seeking an experienced Database Engineer to support the NTIA ISCOM program. In this role, you will design, implement, secure, and optimize complex database solutions across both on-premises and cloud-based environments, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Azure services. The ideal candidate will have hands-on expertise in Azure SQL Database, Azure Managed Instance, and Cosmos DB, and will play a critical role in ensuring the performance, scalability, and reliability of mission-critical database systems.

This position requires a proactive problem-solver with strong technical skills, a passion for automation and optimization, and the ability to collaborate closely with development, DevOps, and infrastructure teams to deliver modern data solutions.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and manage highly available, scalable Azure database solutions, including Azure SQL Database, Azure Managed Instance, and Cosmos DB.
• Administer, maintain, and optimize both on-premises and cloud-based database environments to ensure peak performance, security, and reliability.
• Monitor database performance and proactively optimize queries, indexing, and storage configurations in Azure to ensure efficient operations.
• Develop and implement comprehensive backup, disaster recovery, and high-availability strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Enforce database security, auditing, and compliance practices in alignment with federal standards and organizational policies.
• Leverage Azure-native monitoring tools (e.g., Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights) for proactive monitoring, alerting, and performance tuning.
• Collaborate with development and DevOps teams to integrate database services into CI/CD pipelines and support automated database deployment strategies.
• Provide troubleshooting support and root cause analysis for complex database issues and performance bottlenecks.
• Develop and enforce standards, procedures, and best practices for database design, use, and maintenance.
• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior team members when required.

Required Skills & Experience

• Expert-level experience with Azure database services including Azure SQL Database, Azure Managed Instance, and Cosmos DB.
• Proficiency in T-SQL, PowerShell, and Azure CLI for scripting, automation, and database administration.
• Strong understanding of PaaS and IaaS database offerings within Azure.
• Demonstrated experience with performance tuning, query optimization, and indexing strategies in production environments.
• Proven expertise in database security, auditing, encryption, and compliance in cloud environments.
• Hands-on experience with backup, restore, disaster recovery, and high-availability solutions.
• Familiarity with NoSQL database technologies in Azure (e.g., Cosmos DB, Table Storage) is highly desirable.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in support of DevOps, automation, and CI/CD workflows.
• U.S. Citizenship required and ability to obtain/maintain required clearance.
• 4+ years of professional experience in database engineering, administration, or cloud data solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate or similar certification (preferred but not required).
• Prior experience supporting Department of Commerce, NTIA, or other federal civilian agencies.
• Experience implementing database security controls and compliance measures aligned with federal standards.
• Familiarity with hybrid or multi-cloud database strategies.

Salary: Up to $145,000 depending on experience

RIVA Benefits:

• Paid Time Off / Sick Leave
• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Life Insurance
• 401K Retirement Plan with Company Match
• HSA/FSA Spending Accounts
• Long- and Short-term Disability
• Pet Insurance
• Wellness Program Initiatives
• RIVA Flex (Flex Hours and Hybrid Work Support)
• Additional Perks & Workplace Benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement:
RIVA Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please email accommodations@rivasolutionsinc.com. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.