Database Developer

Position Summary

The Database Developer is responsible for designing, developing, implementing, maintaining, and optimizing databases and data-driven applications. This position develops database structures, writes and optimizes SQL queries, creates stored procedures and functions, manages data integrity, troubleshoots database issues, and supports application development and business reporting.

The ideal candidate has strong SQL and database-development skills, excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, and experience working with relational and/or NoSQL database technologies. The Database Developer works closely with software developers, data analysts, business users, database administrators, and other technical teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain database structures, schemas, tables, views, indexes, and other database objects.
• Write complex SQL queries, stored procedures, functions, triggers, and scripts.
• Develop efficient and scalable database solutions based on business and application requirements.
• Analyze database performance and optimize queries, indexes, stored procedures, and database structures.
• Ensure data accuracy, consistency, integrity, and reliability.
• Develop and maintain data models and database relationships.
• Create and maintain database documentation, technical specifications, and data dictionaries.
• Develop data migration and transformation scripts.
• Support database integration with applications, APIs, reporting systems, and external platforms.
• Troubleshoot database errors, performance issues, and data-related problems.
• Identify and resolve data inconsistencies and integrity issues.
• Work with developers to design efficient database interactions and application queries.
• Assist with database upgrades, migrations, and system implementations.
• Participate in database architecture and technical design discussions.
• Develop automated processes for data loading, transformation, and validation.
• Monitor database performance and recommend improvements.
• Assist with backup, recovery, security, and disaster-recovery processes when required.
• Implement appropriate database security and access controls in collaboration with database administrators and security teams.
• Support development, testing, staging, and production database environments.
• Perform data validation and quality checks.
• Participate in code reviews and follow database-development standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand data requirements.
• Provide technical support and documentation for database-related issues.
• Stay current with database technologies, development practices, and industry standards.

Database Design Responsibilities

• Design normalized and scalable relational database structures.
• Create entity-relationship diagrams and logical and physical data models.
• Define primary keys, foreign keys, constraints, indexes, and relationships.
• Evaluate database structures for performance and scalability.
• Design appropriate solutions for transactional and analytical workloads.
• Support database architecture decisions based on application and business requirements.

SQL Development

The Database Developer may be responsible for:

• Writing complex SQL queries.
• Creating stored procedures and functions.
• Developing triggers and database jobs.
• Creating views and materialized views where appropriate.
• Writing data-validation and reconciliation scripts.
• Optimizing slow-running queries.
• Analyzing execution plans.
• Creating and maintaining indexes.
• Performing data transformation and cleansing.
• Automating recurring database processes.

Data Migration and Integration

• Develop scripts and processes for migrating data between systems.
• Extract, transform, and load data from multiple sources.
• Validate migrated data for completeness and accuracy.
• Identify and resolve migration errors.
• Work with application and data teams during system migrations.
• Integrate databases with APIs, applications, reporting tools, and third-party systems.
• Support ETL/ELT processes and data pipelines.

Database Performance Optimization

• Monitor query and database performance.
• Identify bottlenecks and inefficient queries.
• Optimize indexes, stored procedures, and database structures.
• Analyze execution plans and database statistics.
• Recommend database architecture and configuration improvements.
• Work with infrastructure and DBA teams to improve system performance.
• Conduct performance testing when required.

Security and Data Integrity

• Implement database access controls according to organizational policies.
• Protect sensitive and confidential information.
• Follow data-security and privacy requirements.
• Implement appropriate permissions and role-based access.
• Maintain data integrity through constraints and validation procedures.
• Assist with auditing and monitoring database access.
• Follow company policies regarding data retention and security.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Data Management, or a related field preferred.
• Professional experience in database development or a related technical role.
• Strong SQL programming skills.
• Experience with relational database management systems.
• Strong understanding of database design and data modeling.
• Knowledge of database performance optimization.
• Experience developing stored procedures, functions, views, and queries.
• Understanding of database security and data integrity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex technical and data-related issues.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale or enterprise databases.
• Experience with ETL/ELT processes.
• Knowledge of data warehousing concepts.
• Experience with cloud databases and cloud platforms.
• Experience with database migration projects.
• Knowledge of database performance-monitoring tools.
• Experience with automated testing and deployment processes.
• Knowledge of NoSQL databases.
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.
• Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps practices.
• Experience supporting high-volume transactional systems.

Technical Skills

Database Technologies

• Microsoft SQL Server
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL
• Oracle Database
• SQLite
• MongoDB
• Redis
• Other relational or NoSQL databases

Programming & Query Languages

• SQL
• T-SQL
• PL/SQL
• Python
• Java
• C#
• JavaScript/TypeScript

Data & Integration

• ETL/ELT
• Data modeling
• Data warehousing
• Data migration
• Data transformation
• API integration
• Data validation
• Data quality

Development Tools

• Git
• GitHub
• GitLab
• Azure DevOps
• Jenkins
• Visual Studio Code
• SQL Server Management Studio
• Oracle SQL Developer
• Database management and monitoring tools

Cloud Technologies

• AWS
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform
• Amazon RDS
• Azure SQL Database
• Google Cloud SQL
• Other cloud database platforms

Key Skills and Competencies

• SQL development
• Database design
• Data modeling
• Query optimization
• Performance tuning
• Stored procedures
• Database architecture
• Data migration
• ETL/ELT
• Data integration
• Data quality
• Troubleshooting
• Database security
• Data integrity
• Analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Documentation
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Time management

Typical Daily Activities

A typical day may include:

1. Reviewing database-development requirements and project requests.
2. Writing and testing SQL queries and stored procedures.
3. Designing or modifying database tables and relationships.
4. Investigating database performance issues.
5. Optimizing queries and indexes.
6. Troubleshooting data inconsistencies and application/database errors.
7. Supporting data migrations and integrations.
8. Reviewing database changes submitted by other developers.
9. Testing database changes in development or staging environments.
10. Documenting database structures, processes, and technical solutions.
11. Collaborating with software developers, analysts, DBAs, and business teams.
12. Monitoring data quality and resolving identified issues.

Performance Expectations

The Database Developer is expected to:

• Develop reliable, efficient, and scalable database solutions.
• Maintain high standards of data accuracy and integrity.
• Write optimized and maintainable SQL code.
• Resolve database issues efficiently.
• Follow organizational security and development standards.
• Document database structures and processes clearly.
• Meet project deadlines and development requirements.
• Collaborate effectively with technical and business teams.
• Continuously improve database performance and development practices.

Work Environment

The position may be performed in an office, hybrid, or fully remote environment. The Database Developer may work independently or as part of a software engineering, data engineering, or database administration team.

Employment Type

This position may be offered as:

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Contract
• Temporary
• Freelance
• Remote
• Hybrid

Reporting Structure

The Database Developer may report to a Database Manager, Database Administrator (DBA), Data Engineering Manager, Software Engineering Manager, Technical Lead, or Director of Engineering.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.