Senior Principal Data Architect

Summary

Join Caylent as a Senior Principal Data Architect and provide advanced technical guidance and creative problem-solving across multiple projects. You will serve as a Level 3 support for complex technical challenges, offering creative solutions and alternative approaches. Responsibilities include participating in assessment activities, identifying projects requiring research, establishing project checkpoints, and contributing to pre-sales evaluations. You will also help develop assessment methodologies, contribute to database modernization approaches, and support teams working on various migrations and assessments. This role requires at least 10 years of experience designing and modernizing complex database systems, deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, and experience leading enterprise-level modernization initiatives. Caylent offers a competitive compensation package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k with company match, phantom equity, a company laptop, and unlimited paid time off.

Requirements

• At least 10 years of experience designing and modernizing complex database systems
• Deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, including legacy systems, stored procedures, and performance tuning
• Proven experience in at least 2 of the following migration paths: SQL Server → PostgreSQL or Babelfish
• Oracle → Aurora
• Other legacy-to-cloud-native database transformations
• Strong knowledge of AWS database services, including Aurora, RDS, DynamoDB, and Redshift
• Experience leading enterprise-level modernization initiatives, including presenting to and influencing C-level stakeholders
• Strong understanding of GenAI/ML use cases in database modernization, including automation tooling and optimization strategies
• Proven ability to mentor technical teams and contribute to internal knowledge sharing and methodology development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Serve as "Level 3 design & issue resolution support" for complex technical challenges across project teams
• Provide SME bucket hours across multiple concurrent projects
• Provide creative solutions and alternative approaches that teams may not have considered
• Offer initial consultation and guidance on project design with a "take it or leave it" support model
• Handle escalations when standard approaches aren't sufficient or when teams encounter unique technical scenarios
• Participate in assessment consult activities to evaluate incoming projects and proposals
• Identify projects requiring serious research versus straightforward implementations
• Help establish gates and checkpoints to prevent project surprises at delivery time
• Contribute to pre-sales technical evaluations and architecture reviews
• Help develop and refine SQL Polyglot assessment methodologies based on findings
• Contribute knowledge to prompt building and agentic approaches for database modernization
• Support the core team by identifying new patterns and solutions for harvesting
• Collaborate with Tier 2 (project-level) SMEs and solution architects
• Support teams working on Babelfish migrations, PostgreSQL conversions, and assessments across both database and app code
• Help identify and solve complex SQL optimization and migration challenges
• Thought Leadership : Represent Caylent via technical publications and presentations

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Oracle-to-cloud migrations
• Background in performance benchmarking and cost optimization for cloud databases
• Prior contributions to proprietary tool development or migration frameworks
• Conference speaking or published thought leadership
• Familiarity with compliance and security considerations in modernization projects

Benefits

• Medical Insurance for you and eligible dependents
• 100% remote work
• 401k plan with company match up to 4% and immediate vesting
• Competitive phantom equity
• Company issued laptop
• Dental and Vision insurance
• Term Disability Insurance
• Term Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Equipment & Office Stipend
• Annual stipend for Learning and Development
• Unlimited Paid Time Off, following a 90-day probationary period
• 10 Paid Holidays