Database Engineer

Lead Database Engineer – Oracle / Exadata / SQL Server

Client: Wells Fargo

Location: Dallas, TX and Charlotte, NC

Work Model: Hybrid

Experience: 12+ Years

Duration: 12+ Months Contract

Rate: Up to $50/hour on W-2 or $60/hour on 1099

Work Authorization: USC, H-1B, H-4

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Lead Database Engineer to manage end-to-end database migration activities across Oracle, Exadata, and Microsoft SQL Server platforms. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in enterprise database administration, migration planning, automation, high availability, disaster recovery, and production cutovers within a regulated banking environment.

Must-Have Skills

• 12+ years of experience in enterprise database engineering and administration.
• Strong hands-on experience with Oracle 11g/12c/19c, Exadata, and Microsoft SQL Server 2016/2019/2022.
• Proven experience in end-to-end database migrations, including assessment, planning, execution, cutover, validation, and decommissioning.
• Expertise in Oracle RAC, ASM, Data Guard, and RMAN.
• Strong knowledge of SQL Server Always On, clustering, replication, and backup/restore.
• Experience with database replication, data migration, export/import, and target environment configuration.
• Ability to perform database readiness assessments, compatibility checks, capacity planning, and connectivity validation.
• Strong understanding of backup, recovery, rollback, HA/DR, and failover strategies.
• Experience with migration automation tools, scripts, job scheduling, and AMA or equivalent tools.
• Experience in regulated Banking and Financial Services (BFS) environments with strict change management and audit requirements.
• Familiarity with ServiceNow, Jira, CMDB updates, migration runbooks, and technical documentation.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills to work with application, infrastructure, storage, network, and operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop migration strategies, dependencies, schedules, and wave-based execution plans.
• Assess source databases and validate target platform readiness.
• Prepare migration scripts, automation workflows, replication processes, and backup plans.
• Build and configure target databases and execute approved migration activities.
• Monitor data synchronization, troubleshoot migration issues, and maintain progress reports.
• Execute controlled production cutovers, final synchronization, switchover, and connectivity checks.
• Perform post-migration data integrity, performance, and application validation.
• Support hypercare, resolve migration exceptions, and coordinate final sign-off.
• Manage source database shutdown and decommissioning in accordance with approved procedures.
• Maintain migration documentation, ServiceNow/Jira records, CMDB updates, and operational handover artifacts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading large-scale data center or enterprise platform migration programs.
• Familiarity with Wells Fargo migration SOPs, governance processes, and change control procedures.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work arrangement with on-site and remote work based on business requirements.
• Collaboration with cross-functional engineering, infrastructure, and application teams.
• Opportunity to contribute to mission-critical enterprise database migration initiatives.