Head of Database Engineering and Operations

Head of Database Engineering and Operations

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Team Responsibilities
MSCI’s large database infrastructure spans Tier‑IV data centers, Google Cloud, Azure, and Oracle Cloud. The Head of Database Engineering & Operations will lead a team responsible for the performance, availability, and scalability of critical database platforms — Oracle, SQL Server, Cassandra, Mongo

DB, and Apache Ignite — across our hybrid cloud environment. This executive level role requires deep hands‑on experience (20+ years) with multi‑vendor databases and a proven track record leading mission‑critical database infrastructure that powers a multi‑billion‑dollar business.

• Team Leadership & Strategy
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing team of database engineers and administrators.
  • Define and execute a strategic roadmap for database engineering and operations.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Database Engineering & Architecture
  • Provide technical leadership for the design, deployment, and optimization of Oracle, SQL Server, Cassandra, and other No
    
    SQL databases on MSCI’s IaaS platform.
  • Guide infrastructure design and implementation decisions for on‑premises and cloud‑hosted workloads.
  • Drive standardization of database architecture, tooling, automation, and best practices.
• Operations & Performance
  • Oversee 24/7 database operations, ensuring reliability, availability, performance and proactive maintenance.
  • Own and optimize backup, recovery, HA/DR, patching, and capacity planning processes.
  • Develop robust monitoring, alerting, and incident response procedures.
  • Design solutions to enable fast recovery of databases ranging from 50 TB to 250 TB.
• Cloud & Automation
  • Lead the transition and integration of database services into cloud and hybrid environments.
  • Promote Infrastructure‑as‑Code (IaC) practices for database provisioning and deployment.
  • Drive automation of routine operations to reduce manual effort and increase reliability.
• Security, Compliance & Governance
  • Ensure compliance with data security policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards (e.g., SOX, HIPAA, GDPR).
  • Enforce access controls, encryption, auditing, and other data governance measures.
  • Partner with Info Sec and compliance teams to perform risk assessments and audits.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with application development, Dev Ops, SRE, and business intelligence teams to support data‑intensive applications.
  • Participate in architectural reviews, performance tuning sessions, and capacity planning initiatives.
• Vendor & License Management
  • Manage vendor relationships for database platforms, tools, and support contracts.
  • Monitor and optimize database licensing usage and costs.
• AI Integration
  • Integrate AI into all operations and management processes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in database engineering or administration.
• 10+ years leading multi‑platform database environments.
• Strong hands‑on experience with:
  • Oracle (Data Guard, RMAN)
  • SQL Server (Always On, SSIS, SSRS)
  • Cassandra (data modeling, scaling, tuning)
• Proven experience managing hybrid cloud environments (on‑prem + AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Solid understanding of backup/recovery, disaster recovery strategies, and high‑availability architectures.
• Experience with scripting (Power Shell, Python, Bash) and database automation tools.

• Experience with IaC tools (Terraform, Ansible) and CI/CD pipelines for database changes.
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, containerized databases, or DBaaS platforms.
• Knowledge of monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Solar Winds, OEM, SQL Monitor).
• Certifications such as:
  • Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)
  • Microsoft Certified:
    Azure Database Administrator Associate
  • AWS Certified Database – Specialty
  • Apache Cassandra Administrator Certification

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision‑support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data, and technology, we…