Database Engineer

About Niyam IT (Niyam) Founded in 2007 by a team of visionary consultants, Niyam IT was built on the belief that exceptional technology solutions are created through the perfect balance of disciplined processes, innovation, and passion. For nearly 20 years, we have been a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government, delivering mission-critical IT solutions that support Emergency Preparedness and Response, Civilian Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Public Safety organizations across the nation.   At Niyam, excellence is more than a goal. It is embedded in everything we do. Our commitment to quality, security, and continuous improvement is demonstrated through our CMMI DEV Level 3 accreditation, ISO certifications (ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 20000-1, and ISO/IEC 27001), and active CMMC Level 2 certification.   We are committed to fostering an exceptional workplace where employees are empowered to grow, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. Niyam is proud to have been recognized by The Washington Post as a Top Workplace for two consecutive years and named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for four consecutive years. These achievements reflect our unwavering commitment to cultivating a culture built on collaboration, excellence, innovation, and the success of our employees.   Join Niyam and become part of a team where your talents help drive meaningful missions that serve and protect communities nationwide.   What We Offer - Flexible Work Hours: We understand that life extends beyond the traditional workday. Our flexible scheduling options empower you to balance your professional responsibilities while making time for what matters most. - Remote Work Opportunities: Work where you perform best. Niyam embraces flexibility and offers remote work options that support productivity, collaboration, and work-life integration. - Professional Growth & Development: At Niyam, you're not just taking a job, you're building a career. We invest in our employees through fully funded training, certifications, mentorship opportunities, and clear pathways for advancement. - Exceptional People: Our employees are at the heart of everything we do. You'll work alongside talented, supportive, and mission-driven professionals who are passionate about making an impact and helping one another succeed. - Innovative & Collaborative Culture: We foster an environment where creativity is encouraged, ideas are valued, and teamwork drives success. At Niyam, innovation and collaboration are part of our DNA. - Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: We believe our greatest strength lies in our people. Diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences are celebrated, creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered to contribute their best. - Meaningful Work with Purpose: Join a team that supports critical federal missions and delivers innovative solutions that make a difference for government agencies and the communities they serve.   Join us in creating a workplace where innovation, diversity, and well-being thrive. Your journey at Niyam awaits. Apply today!   Niyam is seeking an experienced Database Engineer to support one of our federal clients. As the Database Engineer, you will be the core data authority on an Agile Scrum team. You will spend your time designing, modeling, securing, and maintaining both modern document-based NoSQL database environments (primarily MongoDB) and relational database management systems (RDBMS like PostgreSQL). The ideal candidate is a blend of a highly skilled database administrator and a forward-thinking data architect who understands when to leverage NoSQL and when to utilize relational models to optimize mission-critical application performance. Roles and Responsibilities: - Database Architecture & Schema Design: Design and document logical and physical data models. Guide software development teams on database schema design, indexing strategies, and data relationships for both NoSQL (document design patterns, referencing vs. embedding) and relational (normalization, foreign keys, indexing) systems. - MongoDB Administration & Engineering: Administer, configure, upgrade, and maintain MongoDB environments. Design and manage high-availability infrastructure, including MongoDB replica sets, sharded clusters, and distributed systems. - Relational Database Support: Administer, model, and maintain relational databases (such as PostgreSQL or Oracle) that interface with modern legacy and modernized systems. - Performance Tuning: Perform continuous database tuning and query optimization. Analyze execution plans, evaluate indexes, and optimize MongoDB aggregation pipelines and SQL queries to eliminate bottlenecks. - Data Security & Compliance: Implement and maintain database security controls, including authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), auditing, encryption-at-rest, and encryption-in-transit, ensuring alignment with DHS security regulations. - Backup & Disaster Recovery: Develop, test, and implement robust backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies for distributed NoSQL and relational databases. - Automation & DevSecOps: Automate database deployment, configuration management, patching, and routine maintenance tasks using scripting languages (Python, Bash) and Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) tools. - Collaborative Agile Delivery: Actively participate in Agile scrum ceremonies, collaborating closely with developers, cloud engineers, and government stakeholders to support rapid, short-sprint software releases. Qualifications and Education Requirements: - US Citizenship with ability to successfully complete a federal background investigation. - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, or related field  (equivalent practical experience may be considered). - 5-7 years of database administration/engineering experience, with a minimum of 3 years of dedicated, hands-on experience designing and administering MongoDB environments. - Strong knowledge of MongoDB architecture, including replica sets, sharded clusters, storage engines, locking mechanisms, and transaction handling. - Experience designing scalable data models for document-oriented and relational databases, including schema versioning and optimization patterns. - Experience with SQL development, database administration, query optimization, and performance troubleshooting across NoSQL and relational database systems. - Proficiency in Python, Bash, or PowerShell for scripting and automation. - Knowledge of database security practices, including TLS/SSL, Kerberos/LDAP, auditing, and database hardening. - Experience administering Linux environments, including RHEL/CentOS, with an understanding of storage and performance monitoring. Preferred Skills: - Experience with PostgreSQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server in addition to MongoDB. - Experience implementing database STIGs and security hardening guidelines in federal or other regulated environments. - Experience automating database deployment, monitoring, or maintenance processes. - Ability to work a hybrid schedule 1-2 days/week.  Why Join Niyam - Award-Winning Culture: Proudly recognized by The Washington Post as a Top Workplace for two consecutive years and named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for four consecutive years, reflecting our commitment to employee engagement, growth, and excellence. - Meaningful Mission Impact: Join a small business trusted by federal agencies to deliver innovative solutions that support critical national missions. - Drive Innovation: Play a key role in shaping the future of Niyam’s proprietary technology accelerators, including GeoCube®, SPHERE®, and RisQ®, which are used to solve complex challenges across the federal government. - Accelerate Your Career: Benefit from a transparent career framework designed to support continuous learning, professional development, and advancement opportunities, including progression to Distinguished Engineer and other technical leadership roles. - Collaborative, People-First Environment: Work alongside talented professionals who are passionate about innovation, teamwork, and delivering exceptional results while supporting one another's success. Join Niyam and help us win the work that matters.  Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.   Niyam IT, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, disability, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.