SQL Database Architect - Origence

About Origence

With 30 years at the forefront of fintech innovation, we specialize in SaaS lending solutions that lead the industry. Our core mission is customer-centric, focusing on empowering Credit Unions across the United States with the tools to offer accessible, competitive lending services. We're deeply committed to enhancing the financial ecosystem for a broad network of credit unions, members and auto dealers. We invest in our greatest assets, our employees, and foster a culture of innovation and ownership through freedom and responsibility. We celebrate fiscal accountability, operational rigor and efficiency to create a sustainably healthy and robust business for the long term.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Microsoft SQL Architect to lead our SQL infrastructure, design, and optimization efforts. This role will be instrumental in architecting, scaling, and optimizing our SQL Server environments to meet performance, availability, security, and compliance standards. The SQL Architect will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies that streamline database operations, enhance scalability, and ensure best-in-class database solutions.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Architectural Design and Strategy

• Design and develop high-performance, scalable, and reliable SQL Server database solutions.
• Create and maintain database standards, policies, and practices aligned with business and compliance needs.
• Lead initiatives to modernize the SQL environment, including consolidation, virtualization, cloud migration, and PaaS solutions.

Optimization and Performance Tuning

• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve database performance issues, ensuring optimal performance and minimal downtime.
• Implement advanced indexing, query tuning, and resource optimization strategies.
• Conduct regular performance audits and capacity planning to proactively manage growth and prevent bottlenecks.

Compliance and Security

• Ensure database environments comply with regulatory requirements, including PCI DSS, and internal security policies.
• Collaborate with the Security and Compliance teams to design and implement security controls, including encryption, user access management, and audit trails.

High Availability and Disaster Recovery

• Design and implement high-availability solutions, including clustering, Always On Availability Groups, and failover clusters.
• Develop and test disaster recovery solutions to minimize downtime and data loss in case of critical failures.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Partner with Development, DevOps, and Infrastructure teams to ensure database architecture aligns with application requirements.
• Mentor and guide database administrators and junior team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
• Communicate and present complex database architecture solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Migration and Consolidation

• Lead efforts to migrate databases from virtual machine based solutions to cloud (Azure SQ) or hybrid models, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal impact on operations.
• Conduct SQL server consolidation to reduce footprint and licensing costs, aligning with organizational modernization initiatives.

The Ideal Candidate:

Education:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in Microsoft SQL Server environments, with a focus on architecture and design.
• Extensive experience with SQL Server versions, especially in consolidation and migration projects.

Technical Skills

• Deep knowledge of SQL Server architecture, performance tuning, and database optimization techniques.
• Proficient in high-availability and disaster recovery solutions (e.g., Always On Availability Groups, clustering).
• Familiarity with cloud database solutions, particularly Microsoft Azure SQL, AWS RDS, and hybrid cloud models.
• Strong understanding of security best practices, compliance (PCI DSS), and data governance.
• Proficient in T-SQL, PowerShell scripting, and database automation.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Leadership abilities with experience mentoring and guiding database teams.

Specialized Skills:

• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics
• MongoDB Certified DBA Associate
• Experience with PaaS Migration (such as migrating SQL workloads to services like Azure SQL Database)
• Experience working in a regulated environment or SaaS company

Why you should apply:

• Flexible Working Environment
• Paid Time Off
• 401k (8% match)
• College Tuition Benefits/ Tuition Reimbursement
• Good Benefits options
• Company Culture! Cultural and Holiday celebrations, Theme days like Star Wars Day & Bring your Kids to Work Day, Monthly Townhalls and Quarterly Company Meetings that ensure awareness, inclusion, and transparency.

The starting salary range for this full-time position in Irvine, CA is $128600 - $160800 per year. This base pay will take into consideration internal equity, candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge and experience among other factors. Origence maintains a highly competitive compensation program. Under company guidelines, this position is eligible for an annual bonus to provide an incentive to achieve targeted goals. Bonuses are awarded at company’s discretion on an individual basis.

Origence is an equal opportunity employer. All recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, and other terms and conditions of employment will be based upon an individuals’ qualifications regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, military service, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability or any other category protected by federal, state or local law.