Database Engineer IV (Lead) at Trinity Health - IHA – Ann Arbor, Michigan

This position will be hybrid- 60% remote / 40% onsite

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

A Database Engineer IV (Lead) provides technical leadership and strategic direction for the organization’s database platforms, services and long-term data architecture. This role is responsible for defining enterprise database standards, guiding modernization initiatives, and ensuring database solutions aligning with organizational technology, security, and compliance objectives. The Lead Database Engineer collaborates closely with IT leadership, Information Systems, Security, and business stakeholders to ensure database platforms effectively support clinical, operational and analytical priorities.

In addition to advanced technical expertise, the Database Engineer IV demonstrates strong leadership, mentorship, and planning capabilities. This role drives governance, best practices, and continuous improvement across database operations while remaining actively engaged in complex technical work. By balancing strategic vision with hands on execution, the Lead Database Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring the resilience, scalability, and reliability of the organization’s data infrastructure.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Defines and maintains enterprise database architecture standards, strategies and technical roadmaps.
2. Defines and maintains enterprise database operational standards, maintenance processes, backup strategies, highly-available configurations, disaster recovery plans, and business continuity plans.
3. Leads the design and implementation of secure, highly available and scalable database platforms.
4. Oversees complex, high risk database initiatives, including modernization and cloud integration efforts.
5. Establishes governance models, lifecycle management processes and operational best practices.
6. Partners with IT Security to ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational security standards.
7. Provides technical leadership, mentorship and professional development guidance to database engineering staff, and utilizes matrix-management leadership cross-functionally to lead within the department and organization.
8. Reviews and approves database architecture designs, schema changes and major operational modifications.
9. Leads response efforts for critical database incidents and directs root cause analysis and corrective actions.
10. Leads and drives capacity planning, performance forecasting and cost optimization initiatives.
11. Leads database operational efforts including creation, maintenance, optimization, break/fix, backups, and archives.
12. Evaluates vendor tools, platforms and solutions and participates in technology selection and planning.
13. Represents database engineering in enterprise planning, cross functional initiatives and leadership discussions.
14. Ensures comprehensive documentation and knowledge continuity across database platforms and services.

ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. Creates a positive, professional, service-oriented work environment for staff, patients and family members by supporting the mission and values of Trinity Health Medical Group.
2. Must be able to work effectively as a member of the Information Systems team.
3. Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
4. Successfully completes all relevant organizational training and adheres to Trinity Health Medical Group standard of care as outlined in the Trinity Health Code of Conduct.
5. Maintains knowledge of and complies with Trinity Health Medical Group standards, policies and procedures.
6. Maintains general knowledge of Trinity Health Medical Group office services and in the use of all relevant office equipment, computer and manual systems.
7. Maintains strict confidentiality in compliance with Trinity Health Medical Group and HIPAA guidelines.
8. Serves as a role model by demonstrating exceptional ability and willingness to take on new and additional responsibilities. Embraces new ideas and respects cultural differences.
9. Uses resources efficiently.
10. If applicable, responsible for ongoing professional development – maintains appropriate licensure/certification and continuing education credentials, participates in available learning opportunities.

MEASURED BY:

Performance that meets or exceeds IHA CARES Values expectation as outlined in IHA Performance Review document, relative to position.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent field experience.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE: 8 years of database administraton experience, or equivalent experience with a minimum of 8 years’ related work experience.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS (ABILITIES & SKILLS):

1. Deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) administration, architecture, and operations across multiple environments.

1. Proven experience leading or owning core database administration functions, including backup and restore strategies, disaster recovery planning and testing, high availability, and failover solutions.

1. Strong expertise in database and server performance tuning, including query optimization, execution plan analysis, index design and maintenance, and statistics management.

1. Demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and resolve database performance bottlenecks, blocking, deadlocks, and resource contention.

1. Experience administering SQL Server components such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

1. Strong understanding of database security best practices, including role-based access control, least privilege, encryption, auditing, and compliance requirements.

1. Experience with automation and scripting for database administration using tools such as PowerShell, Python, or similar scripting languages.

1. Experience using Git or other version control systems to manage database objects and deployment workflows.

1. Familiarity with Agile and DevOps practices, working closely with development and infrastructure teams.

1. Strong leadership, communication, and documentation skills, including the ability to mentor developers and other technical staff.

1. Ability to handle sensitive patient and organizational data in a confidential and compliant manner.

1. Willingness and ability to participate in on-call rotations and provide after-hours support when required.

Preferred Skills

1. Experience migrating to and managing cloud-based database platforms such as Azure SQL Database or AWS RDS.

1. Experience with enterprise data warehouse migration to data lakes or cloud data platforms including Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks, or equivalent technologies.

1. Experience supporting hybrid environments integrating on-premises MSSQL with cloud data platforms.

1. Experience designing or implementing enterprise-level database monitoring and performance baseline solutions.

1. Experience with data lineage and pipelines for database development and deployment.

1. Experience working in healthcare, enterprise, or other highly regulated environments.

MINIMUM PHYSICAL EXPECTATIONS:

1. Physical activity that often requires keyboarding and phone work.
2. Physical activity that often requires extensive time working on a computer and sitting.
3. Physical activity that sometimes requires walking, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, kneeling and/or twisting.
4. Physical activity that sometimes requires lifting, pushing and/or pulling over 20 lbs.
5. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, depth perception, peripheral vision and the ability to adjust and focus.
6. Manual dexterity is sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment.
7. Must hear and speak well enough to conduct business over the telephone or face to face for long periods of time in English.

MINIMUM ENVIRONMENTAL EXPECTATIONS:

This job operates in both an office environment and in a medical facility and requires regular walking to various locations around the hospital/clinic. It involves frequent interruptions, competing priorities and significant interaction with people which can be stressful at times.