Director, Database Engineering

$150000 - $200000 / year
Application Deadline: 1/10/2025
Vertafore is a leading technology company whose innovative software solutions are advancing the insurance industry. Our suite of products provides solutions to our customers that help them better manage their business, boost their productivity and efficiencies, and lower costs while strengthening relationships.
Our mission is to move InsurTech forward by putting people at the heart of the industry. We are leading the way with product innovation, technology partnerships, and focusing on customer success.
Our fast-paced and collaborative environment inspires us to create, think, and challenge each other in ways that make our solutions and our teams better.
We are headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with offices across the U.S., Canada, and India.
JOB DESCRIPTION
As the Director of Database Engineering and Operations, you will lead a high-performing team of Database Engineers and Database Administrators responsible for system planning, implementation, administration, automation, performance monitoring and capacity planning of both SQL Server, Oracle, and PostGres systems used by Vertafore to deliver our products and services to the insurance industry in a SaaS environment. This role oversees technical support for production databases to ensure high availability, scalability and performance. Additionally, the Director will work closely with application development teams to design and support databases for both new applications and updates to existing ones, balancing performance requirements with innovation and reliability.
If you love technology and DevOps, leadership, being on the frontline of technical innovation, and are looking for a creative, fun and friendly workplace where you get to develop software that will transform the insurance industry, we would love to get in touch with you.
Core Requirements and Responsibilities:
Essential job functions included but are not limited to the following:

• Define the strategic vision for database engineering, aligning with the company's objectives to support business growth and innovation.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and other technical teams to ensure the database infrastructure aligns with and support organizational goals.
• Lead the design and architecture of database systems to meet application needs, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Oversee the evaluation and implementation of new database technologies and solutions as appropriate for both new and legacy applications.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team of database engineers, database administrators and data modelersarchitects fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Define team objectives, key performance indicators, and performance expectations while providing regular feedback, training and development opportunities.
• Leading technical discussions and managing multiple projects across database disciplines.
• Manage and enhance technical support processes for production databases to ensure high availability, quick response to incidents, and prompt resolution of issues.
• Implement monitoring and performance optimization strategies to maintain health and minimize downtime.
• Oversee database backup, recovery, disaster recovery planning, and high availability solutions.
• Collaborate with security teams to manage access controls and resolve vulnerabilities identified for database environments.
• Work closely with globally disbursed TechOps, DevOps, Enterprise Architecture, and application development teams to support seamless integration and deployment of databases.
• Act as the liaison between engineering and operations teams to address database needs for both new and existing applications.
• Assess the current environment and operational framework, and identify areas of improvement.
• Manage the complete lifecycle for the products and services supplied by the Database Engineering Team.
• Lead initiatives to improve and maintain database standards and best practices, automation, and tools for enhanced efficiency and reduced operational risk.
• Maintain excellence in user experience for internal customers.
• Manage vendors and product/service contracts.
• Participate in incident handling and off-hours/weekend maintenance activities, as necessary

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Proven experience (minimum of 12 years) in database engineering, including experience in both production support and database design, and in a managerial role.
• Hands on knowledge of SQL Server and Oracle. PostgreSQL experience is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of database troubleshooting, performance improvement, monitoring, alerting, disaster recovery, high availability solutions, and data security practices.
• Extensive experience managing Database OperationalEngineering teams.
• Knowledge of Database Operational best practices.
• Experience migrating Database environments from "On-prem" to AWS.
• Cloud database automation experience in AWS - Terraform, gitlab.
• Support cloud managed database services such as AWS RDS.
• Experience in data modeling, data pipelines, and data integrations across various environments and technology stacks.
• Cloud automation experience (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• Experience in enterprise DevOps, configuration management, software development, and agile processes.
• Are energetic, effectively managing relationships (up, down, across) and able to roll-up their sleeves to get the job done.
• Have an ability to influence across boundaries and at all levels of the organization.
• Think strategically to help drive features and services for short and long-term growth.
• Can create a fun, fast paced, motivating and rewarding environment for their teams and the organization.
• Demonstrated leadership in attracting, building and retaining highly engaged and capable development teams that can deliver on our technology and business strategies.

Additional Requirements and Details:

• Travel required up to 10% of the time.
• Ability to work remotely with a stable internet connection on an as-needed basis.
• Located and working from an office location (when required)*.
• Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds.
• Frequent repetitive hand and arm movements required to operate a computer.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision (working on a computer, etc.).
• Frequent sitting and/or standing.

THE VERTAFORE STORY
Over the past 50 years, Vertafore has advanced the entire insurance distribution channel with the best software solutions in the industry. Today, we're proud to say hundreds of thousands of Vertafore users rely on our solutions to write business faster, reduce costs, and fuel growth by increasing collaboration and streamlining processes. Vertafore leads the industry with secure, cloud-based mobile products that provide superior reporting and analytics, delivering actionable insight- right when customers need it most. We partner with other leading technology companies to deliver comprehensive solutions to improve the way our customers do business and serve their customers.
The Vertafore Way
Insurance is about relationships, and technology should make those relationships stronger. That's why, at Vertafore, it's our mission to transform the way the industry operates by putting people at the heart of insurance technology. By focusing on our customers, becoming better every day, and delivering results you can see, we provide the level of trust and security that insurance is all about.• Bias to Action: We're united by an innate drive to take action and make a difference in the technology and insurance spaces.• Win Together: We work together as one team, showing empathy and respect along the way.• Show Up Curious: We work to challenge one another to push boundaries and think beyond the box.• Say It, Do It: We honor every one of our commitments because integrity is important to us.• Customer Success is Our Success: We cultivate authentic relationships and follow up by actively listening to their needs.• We Love Insurance: We appreciate the impact insurance has on the world.
Is this role not an exact fit for you? Keep an eye on our Careers Page for other positions!
Vertafore is a drug free workplace and conducts preemployment drug and background screenings .
The selected candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the job responsibilities, duties, skill, or working conditions. In addition, this document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Vertafore strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
We do not accept resumes from agencies, headhunters, or other suppliers who have not signed a formal agreement with us.
Vertafore is a Flexible First working environment which allows team members to work from home as often as you'd like, while using our offices as a place for collaboration, community, and teambuilding. There are times you may be asked to come into an office and/or travel for specific meetings for a specific business purpose and this varies by job responsibilities.
Why Vertafore is the place for you: *Canada Only

• The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry
• Medical, vision & dental plans
• Life, AD&D
• Short Term and Long Term Disability
• Pension Plan & Employer Match
• Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Education Assistance
• Additional programs - Employee Referral and Internal Recognition

Why Vertafore is the place for you: *US Only

• The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry
• Vertafore is a Flexible First working environment which allows team members to work from home as often as you'd like, while using our offices as a place for collaboration, community, and teambuilding. There are times you may be asked to come into an office and/or travel for specific meetings for a specific business purpose and this varies by job responsibilities.
• Medical, vision & dental plans
  • PPO & high-deductible options
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts Options:
  • Health Care FSA
  • Dental & Vision FSA
  • Dependent Care FSA
  • Commuter FSA
• Life, AD&D (Basic & Supplemental), and Disability
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plain & Employer Match
• Supplemental Plans - Pet insurance, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance
• Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Education & Legal Assistance
• Additional programs - Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Referral, Internal Recognition, and Wellness
• Commuter Benefits (Denver)

The selected candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the job responsibilities, duties, skill, or working conditions. In addition, this document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Vertafore strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
The Professional Services (PS) and Customer Success (CX) bonus plans are a quarterly monetary bonus plan based upon individual and practice performance against specific business metrics. Eligibility is determined by several factors including: start date, good standing in the company, and actives status at time of payout.
The Vertafore Incentive Plan (VIP) is an annual monetary bonus for eligible employees based on both individual and company performance. Eligibility is determined by several factors including: start date, good standing in the company, and actives status at time of payout.
Commission plans are tailored to each sales role but common components include quota, MBO's and ABPMs. Salespeople receive their formal compensation plan within 30 days of hire.
Vertafore is a drug free workplace and conducts preemployment drug and background screenings.
We do not accept resumes from agencies, headhunters or other suppliers who have not signed a formal agreement with us.
We want to make sure our recruiting process is accessible for everyone. if you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact [email protected]
Just a note, this contact information is for accommodation requests only.