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Principal Database Engineer Jobs in Atlanta, GA (NOW HIRING)

About the Role We are seeking a highly experienced Consulting / Principal Software Engineer to lead ... This role requires deep expertise in database architecture, performance tuning, and Java-based ...

Principal Software Engineer

Milton, GA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Principal Software Engineer**to join our growing team!**Who we are**Ministry Brands is a leading ... Optimize database performance through schema design, indexing strategies, query optimization, and ...

Principal Software Engineer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

$131K - $176K/yr

As a Principal Software Engineer , you will serve as one of the organization's most senior ... Optimize database performance through schema design, indexing strategies, query optimization ...

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Principal Database Engineer information

See Atlanta, GA salary details

$87.5K

$133.2K

$185.1K

How much do principal database engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal database engineer in Atlanta, GA is $133,217.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,800.00 and $148,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal database engineer?

A Principal Database Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining complex database systems within an organization. They provide technical leadership, guide best practices for database architecture, and ensure data integrity, security, and scalability. Principal Database Engineers often mentor other team members, set database standards, and collaborate with stakeholders to align database solutions with business goals. Their expertise is essential for managing large-scale data environments and optimizing performance.

How does a principal database engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large-scale projects?

As a Principal Database Engineer, you will frequently collaborate with software developers, data architects, DevOps engineers, and business analysts to design and optimize database solutions. Your role often involves leading technical discussions, setting database standards, and ensuring best practices are followed throughout the project lifecycle. You'll also mentor junior team members and participate in code reviews, while acting as the main point of contact for complex database-related issues. This collaborative approach ensures that database architectures are aligned with both technical requirements and business goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal database engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Database Engineer, you need deep expertise in database architecture, advanced SQL, performance tuning, and a strong background in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with major database platforms (such as Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server), cloud technologies, and relevant certifications like AWS Certified Database - Specialty are typically required. Leadership, analytical thinking, and effective communication are critical soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure robust, scalable database solutions that support business goals and maintain data integrity.

What are popular job titles related to Principal Database Engineer jobs in Atlanta, GA?

For Principal Database Engineer jobs in Atlanta, GA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Principal Database Engineer job openings in Atlanta, GA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,217 per year, or $64 per hour.

Principal Database Platform Engineer

Boston Consulting Group

Atlanta, GA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Boston Consulting Group rating

9.5

Company rating: 9.5 out of 10

Based on 16 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 72 rated business consultants


Job description

Locations: Boston | Atlanta

Who We Are

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformation-inspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.
To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital ventures-and business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.


What You'll Do

Join our Data Platform Engineering portfolio, a global team building and operating the database infrastructure that powers BCG's data products, analytics, and AI capabilities across Case Teams, Practice Areas, and Business Systems.

As a Principal Database Platform Engineer, you will take end-to-end ownership of cloud-native database platforms, with a primary focus on AWS. This is a hands-on senior individual contributor role focused on designing for scale and reliability, driving automation, and setting the platform standards that engineering teams across the firm depend on.

This role suits an engineer who has operated at a senior level before - someone who identifies what needs to be built, makes sound technical decisions, and delivers without requiring step-by-step direction. We are looking for a strong cloud database engineer with the curiosity and drive to grow into AI-enabling database infrastructure as BCG's needs evolve.

Platform Engineering & Automation

  • Design and operate cloud-native database platforms on AWS, with a focus on scalability, resilience, and cost efficiency
  • Build automated, self-service capabilities using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform), CI/CD, and Git-based workflows

Architecture & Standards

  • Define and implement reusable platform patterns, standards, and guardrails across a multi-cloud environment
  • Act as a technical leader where required, translating business and engineering needs into scalable database platform designs

Reliability, Security & Cost Optimization

  • Embed SRE principles including observability, performance tuning, and incident response into day-to-day operations
  • Ensure secure-by-design practices across identity, access management, and data protection
  • Drive cloud cost transparency and optimization through FinOps disciplines, including tagging, attribution, and rightsizing

Stakeholder Enablement & Collaboration

  • Partner with architecture, application, and data teams to translate needs into practical platform solutions
  • Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers
  • Lead design and architecture reviews aligned to enterprise standards

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

  • Evaluate emerging database technologies and lead proofs of concept as BCG's AI and data needs evolve
  • Support and enable AI and analytics use cases through modern database platform capabilities

You're Good At

  • Communicating clearly - able to translate technical decisions and trade-offs into terms that resonate with non-technical stakeholders
  • Working across global, cross-functional teams and building effective partnerships across disciplines
  • Approaching problems with analytical rigor and a practical engineering mindset
  • Prioritizing and delivering in a fast-moving environment without losing sight of quality or standards

What You'll Bring

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
  • 8 to 10 years of experience in database, platform, or infrastructure engineering
  • Hands-on experience with PostgreSQL and AWS-managed database services - DynamoDB, OpenSearch, or similar - in production environments
  • Experience with Terraform and CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure automation
  • Solid understanding of how databases perform at scale - query performance, indexing, and data distribution
  • Self-directed and hands-on - you own the problem end to end, from design through to delivery
  • Genuine interest in how database platforms are evolving, particularly in the context of AI and analytics

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience across more than one cloud provider - Azure or GCP alongside AWS
  • Familiarity with graph, document, or NoSQL databases - Neptune, DocumentDB, MongoDB, or equivalent
  • Exposure to vector search or pgvector for AI and GenAI workloads
  • Experience with analytics platforms such as Databricks or BigQuery
  • Familiarity with RAG pipelines, embedding stores, or modern AI data architectures
  • Working knowledge of cloud security practices - IAM, least-privilege, data protection
  • Exposure to FinOps, SRE, or enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF
  • Experience mentoring engineers or contributing to architecture reviews
  • Relational database background (MSSQL, Oracle) - useful context, but not the focus of this role

Who You'll Work With

  • Enterprise and Solution Architecture teams
  • Data & Analytics platforms - Databricks, BigQuery
  • Application development teams and product owners
  • Cloud, security, and infrastructure teams
  • Managed service providers and technology partners

Additional info

*** For US locations only ***

In the US, we have a compensation transparency approach.

Total compensation for this role includes base salary, annual discretionary performance bonus, retirement contribution, and a market leading benefits package described below.

  • The base salary range for this role begins at $143,000 in our lowest cost US region and goes up to $186,330 in our highest cost US region. Your recruiting contact can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

This is an estimated range, however, specific base salaries within the range depend on various factors such as experience and skill set. It is not common for new BCG employees to be hired at the high-end of the salary range. BCG regularly reviews its ranges to ensure market competitiveness.

In addition to your base salary, your total compensation will include a bonus of up to 20% and a generous retirement contribution that starts at 5% and moves to 10% after 2 years.

All of our plans provide best in class coverage:

  • Zero dollar ($0) health insurance premiums for BCG employees, spouses, and children

  • Low $10 (USD) copays for trips to the doctor, urgent care visits and prescriptions for generic drugs

  • Dental coverage, including up to $5,000 in orthodontia benefits

  • Vision insurance with coverage for both glasses and contact lenses annually

  • Reimbursement for gym memberships and other fitness activities

  • Fully vested Profit Sharing Retirement Fund contributions made annually, whether you contribute or not, plus the option for employees to make personal contributions to a 401(k) plan

  • Paid Parental Leave and other family benefits such as elective egg freezing, surrogacy, and adoption reimbursement

  • Generous paid time off including 12 holidays per year, an annual office closure between Christmas and New Years, and 15 vacation days per year (earned at 1.25 days per month)

  • Paid sick time on an as needed basis


Boston Consulting Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under national, provincial, or local law, where applicable, and those with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws.
BCG is an E - Verify Employer. Click here for more information on E-Verify.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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