Database Reliability Engineer (Remote)

Job Summary

The Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) helps to protect, preserve, and ensure the availability of data by owning day-to-day reliability work and driving targeted improvements across Microsoft SQL Server and other supported systems. The role partners with more experienced DBREs to measure and tune performance, maintain healthy configurations, and implement new SQL Server features that enhance stability and throughput. It combines hands-on operations with problem solving during incidents, including triage, root-cause analysis, and follow-through on durable corrective actions.

As a core contributor, this individual advances automation and tooling by documenting and eliminating repeatable tasks, building and maintaining internal self-service capabilities for software engineers, and developing proficiency with third-party tools. The DBRE shares responsibility for security controls, backup strategies, disaster-recovery readiness, and on-call. They apply best practices that reduce manual effort, strengthen observability, and uphold service-level objectives.

Remote Work Qualifications

• Access to a reliable and secure high-speed internet connection. Cable or fiber internet connections (at least 75mbps download/10mbps upload) are preferred, as satellite connections often cannot support the technologies used to perform day-to-day tasks.
• Access to a home router and modem.
• A dedicated home office space that is noise- and distraction-free. The space should have strong wireless connection or a wired Ethernet connection (wired connection is preferred, if possible).
• A valid, physical address (apartment, suite, etc.). PO Boxes are not supported, as a physical address is required for you to receive your computer equipment.
• The desire and ability to work and communicate with other team members via chat, webcam, etc.
• Legal residents of one of the following states: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY).

We only accept W-2 candidates, H-1B sponsorship is not available.

Responsibilities

As a DBRE, you will:

• Protect, preserve, and ensure the continuous availability of data.
• Collaborate with senior team members to measure, analyze, and fine-tune database performance, ensuring optimal configuration and resource utilization.
• Document and automate routine database tasks to reduce manual effort and improve operational efficiency.
• Assist in building, testing, and maintaining internal tools that enable application and database developers to manage their own data needs.
• Gain proficiency in both in-house developed solutions and third-party tools used for database monitoring, management, and automation.
• Share responsibility for implementing and maintaining database security, backup strategies, and routine maintenance procedures.
• Join the on-call rotation to respond to incidents, contribute to root cause analysis, and implement long-term fixes to prevent recurrence.
• Implement new SQL Server features to improve performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Respond to and resolve database performance incidents.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed while sitting/standing and interfacing with a personal computer.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing.
• Requires the regular use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Requires occasional bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
• Requires the ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull medium weights, up to 50lbs.

Qualifications

Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Have 2+ years of experience supporting Microsoft SQL Server
• Have 2+ years of experience supporting Postgres
• Experience supporting SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server. Able to write, review, and troubleshoot T-SQL and apply basic performance tuning.
• Able to follow and improve runbooks and documentation to make work repeatable.
• Possess a strong attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Comfortable building and maintaining PowerShell scripts, including error handling and simple tests.
• Good understanding of relational design with awareness of normalization trade-offs.
• Comfortable with both Windows and Linux systems (services, networking basics, package managers).
• Hands-on experience with PostgreSQL and/or MariaDB for common admin tasks (users/roles, backups/restores, minor version upgrades).
• Comfortable with Git and collaborative workflows (branching, pull requests, code reviews, resolving merge conflicts).
• Ability to triage performance issues and restore systems to their baseline state.
• Familiarity with automation and task scheduling tools to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention.
• Implemented and maintained database security and compliance controls such as least privilege access, auditing, encryption, and secrets management.

Education

This role does not require a degree. We value relevant skills and experience and alignment with our core values above all else.

Desired Traits & Skills

Hungry:

• Passionate for their work.
• Goes above and beyond to get the job done.
• Looks for opportunities in all aspects of the company.
• Process improvement focus.

Humble:

• Easily admits to mistakes.
• Acknowledges his/her weaknesses.
• Displays a grounded confidence but not arrogance.

Smart:

• Shows empathy.
• Attentive listener.
• Adjusts his/her own behavior to fit the nature of a conversation.
• Understands what others are thinking.

One Part of the Bigger Picture

WebstaurantStore's parent company, Clark Associates, has made the Central Penn Business Journal's list of "Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies" in Pennsylvania for 9 years in a row. The base of Clark's success comes from four key directives: Hiring great people, creating value for customers, and investing in employees and their communities. These pillars drive each of Clark Associates' multi-million-dollar businesses forward, including WebstaurantStore and other industry-leading names like 11400, Clark Food Service Equipment, The Restaurant Store, and Clark National Accounts.

Are You Ready?

Entrepreneurial Spirit is the driving force behind WebstaurantStore's work environment. Making things better for our customers is our goal every single day. Achieving that goal means taking risks, accepting failure, and learning from our mistakes. If that sounds like a mission you're ready to be a part of, we'd love to discuss this role with you further, and we're excited to meet you!

Never heard of us? That's okay! We love sharing our stories.

• WebstaurantStore | About Us
• Video Message from Leadership
• Clark Associates Timeline [Parent Company]

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