Principal Cloud Database Engineer

We are seeking a Principal Cloud Database Engineer (GCP & AI) to drive architecture, engineering, and innovation across enterprise-scale database platforms. This role will lead modernization efforts using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services such as Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, and Spanner while integrating AI-driven capabilities into database operations and data platforms. We are seeking a Principal Cloud Database Engineer (GCP & AI) to drive architecture, engineering, and innovation across enterprise-scale database platforms. This role will lead modernization efforts using Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services such as Cloud SQL, AlloyDB, and Spanner while integrating AI-driven capabilities into database operations and data platforms. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in relational database systems and cloud architecture with hands-on exposure to AI/ML technologies to enable intelligent, automated, and scalable data solutions. ### Responsibilities **Technical Leadership** - Lead architecture design and engineering for **GCP relational database platforms** (Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL, Cloud SQL for SQL Server, AlloyDB, Spanner). - Define and implement **enterprise database standards** aligned with security, scalability, and performance best practices. - Drive modernization initiatives including **database migrations to GCP using tools such as DMS, Striim and migration frameworks**. **Cloud & Platform Engineering** - Design highly available, resilient, and cost-optimized **database solutions on GCP**. - Implement **infrastructure-as-code (IaC)** using tools such as Terraform. - Enable secure connectivity patterns (IAM, VPC, Private Service Access, Private Service Connect, serverless integrations). - Lead Cloud Databases financial accounting, performance tuning, capacity planning, and database reliability engineering. **AI & Data Innovation** - Integrate **AI/ML capabilities** into database platforms (e.g., MCP, data agents, context engineering, anomaly detection, query optimization). - Consult with application teams to enable **data pipelines for AI/ML workloads**. - Evaluate and adopt **AI-assisted database operations** and automation solutions. - Drive initiatives on **AI-enabled observability and self-healing systems**. **Operational Excellence** - Establish best practices for **backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and compliance**. - Define monitoring, logging, and alerting strategies for database services. - Lead **database governance** and continuous cost optimization initiatives. - Provide CUD evaluation and recommendations. **Collaboration & Leadership** - Mentor Summer Interns, Ford College Graduates, Cloud engineers and Database Specialists; act as **Subject Matter Expert** for GCP relational databases. - Partner with application, DevOps, and architecture teams to deliver scalable solutions. - Influence platform strategy and roadmap for database and AI adoption. - Advocate with GCP product and engineering teams to enhance/mature GCP database services. ### Qualifications - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related field. - **10+ years of experience** in relational database engineering (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL, AlloyDB or Spanner). - **5+ years of hands-on experience with GCP**, especially: - Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL and/or Cloud SQL for SQL Server - AlloyDB - Cloud Spanner - Strong expertise in: - Database platform automation, design, indexing, and performance tuning - Backup/recovery and high availability architectures - Migration strategies and tools (e.g., DMS, Striim, replication tools) - Experience with **DevOps practices**, CI/CD pipelines, and IaC. - Programming experience (Terraform, Python, Java, or Go). You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply! **As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can cho…