Full-Time
Principal Database Engineer
Database Engineering
Posted on 9/30/2025
Stax
201-500 employees
Global management consulting with data-driven insights
No salary listed
Orlando, FL, USA
In Person
 Software Engineering (1) |
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- Proven experience as a Senior or Principal Database Engineer with expertise in multiple cloud-native databases (MySQL [Primary Focus], Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL)
- Strong hands-on skills with AWS data services (Aurora, Redshift, RDS, S3)
- Deep understanding of database performance, query optimization, indexing, partitioning, and replication strategies
- Strong background in automation and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation, or CDK)
- Proficiency in at least one of the following languages: TypeScript, Python, C#, or Go, with the ability to navigate existing codebases and build new tooling for deployment as standalone applications or serverless functions (e.g., AWS Lambda)
- Experience with observability stacks (Datadog, CloudWatch, or similar)
- Strong grasp of security, compliance, and cost optimization in cloud environments
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
- Own the data platform: Design, implement, and evolve database systems (Aurora, RDS, Redshift, etc.) that meet performance, resiliency, and compliance requirements.
- Automate relentlessly: Build infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD pipelines for database changes, and self-service tooling for developers.
- Enable scalability: Architect solutions that support growth, high availability, and disaster recovery in a multi-account AWS environment.
- Champion observability: Implement monitoring, alerting, and performance tuning strategies to ensure proactive issue detection and resolution.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with application engineers, cloud engineers, and security to align database practices with organizational goals.
- Drive modernization: Lead the migration from legacy systems to cloud-first platforms, ensuring minimal disruption and long-term maintainability.
- Mentor and guide: Elevate the skills of the Database Engineering team, sharing best practices and setting technical standards.
- Experience with user access management systems (SSO, SCIM, SAML, OIDC)
- Exposure to data pipelines, ETL, or event-driven architectures (Kinesis, Kafka)
- Knowledge of security principles such as Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) and Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP)
- Familiarity with encryption strategies for data at rest and in transit (e.g., KMS, TLS, customer-managed keys, envelope encryption)
- Awareness of compliance frameworks (PCI-DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA) and how they affect data platform design
Stax is a global management consulting firm that partners with corporate and private equity clients across many industries to deliver data-driven, actionable insights that help them grow, boost profits, and increase value for better investment decisions. The firm favors a hands-on, practical approach: teams work directly with clients to quickly get to the heart of the issue, develop clear, fact-based recommendations, and leave practical next steps without disrupting day-to-day operations. With a smaller, selective client base and offices in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Colombo, Sri Lanka, Stax offers colleagues opportunities for rapid client exposure and close collaboration with top professionals, enabling personal and professional growth. The goal is to provide differentiated service that clients can rely on to solve critical business issues and to build lasting value for both clients and the firm’s people.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded
1994
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Brad Kuntz's 25+ year EY network accelerates Americas expansion and PE relationship development.
- Grant Thornton's $2.4B revenue base and 70% U.S. PE 300 coverage expands addressable market.
- Integrated accounting-advisory model differentiates Stax in exit planning and value creation services.
What critics are saying
- PE market contraction reduces commercial due diligence demand as dry powder deployment slows.
- Grant Thornton integration drives 20-30% client attrition as PE firms prefer independent boutiques.
- EY-Parthenon poaches Stax talent leveraging Kuntz's network, eroding New York office capabilities.
What makes Stax unique
- Specialized PE consulting with deep sector expertise across software, healthcare, industrials, and business services.
- Data-driven approach leveraging AI and advanced analytics for actionable commercial due diligence insights.
- Grant Thornton integration provides accounting and advisory capabilities unavailable to independent boutique competitors.
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Company News
Interpath appoints Adam Thorpe to lead deal strategy. At Interpath, Thorpe will focus on commercial due diligence, strategic growth planning and performance improvement. Reveal the article below by registering for its email newsletter. Interpath has appointed Adam Thorpe as managing director and head of deal strategy, as it expands support for organisations and investors seeking to accelerate growth and improve performance. Thorpe joins from deal strategy consultancy Stax, bringing more than 30 years of experience in professional services and a track record of leading over 500 projects in deal and growth strategy. He previously founded and led KPMG's French strategy practice between 2000 and 2015, before heading deal strategy in healthcare at KPMG UK. Over the past two decades, Thorpe has developed extensive experience in the health, care and life sciences sectors, advising clients across sub-sectors including care services, medical devices, diagnostics, life sciences and education. At Interpath, he will focus on commercial due diligence, strategic growth planning and performance improvement. Nathan McCarthy, global head of strategy and value creation at Interpath, said: "Its strategy and value creation practice takes leadership teams through complex change initiatives to deliver measurable improvements in cash, cost and margin. Adam's arrival marks a significant step in the evolution of the offering, deepening its integration with its deals colleagues to help clients steer strategy through the full deal lifecycle. "It's incredibly exciting to join such a dynamic and fast-growing team that's challenging the status quo in professional services. This role is about supporting our corporate and private equity clients in bringing to life the equity story and value creation potential of a business, to attract investment, secure capital and drive strategic growth."
Blue Point Capital Partners has exited Stax through a sale to Grant Thornton Advisors, supported by New Mountain Capital with $55 billion in assets under management. During their partnership since October 2021, Stax tripled its team and achieved 35% annual growth. The firm expanded globally, launched new service lines, and enhanced capabilities. Financial advisors for the transaction were William Blair and Baird, with legal counsel from Jones Day.
Grant Thornton, a top 10 accounting firm, announced on Aug. 19 its acquisition of Stax, a Boston-based strategy consulting firm. Stax specializes in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit-planning services for private equity organizations. Approximately 300 Stax team members will join Grant Thornton Advisors upon the transaction's expected closure this year, pending standard conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (GTA) on Tuesday said it will acquire Boston-based Stax, a strategy consulting firm specialising in commercial due diligence, value creation, and exit-planning services for private equity (PE) firms, as well as their portfolio companies and advisers.
Chicago-based IPA 100 firm Grant Thornton (FY24 net revenue of $2.4 billion) announced it will acquire Boston-based Stax, a leading strategy consulting firm specializing in commercial due diligence, value creation and exit-planning services for private equity (PE) firms, as well as their portfolio companies and advisers.