Database programmer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Database Manager

DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk.

Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies : real estate, venture capital and cryptoassets.

We operate with respect, curiosity and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it's not just what we do that mattersit's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation and a willingness to challenge consensus.

We are seeking a Database Manager to lead the strategy, development, and operations of DRW's database platforms. This individual will ensure the firm's most critical data is secure, highly available, and optimized to deliver the performance, scalability, and reliability needed to support our continued success and growth.

As the Database Manager, you will define the strategy, vision, and direction for DRW's database environment. You will oversee database architecture, design, implementation, optimization, and support across the firm. This leadership role blends technical depth with strategic oversight while managing a high-performing team of database engineers.

You will partner closely with trading desks, business units, and peer technology teams to deliver secure, performant, and always-available database solutions. This is both a hands-on and leadership position where you will set the standard for operational excellence and innovation.

What You'll Do

Platform Management : Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing management of DRW's database platforms, applying best practices for performance, security, and availability.

Vision & Strategy : Own the database roadmap, setting strategic priorities that meet business needs while promoting scalability, sustainability, and innovation.

Team Leadership : Mentor, grow, and lead a collaborative, high-performance engineering team.

Stakeholder Support : Deliver database solutions that enable business value and reduce operational costs across front-, middle-, and back-office applications.

Integration & Collaboration : Work closely with other technology groups to ensure seamless integration and support for enterprise applications.

Operational Excellence : Establish proactive monitoring, alerting, and maintenance processes to ensure 24 / 7 uptime. Drive automation to minimize manual workload.

Continuous Improvement : Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies, adopting solutions that strengthen DRW's competitive advantage.

What We're Looking For

10+ years of deep technical experience with major database products (e.g., Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL / MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server), spanning both design and architecture.

7+ years of experience managing and scaling large database engineering and operations teams.

Ability to combine strong strategic vision with technical leadership to drive platform evolution.

A proven track record of delivering secure, scalable, and high-performance database solutions in mission-critical environments.

Ability to define and own clear SLEs, SLOs, and SLIs for database services.

A service-first approach, delivering highly reliable, utility-grade infrastructure.

Effective collaboration with peer engineering teams to improve velocity, reliability, and efficiency.

Passion about automation, reducing manual toil, and building sustainable long-term platforms while remaining agile to changing business needs.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

The annual base salary range for this position is $200,000 to $250,000, depending on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts.