Database Administrator - Aurora RDS MySQL (contract)

Please note that this is a contract role providing services to Hilton through Talent Solutions. If you are selected for this role, you will be employed by Talent Solutions and will not be an employee of Hilton. Contract workers are not employees of Hilton or any of its subsidiaries, nor will they be eligible for Hilton benefits. • **This is a US based remote role with a requirement to work CST hours*** Job Summary: Opportunity to lead database operations for a mission-critical hospitality platform serving properties worldwide. You will be responsible for maintaining the stability, performance, and scalability of hundreds of Aurora MySQL database clusters distributed across multiple AWS regions. This role demands a seasoned professional who can independently execute complex database lifecycle activities, implement modern AWS database technologies, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams. You will play a central role in ensuring platform reliability while driving operational excellence through automation, standardization, and strategic upgrade planning. This position offers significant autonomy and requires strong technical judgment, as you will be making critical decisions that directly impact system availability and performance. Responsibilities: • Own day-to-day operational support and lifecycle management of large-scale Aurora MySQL environments supporting Property Engagement Platform (PEP) • Design and execute low-downtime Aurora changes, including blue/green deployments, engine upgrades, and instance class modernizations • Implement and operate RDS Proxy to reduce connection pressure and improve failover and maintenance behavior • Lead Aurora MySQL upgrade planning, including adoption and operation of LTS versions to reduce upgrade frequency and platform risk • Build and maintain Aurora, RDS Proxy, and related AWS resources using Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code patterns • Drive consistency and standardization across hundreds of database clusters spanning multiple regions • Partner with application teams to troubleshoot performance issues, optimize high-impact queries, and validate changes in non-production environments • Monitor and diagnose production issues using CloudWatch, Performance Insights, and Enhanced Monitoring, with a focus on concurrency and availability • Participate in on-call rotations and support production incidents requiring deep Aurora and MySQL expertise • Produce clear operational documentation, runbooks, and upgrade plans aligned with enterprise standards Skills: • Proven senior-level experience administering Amazon Aurora MySQL in large, production environments • Hands-on experience with Aurora blue/green deployments, failover behavior, and low-downtime upgrade strategies • Direct experience implementing and operating RDS Proxy in high-connection MySQL workloads • Strong experience using Terraform or equivalent IaC tools to manage Aurora and supporting AWS infrastructure • Deep understanding of MySQL performance tuning, indexing, query optimization, and connection management at scale • Strong knowledge of AWS core services including VPC, IAM, and CloudWatch • Experience supporting 24/7 mission-critical platforms with on-call responsibilities • Ability to work independently, make sound technical decisions, and communicate clearly with application and infrastructure teams • Availability to work U.S. Central Time hours in a remote capacity Opportunity to work at the intersection of cloud infrastructure and hospitality technology, where your expertise will directly contribute to the operational excellence of a platform that serves properties around the globe. You will have the chance to work with cutting-edge AWS database technologies at significant scale, solve complex technical challenges, and shape the database strategy for a critical enterprise system. The remote nature of this role provides flexibility while allowing you to collaborate with talented engineering teams and make a meaningful impact on platform reliability and performance. Pay Rate Range 54 - 64 USD hourly Apply tot his job