Fabric8Labs, headquartered in sunny San Diego, CA, is revolutionizing advanced manufacturing with next-generation 3D printing technology. We're hiring a Principal Database Architect to define and execute the data strategy for a manufacturing operation that is scaling globally. This is a senior IC role with real ownership: you will set the long-term architecture, lead the technical build-out, and run day-to-day operations for the data infrastructure our production floor depends on.
ECAM uses precise, room-temperature metal deposition to unlock geometries and applications that conventional metal AM can’t reach. Since announcing our agreement to be acquired by TDK Corporation, we’re rapidly expanding our engineering team to advance this disruptive technology across a wide range of electronics components—including data center infrastructure, wireless communications, and power electronics.
As a Principal Database Architect, you will lead the architecture, reliability, performance, security, and scalability of our database infrastructure. This includes defining our long-term database roadmap, designing high-availability and disaster recovery strategies, leading migrations and performance improvements, and ensuring our PostgreSQL infrastructure can scale reliably across sites and an expanding global printer fleet.
You will also drive how data is organized and connected across manufacturing systems, including Airtable, Retool, ERP, and internal platforms. You’ll integrate printer and printhead build data to improve production planning, inventory control, and component traceability while reducing fragmented sources of truth and brittle integrations. This role partners closely with application, controls, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams to establish strong data architecture and practices across the organization.
If you’re excited to help shape the future of manufacturing alongside a growing team, come join us. We thrive on collaborative problem-solving and are eager to bring in diverse minds and perspectives.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years in database engineering, data architecture, or related roles, including significant experience at the principal, staff, or lead level
- Deep production PostgreSQL expertise, including internals, query planning, tuning, indexing, and operations at scale
- Proven experience designing and operating replication and high-availability database architectures
- Experience defining and delivering against RPO/RTO objectives, backup, disaster recovery, and failover strategies
- Demonstrated experience with horizontal scaling, including partitioning, sharding, or distributed database architectures
- Track record of leading database migrations with minimal downtime and no data loss
- Experience with high-volume time-series or telemetry data
- Strong SQL and proficiency in Python or Go
- Strong Linux, networking, storage, and troubleshooting fundamentals
- Ability to set technical direction and communicate architecture decisions across engineering and business stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications
- IoT, industrial, robotics, manufacturing, or other edge-deployed data systems
- Manufacturing and supply-chain data, including traceability, inventory, and build records
- TimescaleDB, Citus, or comparable PostgreSQL extensions
- On-premises infrastructure, storage systems, and multi-site deployments
- Streaming and messaging platforms such as Kafka, MQTT, or NATS
- Airtable, Retool, ERP, or similar operational system integrations
- Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, or Ansible
- Observability platforms such as Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, or Datadog
- Cloud object storage and lifecycle management
- Schema migration workflows and CI/CD
- Experience with regulated, ITAR, or air-gapped environments
What Success Looks Like
- 99.9%+ database availability
- Predictable performance as data volume and system load increase
- Measurable reductions in query latency
- Zero data-loss incidents
- Reliable migrations with minimal downtime
- Capacity planning completed months ahead of demand
- A clear, maintained database roadmap aligned with company growth
Why Work at Fabric8Labs?
- We offer a comprehensive benefits package, health, dental, and vision plans; 401(k) with employer match; and an unmetered vacation policy.
- We have a collaborative work environment where we work in tight-knit teams focused on transforming manufacturing technology.
- Regular catered company events and celebrations, and a fully stocked breakroom!
Other Information
- Routinely required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to type, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Routinely required to move around the facility and lab/factory floor.
- Occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
- May require travel (domestic and/or international) dependent on business needs, up to 15%.
- Specific vision abilities that may be required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Fabric8Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Fabric8Labs prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
Pay: $150,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
