Director, Database Reliability Engineering

Description and Requirements
Role Value Proposition:
Join MetLife's Database Infrastructure Services (DIS) team, where we are committed to redefining how database platforms support the future of our business. Our mission is to empower our customers and employees by building robust, scalable, and intelligent data solutions that drive confidence and innovation. We are seeking a visionary leader to inspire and guide our team through a transformative journey towards automation, advanced intelligence, and operational excellence.
As Director of Database Reliability Engineering, you will be the architect of our evolution from traditional, manual database operations to a modern, automation-first discipline. This role is designed for a hands-on technical leader who thrives on enabling and accelerating transformation through Infrastructure as Code (IaC), modern coding practices, and cutting-edge observability. In addition to automation, you will champion the adoption of AI and AIOps solutions to enhance the team's ability to deliver real-time visibility, intelligent monitoring, and rapid incident response. Your leadership will empower teams to replace manual incident response with automated and AI-driven detection, response, and recovery-ensuring rapid containment and continuous reliability.
Key Responsibilities:

• Champion the end-to-end transformation of database operations, instilling a culture of automation, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example in adopting Infrastructure as Code, driving the development and implementation of self-service, scalable solutions that eliminate manual bottlenecks.
• Promote the integration of modern coding standards, test automation, and CI/CD practices to enhance code quality, velocity, and platform reliability.
• Advance observability across all database services by implementing real-time monitoring, analytics, and AI/AIOps-driven solutions for proactive issue detection and intelligent remediation.
• Leverage automation and AI technologies to streamline detection, response, and recovery processes, reducing operational risks and elevating service reliability.
• Inspire and mentor teams, cultivating technical excellence and fostering a forward-looking, collaborative environment.
• Ensure all database platforms and processes adhere to security, compliance, and business continuity standards.

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:
Required Skills:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including performance reviews, performance development, and coaching.
• Proven ability to lead enterprise transformation from traditional operations to automation-first, reliability-engineering ways of working.
• Strong experience implementing and using modern observability platforms (DataDog, DynaTrace, Elastic) and applying AI/AIOps to improve detection, response, and remediation.
• Hands-on expertise driving automation with Infrastructure as Code and modern DevOps practices (e.g., CI/CD, test automation, GitOps) using tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Azure DevOps, Python, and Kubernetes/OpenShift.

Preferred:

• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., finance, insurance, healthcare).
• Strong, extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in on-premise database administration (preference for IBM Db2).
• Familiarity with hybrid-cloud data strategies or enterprise-scale data platforms.
• Demonstrated success in global organizations, coordinating initiatives and deliverables across time zones.
• Experience with deploying AI and AIOps capabilities to improve database operations and incident management.

At MetLife, we're leading the global transformation of an industry we've long defined. United in purpose, diverse in perspective, we're dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our customers.
Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.
The expected salary range for this position is $130,000 - $175,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
$130,000 - $175,000
#BI-Hybrid