AWS Expert for RDS Upgrade and Optimization

**AWS Expert Needed for RDS Upgrade, Dependency Audit, and Cost Optimization** We are looking for an experienced AWS engineer to audit, maintain, and optimize our existing AWS infrastructure. Our AWS account currently includes one or more RDS databases. We are unsure whether all of these databases are still being used by our EC2 instances, applications, scheduled jobs, or other AWS services. We have also received an AWS notification indicating that RDS maintenance or an upgrade is required. The selected contractor will directly inspect our AWS environment, identify database dependencies, perform the approved maintenance work, and help us determine which resources should remain active. Scope of Work 1. Review the AWS RDS maintenance notification and determine exactly what maintenance, engine upgrade, or configuration change is required. 2. Identify whether each RDS database is currently being used by: • EC2 instances and deployed applications • Lambda functions • Scheduled jobs or background services • Other AWS services • External applications or integrations 3. Review available evidence, including application configuration, database connections, RDS metrics, CloudWatch logs, CloudTrail activity, VPC networking, security groups, and connection history. 4. Explain which application functions depend on each database. 5. Work with us through screen sharing or meetings to identify which business functions are still needed. 6. Prepare a maintenance and upgrade plan that includes expected downtime, risks, backups, rollback procedures, and verification steps. 7. Safely perform the approved RDS upgrade or maintenance while minimizing production downtime. 8. Recommend which databases and related AWS resources should be: • Retained • Upgraded • Resized • Stopped or disabled • Archived and removed 9. Create and verify recoverable snapshots or backups before disabling or removing any approved resource. 10. Provide an estimated AWS cost comparison before and after the proposed changes. Access and Working Arrangement We will provide a dedicated, limited-permission IAM account or IAM role for the contractor. The work will be divided into the following stages: Stage 1: Read-Only Audit The contractor will initially receive read-only access to the relevant AWS resources. The contractor will inspect the infrastructure, trace dependencies, and prepare a written report and recommended action plan. Stage 2: Review and Approval We will review the findings with the contractor and confirm which application functions and AWS resources must remain active. No resource may be stopped, deleted, upgraded, or materially changed without our explicit approval. Stage 3: Approved Implementation After the plan is approved, we may temporarily grant the minimum additional IAM permissions required to perform the RDS upgrade, create backups, or make other specifically approved changes. The contractor is expected to perform the technical work directly. We will participate when business-function confirmation or approval is required. AWS root account access will not be provided. Permanent AdministratorAccess will not be provided. Security and Safety Requirements • Follow the principle of least privilege for all IAM permissions. • Do not create additional IAM users, access keys, roles, or policies without approval. • Do not copy, export, or retain application data or credentials outside our authorized environment. • Do not stop, delete, upgrade, or materially modify any AWS resource without written approval. • Create and verify a backup and rollback plan before every potentially disruptive change. • Schedule any expected production downtime with us in advance. • Document every change made to the AWS environment. Expected Deliverables • Summary of the current RDS, EC2, and related AWS architecture • Dependency map showing which applications and services use each database • Evidence supporting whether each database is active, inactive, or uncertain • RDS maintenance and upgrade plan • Risk assessment, downtime estimate, and rollback plan • Verified RDS snapshots or other approved backups • List of resources to retain, resize, stop, archive, or remove • AWS cost optimization recommendations • Documentation of all approved changes performed • Post-change verification confirming that required application functions still work Required Experience • Strong experience with AWS RDS and EC2 • Experience performing production RDS maintenance and engine upgrades • Ability to trace database dependencies across applications and AWS services • Experience with CloudWatch, CloudTrail, VPC networking, security groups, IAM, and AWS monitoring tools • Strong knowledge of database backup, restore, rollback, and disaster recovery procedures • Experience safely identifying and retiring unused AWS resources • Ability to explain technical findings clearly to a non-AWS specialist When Applying, Please Answer 1. How would you confirm whether an RDS database is actively used by EC2, Lambda, an external application, or another AWS service? 2. How would you handle a database when the available evidence does not clearly confirm whether it is still required? 3. What backup, restore, and rollback steps would you take before upgrading or disabling an RDS database? 4. Have you previously handled an AWS RDS maintenance notification or engine upgrade? Please provide an example. 5. Are you comfortable beginning with read-only IAM access and requesting only the minimum additional permissions needed for approved implementation? 6. Are you available for screen-sharing sessions to review application functions and explain your findings? Please include examples of similar AWS dependency audits, RDS upgrades, or infrastructure cost optimization projects you have completed.