[mikaelronstrom]

General optimisations are not so common to work on, but new HW requires new thinking about database architecture.

A few examples, Scaling to more CPU cores, Scaling to bigger RAM, bigger disks, scaling to larger systems. Introduction of new HW such as Intel Persistent Memory, new GPUs that can be used for various purposes in a database such as compression and encryption.

Every product has weaknesses that needs to be addressed, what these are is obviously product dependent.

Personally I spent a very significant amount of time the last 5 years to automate algorithms such that they automatically adapt to load, memory sizes, VM size and so forth.

Masters are definitely ok, but my Ph.D studies have certainly helped since that made me to do a deep dive into all database algorithms. So masters is sufficient to be a database developer, but I would say a Ph.D is a good idea if you aim for a database development architect role down the road. Best of luck in your new tasks.