Senior Database Administrator (DBA)

Job Class Specification : Senior Database Administrator (DBA)

General Description and Classification Standards :

As a Senior Database Administrator, you are responsible for the planning, deployment, management, and optimization of SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL databases across both on-premise and cloud environments. This role requires in-depth knowledge of database architecture, database management best practices, and database security standards. You will support devops and production environments, ensuring system stability, performance, and data integrity. This position operates as a fully seasoned professional level within the engineering team, carrying out complex tasks with minimal supervision. Multiple incumbents in a work group may attain this level based on experience and capability.

Supervision Received :

Works under general direction with significant independence. You may take ownership of specific functions or programs and are expected to contribute expert-level knowledge to the team.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities :

Database Architecture and Design

Design, document, and implement database architecture for on-premise and cloud systems, ensuring scalability, availability, and disaster recovery.

Define data structures, storage, and retrieval processes, including partitioning strategies and indexing optimization.

Performance Tuning and Optimization

Regularly monitor database performance, troubleshoot issues, and implement optimizations for SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL environments.

Analyze query execution plans, optimize SQL statements, and maintain efficient data retrieval and processing.

Implement load balancing, clustering, and failover solutions.

Security and Compliance

Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory data protection policies by implementing best-in-class database security practices.

Manage access controls, encryption, and auditing features to protect data integrity and security.

Coordinate with the cybersecurity team to implement threat detection and response practices.

Backup, Recovery, and High Availability

Develop, test, and manage backup and recovery plans for all database environments, ensuring data can be restored with minimal downtime.

Deploy high-availability configurations using replication, mirroring, and cloud-native solutions.

Database Automation and Scripting

Automate routine database tasks using PowerShell, Python, or SQL scripts to streamline deployments, updates, and system maintenance.

Collaborate with the DevOps team to integrate database processes into CI / CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment.

Documentation and Training

Maintain comprehensive documentation on database architecture, configurations, processes, and troubleshooting protocols.

Provide training and mentoring to junior staff and contribute to the knowledge base for database management.

Cloud and Hybrid Environments

Design and implement databases in cloud environments such as Azure and AWS, including hybrid configurations for seamless data movement and management.

Work with cloud-based tools, including Azure SQL Database, Oracle Cloud, and MySQL on Amazon RDS, and manage database migrations to / from cloud environments.

Database Patching and Upgrade

Policy and Standards Development

Establish and document policies and standards for regular database patching and upgrades across SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL environments to ensure alignment with organizational security and performance requirements.

Decision Making :

Employs best practices and organizational policies to execute tasks independently.

Selects from multiple methods and procedures for optimal outcomes and recommends procedural changes as needed.

Leadership Provided :

Serves as a mentor and technical resource to other team members, providing guidance on complex database issues.

May act as a team lead on database projects and initiatives, assigning tasks and setting performance standards for database staff.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :

Database Expertise : In-depth knowledge of SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL, including experience with cloud solutions like Azure SQL, Oracle Cloud, and Amazon RDS.

Performance Tuning and Query Optimization : Advanced skills in diagnosing and optimizing complex queries and database workloads.

Security and Compliance : Strong understanding of database security practices, including access control, encryption, and regulatory compliance standards.

Automation and Scripting : Proficient in scripting and automation (PowerShell, Python, SQL) for database operations and integration with DevOps workflows.

Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving : Demonstrates critical thinking in troubleshooting complex database issues and designing resilient systems.

Data & Reporting :

Data Centralization and Warehousing

Design, implement, and manage centralized data repositories to support data warehousing and business intelligence needs, ensuring integration across multiple database environments including SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL.

Develop and maintain ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines to automate data ingestion from various sources into the central data warehouse, supporting structured and unstructured data.

Data Automation and Pipeline Management

Build and manage automated data pipelines to streamline data flow from source systems to reporting layers, including real-time and batch data processing.

Leverage tools such as Azure Data Factory, SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services), or Oracle Data Integrator to orchestrate data movement and transformation tasks.

Data Accessibility for Reporting and Analytics

Ensure data sources are accessible, reliable, and structured to meet the needs of data analysts, business analysts, and other end-users.

Optimize data models and database structures to support reporting tools, including Power BI, by providing accessible datasets and views that facilitate quick insights and visualizations.

Performance Optimization and Maintenance

Continuously monitor and enhance data pipelines and ETL processes to ensure optimal performance and reduce latency in data availability.

Implement data archiving and partitioning strategies to manage data growth and maintain reporting efficiency.

Documentation and Compliance

Document data flows, pipeline configurations, and reporting data models to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and adherence to data governance standards.

Collaborate with the data governance team to maintain data quality, security, and compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements.

Minimum Qualifications - Education and Experience :

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

6 years of professional experience managing SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL databases.

Preferred Education & Experience :

Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline.

8 years of direct experience in database administration across on-premise and cloud environments.

Licensures and Certifications :

Preferred : Not mandatory

Microsoft Certified : Azure Database Administrator Associate

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) or equivalent modern certification

Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) - specifically 19c, RAC, Oracle Database Appliance

MySQL Database Administrator