Senior Database Administrator (DBA)

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.