RQ11438 - Database Administrator - Senior

Job Description

Summary:

The Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for providing operational support, administration, maintenance, monitoring, and optimization of database environments supporting critical Ministry applications and services. The role ensures the availability, integrity, security, recoverability, and performance of databases across multiple technology platforms, including Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, and Oracle environments.

The DBA works closely with application support teams, infrastructure teams, developers, vendors, and project stakeholders to support both legacy and modernized enterprise systems in highly available and mission-critical environments.

• Collaborates on defining the product’s data architecture
  
• Works closely with data analysts, data engineers, data scientists to bridge the gaps between data science, data engineering and product reporting
  
• Responsible to ensure data is used effectively in product decision making
  
• Provides oversight on data requirements and its implementation
  
• Helps define the data product metric and KPIs aligned with business goals and objectives
  

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Database Support:

• Provide day-to-day operational support for Ministry applications and associated database environments.
  
• Monitor database health, availability, performance, storage utilization, and system reliability.
  
• Perform proactive troubleshooting and resolution of database-related incidents and service requests.
  
• Support production, test, development, disaster recovery, and high-availability environments.
  
• Participate in on-call support, after-hours maintenance, and emergency incident resolution as required.
  

Database Administration & Maintenance:

• Administer, configure, patch, upgrade, and maintain database platforms including:
  
• Microsoft SQL Server
  
• IBM DB2 (z/OS and Windows/Linux)
  
• Oracle Database environments
  
• Perform database installations, migrations, refreshes, cloning, and environment setup activities.
  
• Maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.
  
• Manage database security, user access, roles, permissions, encryption, and compliance requirements.
  
• Conduct database capacity planning and storage management activities.
  

Performance Monitoring & Optimization:

• Analyze and tune database performance, queries, indexes, execution plans, and system resources.
  
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks affecting application performance and stability.
  
• Implement monitoring and alerting solutions to proactively manage system health.
  
• Support high-availability technologies including clustering, failover, and replication solutions.
  

Change, Release & Environment Management:

• Support change management, deployment, and release activities following Ministry standards and ITIL practices.
  
• Coordinate database changes with infrastructure, application, and vendor teams.
  
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, procedures, runbooks, and support knowledge articles.
  
• Participate in technical reviews, root cause analysis, and post-incident activities.
  

Project & Modernization Support:

• Provide technical expertise for application modernization, migration, and infrastructure upgrade initiatives.
  
• Support cloud, virtualization, and hybrid infrastructure initiatives where applicable.
  
• Collaborate with development and architecture teams on database design and implementation strategies.
  
• Assist with technology lifecycle management and platform upgrade planning.
  

Supported Technologies & Environments:

The DBA will provide operational support for Ministry applications utilizing the following technologies:

Microsoft SQL Server Environments:

• SQL Server 2019, 2022 and 2025
  
• Windows Server platforms
  
• SQL Clustering
  
• Failover configurations
  
• AlwaysOn Availability Groups
  

IBM DB2 Environments:

• DB2 v13 on z/OS (Mainframe)
  
• DB2 on Windows
  
• DB2 on Red Hat Linux (RHEL)
  

Oracle Environments:

• Oracle 11g and Oracle 19c
  
• Oracle Multitenant Architecture
  
• Oracle Enterprise Manager (OEM)
  
• Red Hat Linux (RHEL) platform
  

Required Skills & Experience:

• Experience administering enterprise database environments including SQL Server, Oracle, and/or DB2.
  
• Strong knowledge of database backup/recovery, performance tuning, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
  
• Experience supporting high-availability and disaster recovery solutions.
  
• Knowledge of Windows Server, Linux (RHEL), and/or Mainframe environments.
  
• Experience with database security, access controls, and operational best practices.
  
• Familiarity with ITIL processes, incident management, change management, and release management.
  
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting large-scale government or enterprise applications.
  
• Knowledge of cloud technologies and hybrid infrastructure environments.
  
• Experience with automation and scripting for database administration tasks.
  
• Relevant certifications in Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, or related technologies.
  
• Experience with monitoring and enterprise management tools.
  

Deliverables & Outcomes:

• Ensure stable, secure, and reliable database operations for all supported Ministry applications.
  
• Maintain database availability and performance in accordance with operational service levels.
  
• Deliver timely resolution of incidents, problems, and operational requests.
  
• Support ongoing modernization and continuous improvement initiatives.
  
• Maintain accurate operational documentation and technical procedures.
  

Requirements

Experience and Skill Set Requirements:

Must Haves:

• Experience in designing and implementing REST API integrations and best practices
  
• SQL Server Administration — strong hands-on experience with SQL Server 2019, 2022 and 2025
  
• Multi-DBMS Experience — must have hands-on experience with at least one of: Oracle 19c, DB2/Windows, or DB2/zOS
  

Nice to Have:

• Performance Tuning — ability to diagnose and optimize queries, indexes, and server performance
  
• Backup & Recovery — strong understanding of HA/DR strategies and implementation
  

Skill Set Requirements:

Technical Knowledge and Experience:

• SQL Server Administration — strong hands on experience with SQL Server 2019 , 2022 and 2025
  
• Failover Clustering — experience in configuring and maintaining SQL Server 2019, 2022 and 2025 cluster instances
  
• Always On Availability Groups — deep knowledge of setup, monitoring, failover, and troubleshooting
  
• Performance Tuning — ability to diagnose and optimize queries, indexes, and server performance
  
• Backup & Recovery — strong understanding of HA/DR strategies and implementation
  
• SQL Server Upgrades — hands on experience upgrading: SQL Server 2019 → 2022; SQL Server 2022 → 2025
  
• Multi DBMS Experience — must have hands on experience with at least one of: Oracle 19c, DB2/Windows, or DB2/zOS
  
• Experience with development and mainframe technologies
  
• Experience with middleware and gateways
  
• Experience in application monitoring and support
  
• Experience in middleware software installation, configuration, tuning and administration, as well as experience with application development
  
• Experience with change management and release management as processes supporting the implementation of large applications
  
• Experience in structured methodologies for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of applications
  
• Ability to analyze and solve data integrity, security, configuration and recovery issues
  
• Assess and test Change Requests (CRQ) with technical content and update as necessary
  
• Ability to participate in release promotions/implementations and patching
  
• A team player with a track record of meeting deadlines
  
• Provide end-to-end solution design, development, and unit testing, along with recommendations to achieve business outcomes aligned with business requirements, the Cluster reference architecture, and Ministry-specific objectives.
  
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business goals and support delivery outcomes.
  
• Experience in designing and implementing REST API integrations and best practices
  
• Incorporate security requirements into the design, understand and comply with OPS security standards and policies.
  

Communication and troubleshooting:

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision making skills; verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal and negotiation skills
  
• Experience working in an agile development environment
  
• Ability to provide user and system documentation as required
  
• Contribute to the effective management of risks and issues associated with Solution designs
  
• Collaborate with cross-functional and distributed teams, including designers, developers, architects, project managers, and QA
  
• Promotes industry standards and best practices with the product teams.
  
• Perform thorough code reviews, including unit tests and ensure high quality of the software.
  
• Fix defects and support developers, testers and end users
  

Planning and documentation:

• Write technical documentation that supports and thoroughly explains the architecture
  
• Deliver knowledge transfer sessions to the team on the work completed
  
• Produce reports and updates as required
  

Requirements
Experience and Skill Set Requirements: Must Haves: Experience in designing and implementing REST API integrations and best practices SQL Server Administration — strong hands-on experience with SQL Server 2019, 2022 and 2025 Multi-DBMS Experience — must have hands-on experience with at least one of: Oracle 19c, DB2/Windows, or DB2/zOS Nice to Have: Performance Tuning — ability to diagnose and optimize queries, indexes, and server performance Backup & Recovery — strong understanding of HA/DR strategies and implementation Skill Set Requirements: Technical Knowledge and Experience: SQL Server Administration — strong hands on experience with SQL Server 2019 , 2022 and 2025 Failover Clustering — experience in configuring and maintaining SQL Server 2019, 2022 and 2025 cluster instances Always On Availability Groups — deep knowledge of setup, monitoring, failover, and troubleshooting Performance Tuning — ability to diagnose and optimize queries, indexes, and server performance Backup & Recovery — strong understanding of HA/DR strategies and implementation SQL Server Upgrades — hands on experience upgrading: SQL Server 2019 → 2022; SQL Server 2022 → 2025 Multi DBMS Experience — must have hands on experience with at least one of: Oracle 19c, DB2/Windows, or DB2/zOS Experience with development and mainframe technologies Experience with middleware and gateways Experience in application monitoring and support Experience in middleware software installation, configuration, tuning and administration, as well as experience with application development Experience with change management and release management as processes supporting the implementation of large applications Experience in structured methodologies for the design, development, implementation and maintenance of applications Ability to analyze and solve data integrity, security, configuration and recovery issues Assess and test Change Requests (CRQ) with technical content and update as necessary Ability to participate in release promotions/implementations and patching A team player with a track record of meeting deadlines Provide end-to-end solution design, development, and unit testing, along with recommendations to achieve business outcomes aligned with business requirements, the Cluster reference architecture, and Ministry-specific objectives. Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business goals and support delivery outcomes. Experience in designing and implementing REST API integrations and best practices Incorporate security requirements into the design, understand and comply with OPS security standards and policies. Communication and troubleshooting: Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision making skills; verbal and written communication skills; interpersonal and negotiation skills Experience working in an agile development environment Ability to provide user and system documentation as required Contribute to the effective management of risks and issues associated with Solution designs Collaborate with cross-functional and distributed teams, including designers, developers, architects, project managers, and QA Promotes industry standards and best practices with the product teams. Perform thorough code reviews, including unit tests and ensure high quality of the software. Fix defects and support developers, testers and end users Planning and documentation: Write technical documentation that supports and thoroughly explains the architecture Deliver knowledge transfer sessions to the team on the work completed Produce reports and updates as required