Database Administrator

Role Overview

The Database Administrator is responsible for supporting database administration and operational activities across enterprise database environments, including Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, AWS database services, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MariaDB, and other common database platforms.

In addition, the role operates within a managed services environment, ensuring database platforms remain available, performant, secure, recoverable, and compliant through proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, incident resolution, backup and recovery, change implementation, and continuous service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Database Administration & Operations

• Administer and maintain Microsoft SQLServer, Azure SQL, and other enterprise database platforms.
• Support AWS database services such as Amazon RDS, Aurora, and related managed database services where applicable.
• Support additional database technologies such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MariaDB, MongoDB, and other NoSQL platforms where required.
• Perform database provisioning, configuration, patching, upgrades, housekeeping, and routine maintenance activities.
• Monitor database availability, capacity, performance, health, and operational alerts.
• Manage database user access, permissions, roles, and basic security administration.
• Maintain database standards, operational procedures, runbooks, and support documentation.

Backup, Recovery & Availability

• Manage database backup, restore, and recovery processes to ensure data integrity and availability.
• Monitor backup jobs and investigate failed, missed, or delayed backup activities.
• Perform restoration testing and support recovery validation activities.
• Support high availability and disaster recovery configurations such as clustering, replication, log shipping, Always On, and failover arrangements where applicable.
• Participate in disaster recovery testing, failover activities, and operational readiness checks.

Technical Support & Incident Management

• Resolve database-related incidents and service requests within agreed SLA timelines under general supervision.
• Proactively monitor database environments to detect and resolve issues early.
• Investigate, analyse, and troubleshoot database connectivity, performance, availability, replication, job failure, backup, and access-related incidents.
• Maintain accurate and timely updates in ticketing systems with investigation findings, actions taken, and resolution details.
• Escalate complex or critical issues to senior engineers, Technical Leads, vendors, or platform owners where required.

Performance Monitoring & Optimization

• Monitor database performance using native database tools and enterprise monitoring platforms.
• Identify slow-running queries, blocking, deadlocks, indexing issues, capacity constraints, and resource bottlenecks.
• Support basic to intermediate database tuning and optimization activities.
• Work with application, infrastructure, cloud, network, security, backup, and storage teams to investigate performance-related issues.
• Recommend improvements to database stability, reliability, security, and operational efficiency.

Service Delivery & Process Compliance

• Ensure adherence to ITIL processes including Incident, Problem, Change, Request, and Knowledge Management.
• Support, track, and document database change implementation activities.
• Contribute to continuous service improvement and operational optimization.
• Participate in audit support, operational reviews, disaster recovery testing, and compliance-related activities.
• Prepare and maintain SOPs, runbooks, operational checklists, and knowledge articles.

Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing

• Work closely with application teams, infrastructure engineers, cloud engineers, network engineers, security teams, and service delivery teams.
• Support cross-technology troubleshooting involving database, server, storage, backup, network, cloud, and application layers.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders during incidents, changes, maintenance windows, and service reviews.
• Share knowledge, document solutions, and contribute to knowledge base improvements.
• Support junior engineers and collaborate across cross-functional teams.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3-6 years of hands-on experience in relational database administration, preferably in enterprise or managed services environments.
• Hands-on experience with:
• Microsoft SQL Server administration
• Azure SQL Database and/or Azure SQL Managed Instance
• AWS database services such as Amazon RDS or Aurora
• MySQL and/or PostgreSQL administration
• Database backup, restore, and recovery operations
• Performance monitoring, troubleshooting, and basic tuning
• Exposure to other database platforms such as Oracle, MariaDB, MongoDB, or other NoSQL technologies is advantageous.
• Good understanding of database security, access control, and permission management.
• Familiarity with high availability and disaster recovery concepts such as clustering, replication, log shipping, Always On, failover, and DR testing.
• Experience supporting enterprise database environments, operational support, migration, upgrade, or modernization activities.
• Ability to troubleshoot issues across database, application, server, storage, backup, network, and cloud layers.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on operational mindset with good troubleshooting discipline.
• Ability to work in high-pressure, mission-critical environments.
• Good communication and stakeholder interaction skills.
• Attention to detail and strong documentation practices.
• Customer-focused mindset with commitment to service excellence.
• Ability to follow process while applying logical troubleshooting during incidents.
• Willingness to learn and support multiple database technologies across on-premises and cloud platforms.

Knowledge and Attributes

• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and cultures.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure.
• Strong communication and active listening skills.
• Client-first approach with focus on service quality.
• Good understanding of managed services operations and ITIL-based service delivery.
• Able to participate in shift support, standby support, maintenance windows, and after-hours activities where required.

Qualifications & Certifications

• Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Preferred certifications:
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
• Microsoft SQL Server certifications
• AWS database or cloud certifications
• MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or other database certifications
• ITIL Foundation or equivalent service management certification
• Other cloud, infrastructure, or security certifications are advantageous

Nice to Have

• Experience with database automation or scripting using T-SQL, PowerShell, Python, Bash, or equivalent tools.
• Exposure to multi-cloud database environments across Azure and AWS.
• Familiarity with data migration tools such as AWS DMS, Azure Database Migration Service, native database tools, or equivalent.
• Exposure to monitoring and logging tool ssuch as Azure Monitor, AWS CloudWatch, SolarWinds, Splunk, SCOM, or equivalent.
• Understanding of adjacent infrastructure components such as Windows Server, Linux, storage, backup, network, and security.
• Experience working in managed services, outsourcing, enterprise operations, or production support environments.