Senior Database Administrator (No C2C)

Note: Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or green card holder who has resided in the U.S. for at least 3 years and the ability to obtain a public trust.

This role is responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and performance tuning of Microsoft SQL Server databases. They ensure the security, availability, and reliability of database systems that support business applications and data needs. This role also prioritizes the ongoing maintenance of enterprise-level open-source database systems. Lastly, it ensures the stability, reliability, scalability, and security of mission-critical data platforms that support business operations and analytics. The ideal candidate will have extensive hands-on experience managing large, high-availability MySQL and PostgreSQL environments—both on-premises and in the cloud.

They will play a key role in database architecture planning, automation of operational workflows, and mentoring junior DBAs. The Senior DBA works closely with development, DevOps, and infrastructure teams to optimize database performance, streamline deployments, and ensure seamless data operations across multiple environments.

Job Description and Duties

• Position is required to be full-time onsite at DOT HQ, Washington DC
• Assist in driving, standardizing, and managing unified configuration management database.
• Install and configure Microsoft SQL Server instances and tools (SSMS, SSRS, SSIS, SSAS). Set up new databases, servers, and related infrastructure. Manage SQL Server clustering, replication, and high availability solutions.
• Monitor and maintain database performance, integrity, and security.
• Perform regular database maintenance tasks (index optimization, statistics updates, consistency checks).
• Plan and perform database upgrades, patches, and migrations.
• Troubleshoot database errors, bottlenecks, and performance issues.
• Analyze query execution plans and optimize SQL queries.
• Monitor system performance using tools like SQL Profiler, Extended Events, and Performance Monitor.
• Identify and resolve slow-running queries or deadlocks.
• Manage user accounts, roles, and permissions to maintain data security.
• Audit database activities and log changes.
• Maintain detailed documentation of database environments, configurations, and changes.
• Generate reports for performance metrics, growth trends, and usage statistics.

Required Education and Experience:

• Oracle and SQL Certified.
• Proficient in SQL Cluster, Always-On Cluster, On-premises to Azure Migration.
• Experience with Azure Managed Instance, SQL STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guides), Transparent Data Encryption (TDE),
• Strong knowledge and experience in SQL Server and Oracle database administration, including installation, configuration, optimization, and maintenance.
• Expertise in managing SQL Server instances (2019/2017/2016/2014/2012) and Oracle databases on various platforms, including VMWare, Azure (IaaS/PaaS), and on-premises.
• Experience with Oracle RAC, Oracle Enterprise Manager, RMAN backups, Oracle Data Guard, and setting up Oracle RAC on Windows.
• Proficiency in Linux shell scripting and experience with AWS RDS and EC2-based databases.
• Ability to troubleshoot performance issues, analyze SQL execution plans, and optimize database performance.
• Experience with database security solutions, including Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Oracle STIG compliance.
• Knowledge of AWS concepts required for performing DBA operations on AWS cloud.
• Experience with DR testing, making recommendations, and providing on-call support.

Preferred skills and qualifications:

• Experience supporting a 24x7 operations environment
• Deploy and manage SQL Server on various platforms, including VMWare, Azure (IaaS/PaaS), and on-premises. Also, build and manage Azure managed instances and Azure managed databases.
• Install, configure, and manage SQL Server instances (2022/2019/2017/2016/2014/2012) and Oracle databases on Linux / Windows platforms.
• Deploy and manage SQL Server on various platforms, including VMWare, Azure (IaaS/PaaS), and on-premises. Also, build and manage Azure managed instances and Azure managed databases.
• Facilitate database migration from on-premises environments to Azure and execute SQL database upgrades, migrations, backups, and restores.
• Administer user access by provisioning SQL logins and users based on project requirements and configure and troubleshoot database Always-on availability groups (AG) and AG-related issues.
• Implement and troubleshoot database mirroring solutions, database log shipping setups, and database transaction replication configurations.
• Manage SQL clusters, resolve cluster-related issues, and monitor database conditions, proactively rebuild indexes, and perform routine maintenance tasks.
• Utilize monitoring and performance tuning skills to schedule automated activities, including database health checks, disk space monitoring, job alerts, index monitoring, and statistics tracking.
• Configure database mail for SQL job alerts, install and configure SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and apply Service Packs to SQL Server versions (2008R2, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022) and patches to Windows Server versions (2003, 2003 R2, 2012, 2019, 2022).
• Install Oracle binaries and configure new Oracle databases on Linux / Windows, apply Quarterly Oracle Patches on Oracle databases running on Linux / Windows, and troubleshoot Oracle database performance issues, providing RCA reports.
• Analyze and optimize SQL execution plans for slow SQL, configure Oracle Enterprise Manager, set up database monitors using OEM and custom shell scripts, and configure Oracle RMAN backups and Oracle database recovery.
• Experience using Oracle Data Guard on 19c, setting up Oracle RAC on Windows, and expertise in Linux shell scripting and database security solutions.
• Experience setting up database users based on minimum required databases privileges best practices, experience on AWS RDS and EC2 based databases, and knowledge of AWS concepts required for performing DBA operations on AWS cloud.
• Experience testing DR solutions and making recommendations, supporting DBA on-call tasks on a rotation basis.
• Demonstrates teamwork and is available for On-Call Support.
• Mandatory participation in monthly database patching.