Database Administrator

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

Database Analysis & Design

Analyze database requirements for assigned projects and enterprise applications

Determine information needs, data elements, relationships, and database attributes

Define data flow, storage requirements, manipulation processes, and output/reporting capabilities

Develop logical and physical database designs, including structure, location, access methods, and security requirements

Support data modeling and database architecture aligned with business and application needs

Database Administration & Operations

Administer and maintain enterprise relational database management systems (RDBMS)

Coordinate database maintenance, upgrades, patches, and configuration changes

Monitor database performance, availability, and resource utilization

Perform database tuning and optimization to ensure efficient query performance and system responsiveness

Ensure high availability and disaster recovery readiness for production databases

Database Implementation & Change Management

Test and implement database changes, enhancements, and new database designs

Support deployment of database objects including tables, indexes, views, stored procedures, and triggers

Coordinate with application developers and system engineers to implement database-related changes

Validate database changes through structured testing and quality assurance processes

Security & Compliance Management

Implement and enforce database security controls, including user access, roles, and privileges

Ensure compliance with Federal Information Security standards (FISMA, NIST, HHS policies)

Support encryption and protection of sensitive data, including PII and PHI

Monitor database access and audit activities to ensure compliance and security integrity

Data Management & Optimization

Monitor databases and analyze data structure, performance, and usage patterns

Organize and optimize data storage structures for efficiency and scalability

Apply new technologies and database design techniques to improve system performance

Support data lifecycle management and data governance initiatives

User & Stakeholder Support

Provide technical support and guidance to programmers, analysts, and application teams

Respond to database-related inquiries and troubleshoot complex data issues

Collaborate with business stakeholders to support reporting and data access needs

Ensure timely resolution of database performance or functionality issues

Documentation & Reporting

Develop and maintain documentation for database schemas, configurations, and standards

Provide reports on database performance, capacity, and availability

Document changes, upgrades, and maintenance activities for audit and compliance purposes

Maintain inventory of database environments and supported applications

Required Technical Skills

Administration of relational databases such as

Oracle

Microsoft SQL Server

PostgreSQL

MySQL

Database performance tuning and optimization

SQL development and query analysis

Data modeling and database design (logical and physical)

Backup, recovery, and disaster recovery procedures

User access management and database security controls

Monitoring and troubleshooting database systems

Preferred Skills

Experience supporting Federal or NIH environments

Familiarity with hybrid cloud database services (e.g., Azure SQL, cloud-hosted databases)

Experience with data warehousing and business intelligence systems

Familiarity with automation and scripting (SQL scripts, Python, PowerShell)

Experience with enterprise monitoring tools (e.g., OEM, SolarWinds, or equivalent)

ITIL Foundation certification or IT service management experience

Key Competencies

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Ability to design and manage complex data structures

High attention to detail and data accuracy

Strong communication and collaboration skills

Ability to support mission-critical, high-availability systems

Capacity to manage multiple concurrent database environments

Education & Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

Experience

5–8 years of experience in database administration within enterprise IT environments

Experience supporting multiple relational database platforms in production environments

Experience working in Data Center or hybrid infrastructure environments

Certifications

Oracle OCP (or equivalent Oracle DBA certification)

Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate

Security+

VMCE (backup specialization)

PostgreSQL certification (preferred for modernization environments)

ITIL certification preferred.

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance