Senior Database Administrator

BBC Group and Public Services; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading broadcasting organization is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer (DBA) to work in its Technology & Media Operations group. In this role, you'll directly influence technical strategies and key engineering decisions, ensuring high performance and reliability across critical business platforms. Ideal candidates will have strong expertise in relational databases like Oracle and MySQL, and familiarity with cloud technologies. The position offers a competitive salary and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible 35-hour working week

25 days annual leave

Defined pension scheme

Discounted health care and gym

Qualifications

• Expertise in at least 3 major RDBMS.
• Experience with scripting languages like Python and PowerShell.
• Knowledge of HA/DR configurations.

Responsibilities

• Lead secure database solutions implementation.
• Provide operational support for relational databases.
• Monitor and tune database performance.

Skills

Relational database expertise

Strong SQL

Scripting (Python, PowerShell)

Monitoring and performance tuning

Backup and recovery strategies

Security best practices

Tools

Oracle

MySQL

SQL Server

PostgreSQL

Job description

JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: HIPE (Hosting Infrastructure & Platform Engineering) in Technology & Media Operations
LOCATION: London - hybrid
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £62,500 plus London Weighting depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.

We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

As a Senior Systems Engineer (DBA) within the BBC's Technology & Media Operations group, you’ll be working with systems that support both broadcast and corporate services. This role gives you the chance to directly influence technical strategy and key engineering decisions, driving performance, resilience, and reliability across business-critical platforms. You will work hands‑on with a wide range of relational database technologies, including Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

Join the well‑established, highly skilled Database Team working alongside other Engineering teams. As a Senior Systems Engineer (DBA), you will work across the BBC’s diverse on‑premise database estate while helping shape our journey into cloud‑based operations. You will also get the chance to explore machine learning and containerisation technologies, making this a great opportunity to innovate, develop new skills, and make a real impact across the BBC.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Work with teams across the BBC and with system vendors and suppliers on the implementation of secure and highly available database solutions
• Write, review and take responsibility for technical documentation as part of project and product delivery
• Install, configure and provide operational support for relational databases
• Monitor and tune database performance
• Respond to incidents during office hours and as part of out of hours support, leading on resolution and root cause analysis

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE – KEY CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL

• Expertise in at least 3 of the following major RDBMS (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL)
• Strong SQL, T‑SQL/PL‑SQL, scripting (Python, PowerShell).
• Knowledge of monitoring and performance tuning solutions for relational databases
• Familiarity with replication, clustering, and HA/DR configurations for different database technologies.
• Experience with backup and recovery strategies and their implementation
• Experience with security best practices and compliance, and their implementation

DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED

• Experience with databases on cloud platforms
• Experience with containerisation technologies.
• Experience with NoSQL databases
• Experience with automation and Machine Learning

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Life at BBC

• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35‑hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pensionscheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values‑based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.

Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.

Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio‑economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Disability confident

We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.