Senior Database Administrator

New Zealand Qualifications Authority; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NZQA Staff Benefits

Job summary

New Zealand Qualifications Authority is seeking a Senior Database Administrator to join the Systems Team in Wellington. You will manage development, test, and production databases and support multiple environments.

The role involves tuning databases, ensuring availability and performance, and collaborating with application owners and cloud engineers on AWS RDS, Terraform, CDK, and Python automation. Azure experience welcomed.

Qualifications

• Experience building and administering multiple environments from a database perspective.
• Scripting skills and automation experience.
• Ability to work with cloud services and IaC tools.

Responsibilities

• Management of development, test, and production databases.
• Supporting project and operational application development teams.
• Carrying out testing and tuning in databases for multiple environments.
• Ensuring production applications meet availability, reliability, and performance targets.
• Working with AWS RDS, IaC (Terraform, CDK) and Python-based automation.
• Contributing to cloud-native solution design and cloud platform evolution.
• Azure experience welcomed.
• Providing access to high-quality data for key business areas.

Skills

AWS Cloud

Terraform

AWS CDK

Python

IaC

Scripting

Azure

Job description

Permanent | Full Time | WellingtonWe are looking for a Senior Database Administrator to join our Systems Team within the Information Services (IS) group. The Systems Team are the custodians of our platforms, they ensure that:NZQA environments are maintained according to good practicesservices meet their availability and performance requirementsupdates are supported through the full Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)issues are resolved in a timely mannerany constraints in the NZQA environment are understood and managedWhakatairangatia nga kete o te matauranga ki te ao marama! E te tai whakarunga, e te tai whakararo - nau piki mai, nau kake mai ki te Mana Tohu Matauranga o Aotearoa.May the baskets of knowledge (education) be brought into the world of light. We welcome one and all to join us at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.Mo te turanga | About the roleThis role works closely with several IS teams from application development through to infrastructure support. The role also has a close working relationship with key application owners from across the wider business.In this role, you will be responsible for:Management of development, test, and production databasesSupporting project and operational application development teamsCarrying out testing and tuning in databases for multiple environmentsEnsuring production applications meet availability, reliability, and performance targetsWorking within project teams to ensure new applications and services are deployed according to good practices and can be supported by operational teamsProviding access to good quality data and robust data sources to key business areas to enable organisational deliveryWorking with AWS Cloud services, including RDS, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Terraform, AWS CDK, and Python-based automationContributing to cloud-native solution design and supporting NZQA's cloud platform evolutionLeveraging IaC approaches (Terraform and CDK) to support deployment and management of database and platform servicesAzure experience is also welcomed and considered an advantageNZQA is in the early stages of moving to a DevSecOps oriented approach to application delivery with the implementation of pipelines to manage application deployments from development through to production release.He ahei au | What you'll bring to the roleIf you have practical experience building and administering multiple environments from a database perspective, scripting skills, have a strong customer focus with a detail-oriented work approach and are positive and energetic with the ability to remain calm under pressure then this is the role for you!Nga Painga o NZQA | Why choose NZQANZQA is committed to lifelong learning and the diverse communities we serve. We welcome people from all backgrounds and provide a supportive environment for Maori and Pacific staff, including active networks that help guide and strengthen our strategic direction.Discover more about what we offer: NZQA Staff Benefits.Pehea te tono mai | How to applyFor more information about this role and NZQA please refer to the job description, NZQA's Customer Charter and Organisational Values. If you are applying/viewing through Seek, please click `apply now' to access these links.If you would like to discuss further, please call Tom Bran on 0274 521 691 or email to [e-mail] close at 5.00pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026; however, we will be reviewing CVs as they come in and inviting successful candidates to interview before the close date.You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand to apply for this role.NZQA is committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities and welcome applications from everyone who can meet the requirements of the role.