Database Administrator (contract)

Xcel Energy; Minnesota; On-site; USD 63,000 - 84,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy in Minneapolis, MN seeks a Senior Database Administrator to support OT databases across Distribution, Transmission, and Nuclear sectors. You will partner with IT and data teams to deliver scalable, secure solutions and enable data-driven decisions.

The role emphasizes governance, advanced analytics, and robust backup/recovery, with a focus on cross‑organizational collaboration and enterprise standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 8 years of equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in database administration or related field.
• Experience delivering BI and reporting solutions.
• Proven cross‑organizational collaboration and data governance expertise.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and optimize databases across test, dev, and prod to support operations.
• Analyze, test, and implement physical database designs per enterprise standards.
• Administer Oracle and SQL Server environments incl. backup/recovery, performance tuning, and BC planning.
• Document environments and maintain current patches for stability and security.
• Ensure data recovery readiness and data integrity across managed environments.
• Conduct audits and provide capacity planning recommendations.
• Drive adoption of standard tools and improve data integrity across teams.
• Provide SME guidance on data aspects of IT solutions.
• Ensure solutions incorporate sound data governance practices.
• Partner with teams to extract, interpret, and perform advanced analytics.
• Identify BI solutions to meet business requirements.
• Design and deliver reporting solutions for actionable insights.
• Integrate data insights to support cross-domain decisions.

Skills

SQL Server DBA

Oracle DBA

SSIS

Replication

T-SQL/PLSQL

PowerShell

AlwaysOn/Failover

Data governance

BI and analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Windows clustering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Tech/Science/Business

Tools

SSIS

Oracle ASM

RAC

Data Guard

Log shipping

Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically skilled Senior Database Administrator to join our Operational Technology (OT) DBA team in downtown Minneapolis, MN. In this critical role, you will support database environments across Energy Services — including Distribution, Transmission, and Nuclear business areas — as well as other regulated application databases. You will serve as a trusted diagnostician and solution provider for data, information, and business process‑related challenges, partnering with application support teams on projects of all sizes. You will bring deep expertise in data governance, advanced analytics, and database architecture while enabling data‑driven decisions across your domain. This role demands a collaborative professional who can work cross‑organizationally with system administrators, technical managers, developers, and architects to deliver sound, scalable, and secure database solutions.

Responsibilities

• Create, maintain, and optimize databases across test, development, and production environments to support business operations
• Analyze, test, and implement physical database design strategies aligned with enterprise architecture standards
• Administer Oracle and SQL Server database environments, including backup and recovery, performance tuning, and business continuity planning
• Document database environments and maintain current patches to ensure system stability and security
• Ensure data recovery readiness, ongoing maintenance, and data integrity across all managed environments
• Conduct audits of current database environments and provide capacity planning recommendations
• Work cross‑organizationally to drive adoption of standard tools and improved data integrity practices
• Provide subject‑matter expertise and consultation on data aspects of new and changing IT solutions
• Ensure IT solutions incorporate sound data management and data governance practices
• Partner with application support teams and analysts to extract, interpret, and perform advanced analytics
• Identify and recommend business intelligence solutions to fulfill business requirements
• Design, develop, and deliver reporting solutions that provide actionable insight to the business
• Integrate data insights and trends to support data‑driven decision‑making across business domains

Skills

• Strong technical knowledge of SQL Server database administration for versions 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022
• Strong technical knowledge of Oracle database administration for versions 12c, 19c, and 21c
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) package development, implementation, and reporting services
• Proficiency with database replication technologies including mirroring, log shipping, and replication
• Experience with Oracle Automatic Storage Management (ASM), RAC, and Data Guard technology
• Experience performing Oracle and SQL Server major version upgrades
• Proficiency in T‑SQL, PL/SQL, Shell Scripting, and PowerShell Scripting
• Experience with Windows/SQL Server Clustering and AlwaysOn Failover Cluster configurations
• Experience managing PostgreSQL and MySQL databases
• Demonstrated experience with distributed computing, data visualization, data architecture, statistical modeling, and predictive modeling
• Experience with machine learning concepts and applications
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and data governance skills
• Strong communication skills, effective across varying organizational levels and skill sets
• Strong relationship management and collaboration skills with a track record of driving cross‑organizational innovation

Experience

• 8 or more years of experience in database administration or a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and delivering reporting and business intelligence solutions
• Proven ability to identify and recommend BI solutions to fulfill complex business requirements
• Track record of working cross‑organizationally to drive innovation and measurable business results

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Technology, Science, Business, or a related field, or 8 years of equivalent professional experience

This is a rare opportunity to join a mission‑critical team at one of the nation's leading energy providers, where your expertise will directly support the reliability and integrity of systems that power homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure across the region. You will work alongside talented professionals in a collaborative environment that values innovation, continuous learning, and meaningful impact — making this an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned database professional ready to take their career to the next level.

Closing Date

The closing date for applications for this job posting is 10/1/2026.

Accommodations

Should you require any accommodations in responding to this job posting or at any stage during the application process, kindly e-mail : [e-mail]

Pay Rate Range

45.69 - 60.92 USD hourly