Database Administrator, Specialist

Vanguard; Wayne (PA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a Database Administrator to join the Database Operations team, supporting Oracle, SQL Server, and AWS database technologies. You will collaborate with developers and IT leadership to improve reliability, automation, and production stability of Vanguard’s database infrastructure.

The role focuses on ensuring availability/recoverability, administration/maintenance, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, and handling database requests from internal customers.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of five years database administrator experience with Oracle, SQL Server or AWS (Postgres, DynamoDB).
• Oracle/SQL Server/AWS certifications preferred but not required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong relationship management.
• Ability to multi-task and work under time constraints.
• Knowledge of financial services industry a plus.

Responsibilities

• Ensure backup, recovery, security, availability, maintenance and performance of enterprise database technology.
• Create and maintain backup and recovery jobs.
• Resolve database issues and determine root cause.
• Perform installation, upgrade, configuration, and patch management.
• Provide on-call support on a rotational basis.
• Support developer requests during business hours on rotation.
• Advise on database features to application developers.
• Assist with testing IT vendor products and production acceptance.

Skills

Oracle

SQL Server

AWS Postgres

PowerShell

PL/SQL

T-SQL

Linux/Windows

VMware

Communication

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

Control-M

OEM

SSMS

EC2/DynamoDB

Toad/SQL Developer

Job description

As a Database Administrator, you will be joining the Database Operations team supporting Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and AWS database technologies (Postgres, DynamoDB, etc.). You will work with application developers, fellow DBA's, and IT leadership to improve the efficiency, resiliency, production stability, automation, and reliability of Vanguard’s database infrastructure. The Database Operations team is primarily responsible for ensuring the operational availability/recoverability of all enterprise database platforms. The team is also responsible for administration/maintenance, upgrades/patching, performance tuning and completion of database requests from internal customers.

As a Database Administrator, you will be joining the Database Operations team supporting Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server and AWS database technologies (Postgres, DynamoDB, etc.). You will work with application developers, fellow DBA's, and IT leadership to improve the efficiency, resiliency, production stability, automation, and reliability of Vanguard’s database infrastructure. The Database Operations team is primarily responsible for ensuring the operational availability/recoverability of all enterprise database platforms. The team is also responsible for administration/maintenance, upgrades/patching, performance tuning and completion of database requests from internal customers.

Core Responsibilities

• Ensure backup, recovery, security, availability, maintenance and performance of enterprise database technology.
• Create and maintain backup and recovery jobs.
• Resolve database issues and help to determine root cause.
• Perform administration, installation, upgrade, configuration, and patch management of all enterprise database technology.
• Perform on-call support on a rotational basis.
• Provide support during normal business hours to developer requests on a rotational basis.
• Recommend database technology features/functions to application developers.
• Assist with testing and evaluating IT vendor products.
• Review application designs for compliance with production acceptance requirements.
• Provide key technical input and expertise in large scale projects.

In this role you will:

What it takes:

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or the equivalent combination or training and experience.
• Minimum of five years database administrator experience with Oracle, SQL Server or AWS (Postgres, DynamoDB)
• Certification in Oracle, SQL Server, or AWS, preferred but not required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including interviewing and presentation skills.
• Strong relationship management, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Broad knowledge of the financial services industry.
• Ability to effectively multi-task.
• Flexibility, strong decision-making skills and effective time management skills.
• Proven ability to work with attention to detail under tight time constraints.

Working knowledge and experience with some or all the following:

• MS Windows and/or Linux (Redhat) based operating systems
• Virtualization – VMware
• Distributed Computing Hardware Technologies
• Network Technologies – SDN, DNS, Ethernet Fabrics, Firewalls, Load Balancers, WAN, WiFi, etc.
• Directory Services – Active Directory/LDAP
• Backup and disaster recovery testing
• Job scheduling (Control-M)
• ITIL (Incident/Problem Management, CMDB) (ServiceNow)

The ideal candidate should have working knowledge of:

• DBA best practices and concepts: database backup & recovery, database performance tuning, database monitoring, and maintenance.
• Hands on experience of Oracle, SQL Server and AWS (Postgres, DynamoDB) database technologies.
• Troubleshoot complex systems to identify bottlenecks (SQL, IO, hardware, query related, etc.) and resolve database related issues.
• Ability to support multiple releases (e.g., Oracle 12c/18c/19c, Microsoft SQL Server 2016/2019, etc).
• Designing databases and data modeling concepts.
• Automation and scripting skills; PowerShell, Shell Scripting, PL/SQL, T-SQL, etc.
• Working knowledge of Cloud Providers & Solutions / AWS preferred.
• Great communication and documentation skills that leads to internal problem resolutions documents, lessons learned, how to, and knowledge transfer.
• Strong skills with troubleshooting, researching and resolving blocking/deadlocking, connectivity issues, data corruption, security issues etc.

Oracle Skill set should include:

• DBA in an operational role supporting Oracle (10-19) on Linux (RedHat) platform.
• Strong skills using Bash/Korn shell scripting & PL/SQL for automation of database administration tasks and notifications.
• Experience with high availability using Oracle RAC.
• Disaster Recovery using Oracle Data Guard.
• Troubleshooting and resolving database integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity issues, security issues, etc..
• Working experience of RMAN for backups and recovery using a catalog.
• Working experience using Oracle Enterprise Management (OEM) for monitoring & alerting.
• Working experience of Linux (RedHat).
• Working experience with basic performance tuning.
• Working experience of Oracle tools, (Toad, SQL Developer, OEM, OID, etc).

SQL Server Skill set should include:

• DBA in an operational role supporting MS SQL Server (2012-2019) on MS Windows.
• Strong skills using PowerShell scripting & T-SQL for automation of database administration tasks and notifications.
• Experience with Disaster Recovery/High Availability using Always ON Availability Groups, Replication, and Mirroring.
• Troubleshooting and resolving database integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity issues, security issues, etc.
• Knowledge of SQL Server backup/restore models.
• Experience using MS SCOM for monitoring & alerting.
• Knowledgeable of the MS Windows Server environment.
• Experience with basic Performance Tuning.
• Knowledge of SQL Server tools, (SSMS, SCOM, Extended Events, SQL Profiler, Query Store, Brent Ozar procedures, etc).

AWS (Postgres, DynamoDB) skill set should include:

• DBA in an operational role supporting AWS Postgres and DynamoDB in production environment.
• Creation and removal of reader/writer instances.
• Strong skills using AWS tools for automation of database administration tasks and notifications.
• Experience with Disaster Recovery/High Availability using replication and mirroring.
• Troubleshooting and resolving database issues (database integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity issues, security issues, etc.)
• Knowledge of AWS backup/restore models.
• Experience using AWS Cloudwatch for monitoring & alerting.
• Experience with basic performance tuning.

Non-Technical Skill set should include:

• Welcome challenges with enthusiasm, high-energy and a sense of urgency.
• Drive outcomes in an ambiguous environment through the people, process and technology.
• Independently keep up with technology trends and apply that to their day-to-day work.
• Manage multiple priorities and work effectively to provide thought leadership to IT management.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission-we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.