Senior Database Administrator

Phase2 Technology; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 94,500 - 115,500; Full time

Job summary

Phase2 Technology is seeking a Senior Database Administrator to contribute to the UT Data Hub, improving university outcomes through enhanced data usability. The role involves managing cloud database infrastructure primarily using PostgreSQL, AWS, and Databricks, ensuring system performance and security compliance.

This position offers flexible remote work and requires strong troubleshooting skills. Successful candidates will have a Bachelor's degree and 4-10 years of DBA experience. Competitive salary starting at $105,000 depending on qualifications.

Qualifications

• 4-10 years of professional experience in a DBA role.
• Experience with automation of database processes.
• Team player with strong troubleshooting skills.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to day-to-day operations of PostgreSQL databases.
• Define database architectures for performance and security.
• Administer AWS services supporting database workloads.

Skills

PostgreSQL

SQL scripting

Cloud infrastructure

Troubleshooting

Automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

AWS

Databricks

Windows/Linux

Job description

Senior Database Administrator

Hiring Department: Enterprise Technology - Data to Insights (D2I)

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: Texas

Flexible work arrangements are available for this position, including the ability to work 100% remotely. Remote work for individuals who reside outside Texas but within the United States and its territories will be considered and requires Central Office approval.

This position provides life/work balance with typically a 40-hour work week and travel limited to training (e.g., conferences/courses).

Enterprise Technology is dedicated to supporting the mission of the University of Texas at Austin of unlocking potential and preparing future leaders of the state.

Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

This position requires you to maintain internet service and a mobile phone with voice and data plans to be used when required for work.

Purpose

The Senior Database Administrator for the UT Data Hub improves university outcomes and advances the UT mission to transform lives for the benefit of society by increasing the usability and value of institutional data. The position builds and maintains cloud database infrastructure and automates database processes for the UT data ecosystem. It covers database and system administration across Oracle, PostgreSQL, and Databricks, and devises optimal database configurations to meet university needs for high-performance data systems and ensures compliance with UT information security requirements. The role requires strong troubleshooting skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across technical and non-technical teams. Main tech stacks include: Databricks, AWS, Cognos, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and Tableau.

Responsibilities

Cloud Database Administration

• Contribute to all day-to-day operations of PostgreSQL databases in a 24x7 production environment.
• Demonstrate progressive troubleshooting and analytical skills through timely problem resolution.
• Define database architectures to meet application performance and security requirements.
• Implement tuning improvements and advise developers on SQL tuning options.
• Provide technical guidance on integration, design and testing on production system databases.
• Develop process for Performance Monitoring of database servers and individual databases.
• Develop, implement and improve backup and disaster recovery strategies.
• Develop and implement high availability solutions.
• Perform PostgreSQL server updates, upgrades and installations.
• Demonstrate an ability to write SQL scripts and stored procedures.
• Advise teams on best practices for database deployment and management.
• Collaborate with support teams on various IT projects.
• Contribute to improving and creating database application processes and procedures.
• Participate in on-call rotation.

Systems Administration

• Provide Windows and Linux system administration as needed for database applications.
• Configure and maintain (including patching) legacy Oracle database instances.
• Participate in change management processes to coordinate and communicate systems administration activity.

AWS & Databricks Platform Administration

• Hands‑on administration of AWS services supporting database workloads (RDS, S3, EC2, IAM, VPC).
• Databricks workspace administration including cluster management, access controls, and Unity Catalog.
• Experience with dbt (Data Build Tool).
• Use Infrastructure as Code tools, specifically AWS CDK and Terraform, to provision and manage database infrastructure.
• Set up and maintain database monitoring and alerting using AWS CloudWatch or equivalent tools.

Other Responsibilities

• Communicate status of activities and findings through verbal, written, and/or visual reporting.
• Support credential and secrets management practices in alignment with team security standards.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.
• Average of 4‑10 years of professional experience in a DBA role with PostgreSQL or similar databases.
• Experience in SQL scripting and database tuning.
• Skilled at database design, installation, migration and conversion.
• Experience with Databricks and AWS administration is also a requirement for this position.
• Demonstrated experience with automation of database processes.
• Strong aptitude for troubleshooting and problem solving.
• Team player, comfortable communicating cross‑functionally and across management levels.
• Self‑motivated and able to organize work independently in a rapidly changing environment.
• U.S. Citizen, resident, or officially recognized asylee – Applicant selected will be subject to government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with three years of experience with automation of cloud-based workloads.
• Four years of experience working in a cloud-based data warehouse environment.
• Four years of DBA experience with Amazon Web Services and Databricks.
• Experience with multiple types of databases.
• Experience with high availability database implementations.
• Experience with Windows and Linux system administration.
• Basic networking knowledge as it relates to database systems.
• Experience with implementing and maintaining database infrastructure to support all aspects of the software development cycle (SDLC).
• AWS/Databricks certification is a strong plus.
• Strong knowledge of Quality Assurance processes, test case development and execution.
• Knowledge of Agile software development methodologies (Kanban, Scrum).
• Experience with issue tracking systems (JIRA).

Salary Range

$105,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity (e.g.: using a mouse)
• Up to 100% remote at employee discretion with office work environment is also an option. Majority of team is located in Austin, TX, and working remotely with infrequent in‑office presence.

Work Shift

• Monday - Friday 8am-5pm; Occasional nights or weekends may be required

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E‑Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E‑Verify is 854197. For more information about E‑Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.