DB2 Specialist

Sasso Consulting (Pty) Ltd

Johannesburg

On-site

ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Sasso Consulting (Pty) Ltd is seeking experienced IBM Db2 specialists to administer, maintain and support enterprise Db2 database environments in Centurion, Gauteng. The role focuses on performance, security and high availability within complex IT infrastructures.

The successful candidate will have substantial Db2 hands-on experience, SQL tuning skills and the ability to work with application developers, systems administrators and security teams to ensure reliable, scalable database services.

Qualifications

Typically 5+ years of enterprise database administration experience.
3+ years of hands-on IBM Db2 administration experience.
Proven Db2 production support experience essential.

Responsibilities

Install, configure, administer and maintain IBM Db2 database environments.
Support Db2 database instances and services across environments.
Monitor availability, performance and recovery processes.
Perform backups, restore and disaster recovery planning.
Configure high availability (HADR) and replication where applicable.
Collaborate with developers, infrastructure and cybersecurity teams.

Skills

Db2 expertise

SQL performance tuning

Production troubleshooting

Incident management

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma or degree in IT/CS

Tools

IBM Db2

Db2 backup utilities

SQL

Job description

DB2 Specialist

Location: Centurion, Gauteng (provisional - to be confirmed)
Positions Available: 5
Salary: Market-related
Employment Type: To be confirmed

Job Overview

We are seeking experienced and technically proficient DB2 Specialists to administer, maintain, optimise, secure and support enterprise IBM Db2 database environments within complex, high-availability IT infrastructures.

The successful candidates will be responsible for ensuring the performance, availability, integrity, security and operational reliability of business-critical Db2 databases supporting enterprise applications and services.

This role requires substantial hands‑on expertise in IBM Db2 database administration, SQL performance tuning, database configuration, backup and recovery, high availability, database security and production troubleshooting.

The ideal candidates will have proven experience supporting large-scale IBM Db2 environments, managing complex database workloads, diagnosing performance problems and implementing resilient database solutions.

Candidates should understand enterprise database architecture, operating system integration, data replication, disaster recovery and structured IT service management processes.

The role requires collaboration with database architects, application developers, infrastructure engineers, systems administrators, cybersecurity specialists and enterprise operations teams.

This is a specialist IBM Db2 role requiring substantial hands‑on Db2 administration and technical support experience. General SQL development, Microsoft SQL Server administration, Oracle administration or reporting experience without practical Db2 expertise will not be sufficient.

Key Responsibilities

IBM Db2 Database Administration

Install, configure, administer and maintain IBM Db2 database environments.
Support enterprise Db2 database instances and associated services.
Configure databases, tablespaces, buffer pools and storage structures.
Manage database parameters and configuration settings.
Monitor database availability, health and operational performance.
Perform database maintenance and housekeeping activities.
Support database upgrades, fix packs and patching.
Maintain database environments across development, testing and production.
Troubleshoot database configuration and operational issues.
Ensure compliance with database administration standards.

Database Performance Monitoring and Optimisation

Monitor database performance, throughput and resource utilisation.
Analyse SQL execution plans and identify performance bottlenecks.
Optimise SQL queries, indexing strategies and database structures.
Investigate locking, deadlocks and transaction performance issues.
Tune buffer pools, memory allocation and database configuration.
Evaluate database workload patterns and capacity requirements.
Support performance testing and benchmarking.
Identify inefficient database access patterns.
Recommend improvements to database performance and scalability.
Collaborate with application developers on query optimisation.

Backup, Recovery and Disaster Recovery

Configure and maintain Db2 backup and recovery procedures.
Perform full, incremental and online database backups where supported.
Manage transaction logs and recovery configurations.
Execute database restore and rollforward recovery procedures.
Validate backup integrity and recovery readiness.
Support disaster recovery planning and testing.
Define and support recovery time and recovery point objectives.
Maintain recovery documentation and operational procedures.
Investigate backup and recovery failures.
Ensure business‑critical databases can be restored reliably.

High Availability and Database Replication

Support high-availability Db2 database architectures.
Configure and maintain High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) environments where applicable.
Monitor database replication and synchronisation.
Support database failover and recovery procedures.
Troubleshoot replication delays and availability incidents.
Maintain resilient database configurations.
Participate in failover and disaster recovery exercises.
Identify potential single points of failure.
Collaborate with infrastructure teams on high-availability requirements.
Recommend improvements to database resilience.

Database Security and Access Management

Implement database security and access control requirements.
Manage database users, roles and privileges.
Configure authentication and authorisation controls.
Support integration with enterprise identity management systems.
Apply least‑privilege access principles.
Monitor database security events and audit records.
Support database encryption and secure connectivity.
Investigate unauthorised access or suspicious database activity.
Assist with vulnerability assessments and security remediation.
Ensure compliance with organisational security policies and applicable regulations.

SQL and Database Development Support

Develop and optimise complex SQL queries.
Support stored procedures, functions and database objects.
Review database schema changes and application requirements.
Troubleshoot SQL errors and transaction processing issues.
Assist development teams with database connectivity and integration.
Evaluate query performance and execution plans.
Support database object deployment and configuration.
Ensure database changes follow approved standards.
Assist with application release testing.
Provide specialist Db2 technical guidance.

Database Storage and Capacity Management

Monitor database storage utilisation and growth.
Manage tablespaces, containers and database storage allocations.
Support database capacity forecasting and planning.
Identify storage‑related performance and availability risks.
Coordinate storage expansion with infrastructure teams.
Monitor transaction log utilisation.
Optimise database storage structures.
Support data archival and retention requirements.
Maintain storage configuration documentation.
Recommend improvements to database resource efficiency.

Operating System and Infrastructure Integration

Support Db2 databases running on relevant enterprise operating systems.
Troubleshoot database connectivity and operating system dependencies.
Monitor CPU, memory, storage and network resource utilisation.
Support Linux, UNIX or Windows-based Db2 environments where applicable.
Coordinate operating system patching and infrastructure maintenance.
Investigate database service failures and operating system errors.
Support database connectivity through TCP/IP and enterprise networks.
Collaborate with server, storage and network administrators.
Maintain database service startup and shutdown procedures.
Ensure database infrastructure meets operational requirements.

Database Migration and Modernisation

Support Db2 database upgrades and migration initiatives.
Assess database compatibility and technical dependencies.
Assist with database consolidation and platform modernisation.
Plan and execute database migration activities.
Support data movement and replication between environments.
Validate data integrity following migrations.
Conduct post‑migration performance and stability checks.
Develop migration rollback and recovery procedures.
Collaborate with database architects and migration specialists.
Maintain migration documentation and technical records.

Incident, Problem and Change Management

Respond to production Db2 incidents and service disruptions.
Investigate database failures, performance degradation and connectivity issues.
Perform root cause analysis and recommend corrective actions.
Support incident escalation and service restoration.
Implement approved database configuration changes.
Participate in planned maintenance and deployment activities.
Maintain incident, problem and change records.
Follow established ITIL and operational procedures.
Support after‑hours maintenance or standby arrangements where required.
Identify opportunities to prevent recurring database incidents.

Database Monitoring and Automation

Configure and maintain database monitoring and alerting.
Monitor database logs, diagnostic information and operational events.
Develop scripts to automate routine administration tasks.
Support proactive database health checks.
Monitor backup success, storage growth and replication status.
Generate database performance and availability reports.
Maintain automated maintenance schedules.
Investigate monitoring alerts and abnormal database behaviour.
Improve operational efficiency through scripting and automation.
Support integration with enterprise monitoring platforms.

Technical Documentation and Governance

Maintain accurate database configuration documentation.
Document database architecture, storage and replication arrangements.
Develop operational procedures and troubleshooting guides.
Maintain backup, recovery and disaster recovery documentation.
Support database audits and compliance assessments.
Record database changes and maintenance activities.
Ensure adherence to security and operational standards.
Provide technical guidance to database and infrastructure teams.
Support knowledge transfer and operational handover.
Contribute to continuous improvement of Db2 administration practices.

Minimum Requirements

Relevant diploma or degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Database Administration or a related technical discipline.
Typically 5+ years of relevant enterprise database administration experience.
Typically 3+ years of substantial hands‑on IBM Db2 administration experience.
Proven practical IBM Db2 database administration and production support experience – essential.
Experience installing, configuring, maintaining and troubleshooting Db2 databases.
Strong SQL skills and experience with query performance optimisation.
Practical knowledge of Db2 database structures, tablespaces, buffer pools and indexes.
Experience with database backup, restore and recovery procedures.
Understanding of Db2 high availability, replication and disaster recovery.
Experience with database monitoring, diagnostics and incident management.
Knowledge of database security, authentication and access control.
Experience supporting business‑critical production databases.
Familiarity with Linux, UNIX, Windows or relevant enterprise operating systems.
Understanding of storage, memory, CPU and network dependencies.
Experience with database patching, upgrades and maintenance.
Scripting or automation experience using Shell, Python or equivalent tools.
Familiarity with ITIL incident, problem and change management.
Strong troubleshooting and root cause analysis capabilities.
Ability to collaborate with application, infrastructure and cybersecurity teams.
Experience maintaining technical database documentation.
Willingness to support critical maintenance, standby or after‑hours activities where required and confirmed.