Database Administrator III

About the role

Database Administrator (DBA) III reports to the Data Management (DM) Unit director and performs highly complex (senior‑level) data research, analysis, and database administration functions for the Data Management team within Information and Data Management, Office of Data, Analytics, and Performance (DAP). The DBA III supports DAP‑administered data assets, including Snowflake, SQL Server, and Oracle systems, and leads the design, development, operational management, and optimization of data infrastructure. This role supports data engineering, data integration, database and query performance optimization, data analytics support, database security, backup and recovery, and compliance with data governance policies.

Essential Job Functions

• EJF 1 – ETL Development & Governance (20%): Develop, maintain, and enhance Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) processes for data ingestion and integration; troubleshoot ETL issues; optimize processes for efficiency; support data governance frameworks; maintain metadata and data lineage documentation; collaborate with the DM team and external vendors on new data sources and pipelines; review and approve vendor technical designs; support migrations to new data management system software levels and test migrations for reliability and functionality.
• EJF 2 – Database Performance Monitoring (20%): Monitor and fine‑tune database performance, including query optimization and indexing; analyze system performance metrics and recommend improvements; work with developers to optimize SQL queries and database design; define, develop, and implement data and reporting standards; proactively monitor system health and apply patches and updates as needed.
• EJF 3 – Data Quality & Warehouse Support (20%): Implement and maintain data validation, cleansing, and standardization techniques; collaborate with data owners to enforce integrity constraints; identify and address inconsistencies, anomalies, and redundancies; support development and maintenance of enterprise data warehouse and data mart solutions; recommend goals to improve database efficiency and cost‑effectiveness; align data processes with enterprise governance policies and collaborate with business teams to improve data accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
• EJF 4 – Security, Backup & Disaster Recovery (20%): Manage database security, including user roles, permissions, and authentication controls; conduct periodic security audits and implement access policies; ensure compliance with HHSC security standards and data protection regulations; develop and maintain backup and disaster recovery strategies; perform routine backup and restoration tests to validate data integrity and ensure minimal data loss and downtime.
• EJF 5 – Reporting & Documentation Support (20%): Provide database and analytical support for reporting and business intelligence tools; optimize data structures to enhance report performance; maintain comprehensive technical documentation for database systems, ETL logic, data workflows, architecture, configurations, processes, and procedures; develop documentation, procedures, technical instructions, guidelines, and training materials; provide status updates on emerging database and analytical technologies and industry best practices.

Knowledge

• Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) programs, especially Medicaid and CHIP, including related laws, rules, funding, eligibility, services, policies, procedures, and operations.
• Data engineering principles, database administration, data architecture, ETL/ELT processes, data integration, and data lifecycle management in enterprise environments.
• Relational and cloud‑based database technologies such as SQL Server, Oracle, Snowflake, and similar platforms.
• ETL and data integration technologies, including Informatica PowerCenter/IICS, SSIS, APIs, scripting, and automated workflows.
• Data warehousing, data marts, dimensional modeling, database structures, data pipelines, metadata, data lineage, and source‑to‑target mapping.
• Data quality management principles: profiling, validation, reconciliation, exception handling, root‑cause analysis, and quality controls.
• Data analytics and business intelligence concepts: analysis‑ready datasets, data models, reporting, dashboards, metrics, and performance indicators.
• Data visualization tools such as Tableau, Power BI, SAS, or comparable technologies.
• Data governance, security, privacy, access controls, documentation, retention, and regulatory requirements for health and human services data.
• Principles, practices, and techniques of database design and development, database structures and theories, and current database technologies.
• SQL scripting, query optimization, data modeling, and database performance optimization.
• Data storage, architecture, maintenance, and monitoring.
• Cost estimating techniques, data testing techniques, and project control.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; effective communication and collaboration abilities.

Skills

• Proficiency with Windows OS and MS Office.
• Experience with database management systems such as MS SQL Server, Oracle, and Snowflake.
• Design, development, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of ETL/ELT pipelines and automated data workflows.
• Use of SQL and database tools to query, transform, analyze, validate, reconcile, and troubleshoot large, complex datasets.
• Utilization of ETL, cloud, database, and automation technologies to support modernization, migration, integration, and ongoing operation of enterprise data assets.
• Data engineering skills: building reusable pipelines, transforming source data, implementing business rules, and preparing reliable datasets for reporting and analytics.
• Data analysis and profiling to identify trends, anomalies, missing data, inconsistencies, performance issues, and improvement opportunities.
• Support for dashboard, report, visualization, and analytical dataset development.
• Database performance monitoring and optimization, including query tuning, indexing, workload analysis, capacity planning, and troubleshooting.
• Creation and maintenance of technical documentation: data dictionaries, source‑to‑target mappings, data lineage, workflow diagrams, operating procedures, specifications, and troubleshooting guides.
• Problem solving and root‑cause analysis for complex database, ETL, data quality, and integration issues.
• Clear communication of technical information to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders; collaboration with analysts, program staff, data governance teams, IT, vendors, and leadership.
• Complex problem solving, critical thinking, and proficient use of relevant software tools.
• Use of ETL software and data integration tools such as Informatica PowerCenter/IICS, SSIS, Snowflake, and related technologies.
• Data extraction, transformation, validation, and loading into data assets; integration across multiple platforms to ensure reliable, accurate, and timely processing.

Abilities

• Support the Data Management Unit’s objectives of providing reliable, accurate, secure, timely, and accessible data for operational, analytical, reporting, and decision‑making needs.
• Independently design and implement scalable data engineering solutions that improve automation, reduce manual processing, strengthen data quality, and increase reliability of enterprise pipelines.
• Manage and support complex data environments involving multiple databases, source systems, cloud platforms, ETL technologies, and downstream analytical applications.
• Translate business and analytical requirements into technical data solutions, including database structures, transformations, workflows, data models, and analysis‑ready datasets.
• Collaborate with data analysts and business teams to prepare, validate, and optimize data for analytics, reporting, visualization, performance measurement, and executive decision support.
• Identify opportunities to automate recurring data processes, modernize legacy workflows, improve performance, and reduce duplication.
• Assess data quality issues, determine root causes, coordinate corrective actions, and establish preventive controls and monitoring processes.
• Support data migration and modernization initiatives, including migration of legacy databases and ETL processes to cloud‑based platforms while maintaining data integrity and business continuity.
• Balance multiple priorities and respond effectively to production issues, data requests, modernization projects, compliance requirements, and operational deadlines.
• Work collaboratively across organizational boundaries and contribute to broader data engineering, analytics enablement, and data governance goals.

Pay

Salary Range: $7,350.00 – $7,653.00 per month (pay frequency: monthly). Salary Group: TEXAS‑B‑25. Position is classified as Exempt.

Schedule

• Shift: Day
• Telework: Eligible for telework
• Travel: Up to 5% travel required
• Employment type: Regular, full‑time

Benefits

• 100 % paid employee health insurance for full‑time eligible employees
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Generous time‑off benefits
• Numerous opportunities for career advancement
• Additional comprehensive benefits detailed on the “Benefits of Working at HHS” webpage