Database Administrator, Specialist

About the role

You will join the Database Operations team supporting Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and AWS database technologies (Postgres, DynamoDB, etc.). You will collaborate with application developers, fellow DBAs, and IT leadership to improve the efficiency, resiliency, production stability, automation, and reliability of Vanguard’s database infrastructure. The team ensures the operational availability and recoverability of all enterprise database platforms and handles administration, maintenance, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, and database requests from internal customers.

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 administration, installation, upgrade, configuration, and patch management of all enterprise database technology.
• Provide on-call support on a rotational basis.
• Support developer requests during normal business hours on a rotational basis.
• Recommend database technology features and 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.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a related field or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Minimum of five years of 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 and work with attention to detail under tight time constraints.
• Flexibility, strong decision-making skills, and effective time management.

Skills

Technical Skills:

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

Oracle:

• Operational DBA experience supporting Oracle (10-19) on Linux (RedHat).
• Strong skills using Bash/Korn shell scripting and PL/SQL for automation and notifications.
• Experience with high availability using Oracle RAC.
• Disaster recovery using Oracle Data Guard.
• Working experience with RMAN for backups and recovery using a catalog.
• Working experience with Oracle Enterprise Management (OEM) for monitoring and alerting.
• Working experience with Linux (RedHat).
• Basic performance tuning.
• Working experience with Oracle tools (Toad, SQL Developer, OEM, OID, etc.).

SQL Server:

• Operational DBA experience supporting MS SQL Server (2012-2019) on MS Windows.
• Strong skills using PowerShell scripting and T-SQL for automation and notifications.
• Experience with disaster recovery/high availability using Always ON Availability Groups, Replication, and Mirroring.
• Knowledge of SQL Server backup/restore models.
• Experience using MS SCOM for monitoring and alerting.
• Knowledge of the MS Windows Server environment.
• Basic performance tuning.
• Knowledge of SQL Server tools (SSMS, SCOM, Extended Events, SQL Profiler, Query Store, Brent Ozar procedures, etc.).

AWS (Postgres, DynamoDB):

• Operational DBA experience supporting AWS Postgres and DynamoDB in a 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.
• Knowledge of AWS backup/restore models.
• Experience using AWS Cloudwatch for monitoring and alerting.
• Basic performance tuning.

Non-Technical Skills:

• Enthusiasm for challenges with a high-energy and sense of urgency.
• Ability to drive outcomes in ambiguous environments through people, process, and technology.
• Independently keep up with technology trends and apply them to day-to-day work.
• Manage multiple priorities and provide thought leadership to IT management.

Additional Knowledge:

• MS Windows and/or Linux (RedHat) 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).

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we are on a mission to work for the long-term financial well-being of our clients. We lead through products and services that transform our clients' lives, learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team, and drive forward with a collaborative and mission-focused culture. Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for most crew members, designed to capture the benefits of flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection.

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.