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 under tight time constraints.
• Flexibility, strong decision-making skills, and effective time management.

Skills

• Working knowledge of MS Windows and/or Linux (RedHat) based operating systems.
• Experience with virtualization (VMware).
• Familiarity with distributed computing hardware technologies.
• Knowledge of network technologies (SDN, DNS, Ethernet Fabrics, Firewalls, Load Balancers, WAN, WiFi, etc.).
• Experience with directory services (Active Directory/LDAP).
• Backup and disaster recovery testing.
• Job scheduling (Control-M).
• ITIL (Incident/Problem Management, CMDB) and ServiceNow.
• 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.).
• 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 and communication skills for internal problem resolution 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.
• Troubleshooting database integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity, and security issues.
• Working experience with RMAN for backups and recovery using a catalog.
• Experience using Oracle Enterprise Management (OEM) for monitoring and alerting.
• Basic performance tuning.
• Familiarity 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.
• Troubleshooting database integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity, and security issues.
• 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.
• Familiarity with 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.
• Troubleshooting database issues (integrity, blocking/deadlocking, connectivity, security, etc.).
• Knowledge of AWS backup/restore models.
• Experience using AWS CloudWatch for monitoring and alerting.
• Basic performance tuning.

Non-Technical

• Enthusiastic approach to challenges with a 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 daily work.
• Manage multiple priorities and provide thought leadership to IT management.

Special Factors

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we are on a mission to work for the long-term financial wellbeing 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 our mission. Our hybrid working model balances flexibility with in-person learning, collaboration, and connection.