Senior Oracle DBA

Senior Oracle DBA – Job Description

Job Title

Senior Oracle DBA

Job Purpose

The Senior Oracle DBA will be responsible for Oracle database administration, performance optimization, maintenance, availability, security, backup and recovery, capacity planning, and technology improvements. The role will work closely with the Head/Lead, Database, application teams, infrastructure teams, DBMS vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure stable, secure, efficient, and highly available database services.

The role will also support database-related projects and initiatives, including regional requirements, technology enhancements, disaster recovery, and continuous improvement of database operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Oracle Database Administration

• Perform day-to-day administration and management of Oracle databases across Development, QA, and Production environments.
• Install, configure, upgrade, patch, and maintain Oracle databases and related tools.
• Create and configure Oracle database instances, storage structures, tablespaces, and database objects.
• Ensure databases are properly configured for performance, stability, security, and availability.
• Maintain database standards, naming conventions, processes, and operational procedures.
• Ensure proper migration of database objects across Development, QA, and Production environments.

2. Database Performance & Health Management

• Monitor database health, performance, capacity, and resource utilization.
• Perform database performance tuning and optimize SQL queries, system parameters, memory, and database configurations.
• Monitor database and event/error logs and proactively identify potential issues.
• Perform routine database maintenance, including database reorganization, statistics updates, and housekeeping activities.
• Work with application developers to optimize application design, queries, and database performance.
• Establish proactive monitoring, dashboards, reports, and automated alerts.

3. Backup & Recovery

• Establish and maintain database backup and recovery standards and schedules.
• Monitor backup activities and ensure successful completion.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically test database recovery procedures.
• Support disaster recovery planning, implementation, and testing.
• Ensure databases meet required recovery and availability objectives.

4. High Availability, Clustering & Replication

• Support and maintain database high-availability and clustering environments.
• Work with technologies such as Oracle RAC, HACMP, Veritas Cluster, and Windows Cluster.
• Support database replication technologies including Oracle Data Guard, GoldenGate, and disk replication.
• Ensure database environments support business continuity and service availability.

5. Capacity Management & Planning

• Monitor database storage, data growth, workload, and resource utilization.
• Plan and allocate storage based on current and forecasted requirements.
• Develop annual capacity plans and monitor forecasted usage against actual utilization.
• Implement automated capacity and threshold alerts.
• Recommend improvements to prevent capacity-related incidents.

6. Troubleshooting & Problem Management

• Provide database support for incidents, service outages, and resource allocation issues.
• Investigate database-related problems and perform root cause analysis.
• Ensure database incidents are resolved within defined SLAs.
• Develop and implement corrective and preventive actions to avoid recurring issues.
• Escalate critical issues to internal teams, management, vendors, or Oracle when required.
• Act as a technical liaison with Oracle and other DBMS vendors for support, upgrades, fixes, and issue resolution.

7. Database Security & Governance

• Support database user and access management in collaboration with security administrators.
• Ensure appropriate database security levels and access controls are maintained.
• Ensure compliance with database licensing requirements and organizational policies.
• Establish and enforce database standards, procedures, and governance controls.
• Maintain the logical and physical integrity of production database structures.

8. Project & Technology Management

• Lead or participate in database projects, upgrades, migrations, and technology improvement initiatives.
• Ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within approved budgets, and using allocated resources.
• Identify project risks, dependencies, and technical issues and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Coordinate pre-release testing with application and infrastructure teams.
• Prepare project status reports and management updates.
• Evaluate new database technologies, releases, features, and tools and recommend suitable solutions.

9. Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Work closely with application teams, infrastructure teams, service owners, vendors, and management.
• Coordinate database-related activities and requirements across internal and regional teams.
• Maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with vendors to resolve technical issues and deliver required services.

10. Knowledge Sharing & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve database efficiency, reliability, quality, and operational processes.
• Ensure effective use of database management and monitoring tools.
• Share technical knowledge and provide on-the-job training to team members.
• Support cross-training across multiple DBMS technologies.
• Keep up to date with industry developments, database innovations, and best practices.

SLA & Operational Responsibilities

• Ensure 24x7 database availability and operational support.
• Resolve database incidents within defined SLA requirements.
• Support critical IT services with required turnaround times.
• Conduct periodic database health checks.
• Proactively identify and mitigate database-related risks.
• Maintain effective monitoring and alerting mechanisms.
• Ensure operational processes and standards are consistently followed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or any relevant discipline with a minimum of 5 years of relevant IT experience.
• Diploma in IT or a related discipline with a minimum of 7 years of relevant IT experience.
• Minimum 5 years of Database Administration experience, preferably in MidRange/Wintel database environments.
• Experience with Mainframe databases will be an advantage.
• Professional DBMS certification is advantageous.
• Strong hands-on experience in Oracle Database Administration.

Technical Skills

Candidates should have strong knowledge and practical experience in:

• Oracle Database Administration
• Oracle database installation, configuration, upgrades, and patching
• Database performance tuning
• SQL/query optimization
• Backup and recovery
• Disaster Recovery
• Oracle RAC
• Oracle Data Guard
• Oracle GoldenGate
• HACMP
• Veritas Cluster
• Windows Cluster
• Database replication
• Storage and capacity management
• Database monitoring and automated alerting
• Database security and access management
• Database health checks
• Database troubleshooting and Root Cause Analysis
• Database migration and object management
• Database standards and governance

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Excellent Root Cause Analysis capability
• Strong understanding of database performance and availability
• Good project management and coordination skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to articulate technical issues and solutions clearly
• Self-motivated and able to work with minimal supervision
• Process-driven and detail-oriented
• Strong customer service mindset
• Ability to work collaboratively with technical and business teams
• Willingness to work extended hours when required
• Ability to support a 24x7 operational environment

Major Challenges

• Supporting regional database requirements while ensuring service continuity and availability.
• Managing database operations across multiple technology areas and portfolios.
• Maintaining high availability and performance for business-critical systems.
• Managing complex database incidents, upgrades, migrations, and disaster recovery activities.
• Reducing dependency on external vendors through internal technical capability and cross-training.

Decision-Making Responsibilities

The Senior Oracle DBA will be expected to:

• Recommend database technology and system improvements.
• Review and recommend changes to database policies, procedures, standards, and processes.
• Review database-related change requests.
• Plan and prioritize database administration activities and operational requests.
• Recommend technical solutions for database incidents and recurring problems.
• Recommend corrective and preventive measures to minimize business service interruptions.
• Escalate critical risks and issues to management when required.

Key Performance Indicators

• Database availability and service continuity
• SLA achievement for incidents and service requests
• Database performance and optimization
• Successful backup and recovery activities
• Disaster Recovery readiness
• Capacity planning and storage utilization
• Successful implementation of database projects and initiatives
• Reduction of recurring database incidents
• Operational efficiency and automation
• Compliance with database standards, policies, and procedures
• Knowledge sharing and cross-training
• Effective vendor and stakeholder management