Senior Database Administrator (DBA)

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior DBA to join our dynamic data team. You will be responsible for managing, securing, and optimizing enterprise database systems to ensure high performance, reliability, and availability. This role is ideal for professionals who thrive in complex data environments, value efficient and secure database practices, and enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality data solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Database Administration & Maintenance

• Plan, install, configure, and maintain enterprise database systems including SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.
• Perform regular database health checks, maintenance, patching, and upgrades.
• Monitor database performance, capacity, storage growth, and availability.
• Tune SQL queries, indexes, execution plans, and statistics to ensure optimal performance.

1. Performance Monitoring & Optimisation

• Identify slow-running queries and collaborate with development teams to optimise SQL code.
• Proactively monitor systems using database monitoring tools to prevent performance degradation.
• Maintain high availability through replication, clustering, and optimisation strategies.

1. Security, Backup & Disaster Recovery

• Implement and enforce database security best practices, including access control, encryption, auditing, and role management.
• Design, manage, and test backup, recovery, and disaster recovery (DR) strategies.
• Ensure compliance with RTO/RPO objectives and data protection regulations (e.g. POPIA, GDPR).

1. Development & Application Support

• Support application teams with database design, schema changes, queries, and performance improvements.
• Develop and maintain scripts, stored procedures, triggers, and automation tools where required.
• Provide support for Java-based applications, APIs, and application runtime environments where databases integrate with application layers.

1. Incident, Problem & SLA Management

• Troubleshoot and resolve database-related incidents and service requests.
• Participate in after-hours support and on-call rotations for critical systems.
• Document incidents, root cause analyses, solutions, and lessons learned.
• Manage IT operations SLAs and ensure service reliability.

1. Collaboration, Mentoring & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with development, data engineering, analytics, and infrastructure teams.
• Mentor junior DBAs and contribute to internal knowledge sharing and documentation.
• Research emerging database technologies and recommend improvements to architecture, tooling, and processes.

Requirements & Qualifications

Experience

• 5+ years of hands-on database administration experience.
• Proven experience in enterprise, high-availability, and high-compliance environments.
• Experience working across diverse teams, cultures, and geographies (Pan-Africa experience advantageous).

Must-Have Skills

• Strong proficiency in SQL and relational database concepts.
• Expertise in SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.
• Database performance tuning, optimisation, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies.
• User access, permission management, data integrity, and validation.
• Familiarity with Windows and Linux operating systems.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

Highly Desirable Skills

• Experience with cloud databases (Azure SQL, AWS RDS, GCP Cloud SQL).
• Knowledge of database monitoring tools (e.g. SQL Profiler, SolarWinds DPA, Redgate).
• Scripting and automation using PowerShell, Bash, or Python.
• Familiarity with Java runtime environments, Spring Boot, APIs, logging, and observability.
• Experience with CI/CD, automation, and modern deployment practices.
• Exposure to containerised databases (Docker, Kubernetes).

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Ability to work independently and under pressure in fast-paced environments.
• Strong attention to detail and documentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, self-driven approach.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.

Additional Information

• Contract Duration: 12 Months (with possibility of renewal)
• Salary: Negotiable
• Location Options: Johannesburg / Cape Town / Remote
• Must be located in South Africa or hold a valid SA work permit