Database Administrator Job Description
Most Recent Research: 21 January, 2012
Job Description
Ensure the proper operation, maintenance, recovery, security and integrity of database software and the data stored within. Custodian of company information, current and historical.
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Tasks and Activities
- Provide day-to-day support and maintenance for the {Oracle, SQL or other Vendor} database
- Monitor database events and proactively optimize system performance
- Perform health checks to ensure the integrity of the schema and the data
- Perform health checks to ensure the synchronization of database replicas
- Liaise with other infrastructure teams to resolve complex application performance analysis
- Develop and maintain the database architecture
- Develop and maintain the appropriate operational documentation for databases
Role at a glance
Organizational Position
Reporting to the IT operations manager or database team leader, this position may require cross skills or occasional liaison with operational storage and operating systems SME (Subject Matter Experts).
Figure 1. Database Administrator in the Organization
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Intermediate to expert knowledge of specific vendor database products such as Microsoft SQL, Oracle, SAP and MySQL.
- Intermediate to expert knowledge about server hardware infrastructure and operating systems. Server hardware can include specific vendor hardware such as Sun Servers.
- Scripting and database query skills
- Knowledge of backup strategies.
- Knowledge of clusters and high availability technologies.
- Understanding of RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective)
- Knowledge of formal change management and incident management processes (ITIL)
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Qualifications & Certifications
DBA's will often hold certifications for specific database software programs. Common certifications are the Oracle Certified Associate (OCA), or the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA).
More detailed skills and qualifications information can be found here:
What You Know
Thorough knowledge of SQL
Thorough knowoedge of vendor platforms such as MySQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle or SAP
Understand key technologies and limitations
Understand data recovery (RTO and RPO)
What You Do
Support database software
Performance Monitoring
Health Checks
Plan DR and data recovery scenarios
Apply application and security patches
What You Are
An excellent problem solver
A logical thinker
An excellent communicator
Researched Pay Rate for a Database Administrator
Salary Range: US$80K - US$120K per year
Page Research Level (PRL)
A key designed to give an indication of the depth of research used to produce the content of the page.
PRL Key Jobs researched
Level 0 =0-6
0-6Level 1 =6-29
6-29Level 2 =30-49
30-49 Level 3 =50-79
50-79Level 4 =80-99
80-99Level 5 =100+
100+