Cloud Database Administrator

We are looking for a detail-oriented and experienced Database Administrator (DBA) to manage and maintain our cloud-based databases, ensuring optimal performance, security, and scalability. You will have experience with cloud platforms such as Azure and will be responsible for database design, performance tuning and ensuring the availability and security of our databases. You will be a confident and technically skilled individual, who enjoys unpicking problems and finding the root cause.

Key Responsibilities

• Database Management: Administer and optimise cloud-based SQL Databases in an Azure cloud environment. Oversee database architecture, schema design, and management for high availability, scalability, and redundancy. Scale databases vertically or horizontally based on usage patterns, using features like autoscaling or sharding where applicable.
• Performance Monitoring & Optimisation: Monitor database performance metrics and troubleshoot issues including slow queries, locking, and resource utilisation. Implement performance tuning strategies such as query optimisation & indexing. Use cloud-native tools (e.g., AWS CloudWatch, Azure Monitor) for proactive diagnostics.
• Security & Compliance: Implement and manage database security policies, user access control, and encryption strategies (at rest and in transit). Ensure that databases comply with relevant regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2, and internal security policies. Manage roles and privileges using cloud IAM (Identity and Access Management).
• Backup & Disaster Recovery: Maintain, design and implement automated backup/snapshots and disaster recovery solutions to ensure data availability and integrity. Perform regular backups, restores, and testing of recovery procedures. Implement point-in-time recovery (PITR) and cross-region replication when required.
• Cloud Infrastructure Management: Work closely with DevOps and cloud infrastructure teams to deploy and manage cloud-based database services. Ensure the seamless integration of databases with cloud applications and services. Automate database provisioning and management using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or Ansible. Use CI/CD pipelines to deploy database changes safely.
• Maintenance & Patching: Schedule and perform regular updates, patching, and upgrades of database engines. Ensure minimal downtime during maintenance windows.
• Monitoring, Alerting & Reporting: Set up alerts for anomalies or outages using cloud monitoring tools. Integrate monitoring with incident management tools. Provide reports on database trends, performance, issues and usage.
• Incident Management & Troubleshooting: Respond to database-related incidents, analyse root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent future issues. Collaborate with other technical teams to resolve complex database issues.
• Collaboration & Documentation: Work closely with development, DevOps, and security functions to align on database strategies, and provide database support for application development and deployment. Document database configurations, processes, and best practices for future reference. Provide support and troubleshooting for database-related incidents or requests.
• Cost Management: Monitor and optimize database-related cloud spending. Choose appropriate instance types, storage tiers, and usage plans.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Experience: 3+ years of experience as a Database Administrator, with a strong background in managing databases in a cloud environment. Proficiency in cloud platforms and their respective database services.
• Technical Skills: In-depth understanding of database design, performance tuning, indexing, and optimisation.
• Problem-Solving & Troubleshooting: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to resolve database performance and availability issues.

Who You Are

• Incredibly proactive and forward thinking. You should be someone who enjoys going looking for problems and using critical thinking when solving them!
• Excellent communication. You’ll be working collaboratively with people all across the business – technical and non-technical, so you must be comfortable adapting the way you communicate to your audience.

Job Benefits

At Dye & Durham we strive to be visionaries! As a leader in our field, we ensure our employees are ready for the next challenge in their journey with us by offering internal and external training opportunities. We offer competitive salaries and a whole host of benefits including healthcare, pension, company discounts, wellness programs, and paid days off to move house or volunteer for your favourite charity.

Do you share our DNA?

• We ask how tomorrow can be better than today.
• We are passionate about solving our customer's challenges.
• Our ideas break boundaries.
• We value different perspectives and encourage dialogue.
• We take ownership and celebrate together.