Senior Database Administrator

Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities and Position Qualifications:

Position Summary

The Senior Database Administrator will be a pivotal role in defining the architecture of our informatics systems.  This role will be responsible for operational data across all verticals, enterprise-wide, flowing through a central pipeline, to facilitate a culture of data-driven insights and decisions. They must have the ability to exercise critical thinking and create efficient data queries and objects using various SQL technologies.  A solid understanding of healthcare, especially laboratory testing and related methodologies is a plus.  The ability to produce and understand operational data sets to satisfy business requirements is essential. Prepares and/or maintains documentation pertaining to programming, systems operation and user documentation. Translates business specifications into user documentation.  Understands and ensures HIPPA requirements are followed when dealing with any PHI.  Contributes to and assists with enterprise data initiatives. Other responsibilities will include providing technical leadership and mentorship to junior staff and providing some leadership in the SCRUM process.  You will also be involved in preparing and maintaining technical documentation pertaining to data systems.

Job Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Security and Compliance:
  • Implement and enforce database security best practices, including user access control, data encryption, and vulnerability patching.
  • Ensure databases comply with industry security standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).
  • Perform regular audits, reviews, and security assessments on database systems.
  • Configure and manage database backups and ensure proper encryption and retention policies are followed.
     
• Database High Availability and Clustering:
  • Design, implement, and maintain high-availability solutions for PostgreSQL and MySQL, ensuring minimum downtime and maximum uptime.
  • Set up and manage database clustering technologies such as PostgreSQL replication (streaming, logical) and MySQL clustering (Galera, Group Replication).
  • Architect and deploy disaster recovery (DR) solutions, ensuring quick recovery and minimal data loss in case of failure.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to replication, failover, and clustering.
  • Identify and address database bottlenecks through query optimization, indexing, and data modeling.
     
• Backup and Recovery Management:
  • Ensure robust backup strategies are in place and that backups are performed regularly and tested for integrity.
  • Develop, implement, and validate disaster recovery (DR) plans to ensure quick data restoration and minimize downtime.
  • Respond to database incidents and outages, ensuring rapid and efficient recovery and root cause analysis.
     
• Development & Testing
  • Deliver clean, readable code that meets requirements
  • Contributes and reviews technical related entries into enterprise data dictionaries
  • Collaborate with development teams to design and implement scalable, highly available database architectures.
  • Provide appropriate documentation of development work
  • Collaborate with teammates on tasks
  • Subject all features to manual testing to ensure acceptance criteria are met with a focus on user experience
  • Participate in peer review on tasks
     
• Culture and Team Development:
  • Coach and mentor junior team members
  • Communicates proactively and effectively with team members, team leads, project managers, software developers, user personnel and management staff
  • Actively seek out opportunities to improve the team dynamic
  • Maintain a focus on breaking down silos
  • Foster an environment of fluid collaboration
  • Ensure that all data communications are secure as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996
     
• Monitoring, On-Call Support and Incident Management:
  • Participate in an on-call rotation to provide after-hours support in the event of database-related incidents.
  • Manage and resolve database incidents, ensuring proper escalation and communication within the team.

Job Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of experience developing traditional data streams (relational data warehouses, operational data stores)
• Expert knowledge of various SQL languages (PostgreSQL and MySQL Required)
• Experience with database clustering, replication, and high-availability technologies (e.g., Galera, MySQL Group Replication, PostgreSQL Streaming Replication, Logical Replication).
• Excellent problem solver, with a focus on team success
• Excellent communication skills with ability to work cross-functionally across multiple teams
• 3-4 years of experience in Python, using frameworks or libraries to construct applications
• 2+ years of experience in data science.
• 2+ years of experience in Data Modeling for large amounts of data that are very transaction heavy.  
• 1+ years of experience in in machine learning/predictive analysis or automation of business rules.

Preferred

• Experience with BI tools such as Crystal Reports, SSRS, etc.
• Experience with ETL tools such as Pentaho, SSIS, Kafka, etc.
• Experience with scripting languages such as Bash, Ruby, etc.
• Experience with ELK stack or Docker.

Travel

• Ability to travel up to 20%.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Work Shift:

Job Category:

Company:

Sonic Healthcare USA is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and is committed to an inclusive workplace for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.