Database Administrator Principal

GDIT is seeking a Database Administrator Principal to support our National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) team in Rockville, MD.

The role centers on administering and supporting databases across SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL, including database design, security, performance tuning, patching, and backup/recovery, with additional focus on AWS RDS administration and PowerShell-based automation. The engineer works under general direction, applying established practices and standards, with some latitude to determine technical approach on assigned tasks.

This role is mostly remote put may require occasional onsite meetings. Local candidates strongly preferred.

This role requires the candidate to obtain and maintain a Public Trust and to provide onsite fingerprinting at a designated facility. The investigation may review personal and criminal behavior, financial conduct, foreign influence, and other adjudications.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and administer databases, including security, access control, and documentation
• Administer and support SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL databases, including performance tuning, backup and recovery, patching, and troubleshooting
• Provision, manage, and monitor databases hosted on AWS, particularly Amazon RDS
• Develop and maintain PowerShell scripts and automation to support routine database administration, patching, and configuration tasks
• Design and implement databases with respect to access methods, access time, batch processes, device allocation, validation checks, organization, ETL tasks, protection and security, and statistical methods
• Prepare system requirements, source analysis, and process analyses throughout database implementation
• Define database organization, standards, controls, procedures, and documentation
• Experience managing infrastructure code in GitHub or a comparable Git-based version control system.
• Provide technical input on the definition, design, and creation of database environments
• Advise applications development staff and users on data-based solutions, database management system capabilities, and database operation and tuning
• Support database patching cycles and coordinate maintenance windows with minimal disruption to production systems
• Performance tuning: EC2 instance type/sizing, EBS volume type and IOPS optimization, storage and compute right-sizing for database workloads
• Maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery configurations, and participate in periodic restore testing
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant database technology

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelors and 4+ years of relevant experience in an IT-related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with application teams and stakeholders to translate requirements into database solution
• Hands-on experience administering SQL Server, Oracle, and PostgreSQL databases
• Experience administering databases on AWS, including provisioning and monitoring
• Experience with database patching, backup/recovery, and performance tuning
• Working knowledge of PowerShell scripting and automation
• Understanding of relational database architecture.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Ability to interact effectively with colleagues
• Must be able to work in a team environment and adapt to change
• Ability to work independently on multiple concurrent tasks in a dynamic environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to explain technical issues and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Oracle Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified: or comparable database certification
• Experience with Amazon RDS
• AWS certification (e.g., AWS Certified SysOps Administrator or Solutions Architect – Associate)
• Experience supporting production systems under defined service levels and change control processes
• Experience with database migrations, including moving on-premises databases to AWS
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends to support maintenance windows and production needs