Database Administrator (SQL)

Company Description

Arηs is a fully independent group of companies specialized in managing complex IT projects and systems for large organisations, focusing on state-of-the-art software development, digital trust, cloud, data science, mobile development, machine learning and infrastructure services.

We are composed of 16 entities across 8 countries worldwide that are unified by the Arηs Group, with more than 2500 consultants. This corporate structure enables us to respond quickly to market changes and customer requests, and to communicate and make decisions without layers of bureaucracy.

Established in 2016, the Greek entity Arηs Developments Hellas aims to extend Arηs Group activities dedicated to the European market providing high-quality services in Software Development, covering the entire application development lifecycle.

Job Description

Database Administration: performing day-to-day Database Administration tasks for Microsoft SQL Server databases as well as for other DBMSs including MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL and other. The following tasks are within the context of these DBMSs:

• Database server deployment: installing, configuring, patching, upgrading Database servers, Database Management systems, Databases.
• Virtual server configuration: configuring, patching, upgrading virtual Servers and operating systems underlying the DBMSs, including Microsoft Windows Server.
• Health monitoring: defining, gathering, managing metrics for monitoring databases, operating systems and servers to ensure systems remain healthy; checking error logs, system events, database events, disk space and storage events use monitoring tools including SCOM to identify, prevent and resolve issues.
• Security management: Enforce data security and data protection policies by managing security and database access, identifying and auditing user access of sensitive databases in compliance with procedures and regulations.
• Database maintenance: installing, configuring, scheduling, monitoring Database Jobs for Backups, Integrity checks, Index maintenance, Update Statistics, etc.
• Backup and recovery: define, create, schedule database backup plans and strategy, ensure restorability, integrate Database-level backups with Operating System-level backup systems like NetBackup, manage Data Retention.
• Performance monitoring, tuning, and optimization: define and gather critical performance metrics for DBMSs and OSs to ensure fast database performance using tools like SolarWinds DPA; assess data access patterns and query plans for improving performance by tuning and optimizing database queries.
• Business Continuity: ensure to meet SLAs by configuring High Availability & Disaster Recovery, defining, implementing, configuring, monitoring technologies including AlwaysOn Availability Groups and Windows Server Failover Clusters.
• Automation: define, implement, schedule, monitor scripts for automation of repetitive, recurring tasks using Powershell, etc.
• DevOps: define, create, implement DevOps pipelines for deploying database changes into production using AzureDevops, FlyWay, etc.
• Data modelling: design, reverse engineer, document conceptual and physical database models and define and update standard operating procedures.
• Change management: implement database Changes and Releases into production and other environments, in compliance with standards and procedures.
• Coordination: Coordinate and/or participate with multiple teams to coordinate activities from Development, Architecture, Applications, Security, Networks, and Service Management in case of troubleshooting and problem resolution.
• Communication: communicate opposing views to stakeholders and facilitate compromise solutions, display and enable teamwork.
• Training and Knowledge Transfer: Provide technical training or knowledge transfer to internal teams, ensuring smooth handovers and self-sufficiency in routine tasks.
• Assigned ticket handling: Promptly address incident and change tickets assigned through the ITSM tool, ensuring they are handled immediately upon assignment. This includes following up, prioritizing tasks, and resolving them within the established timeframes and according to SLAs.

Qualifications

Mandatory:

• Bachelor plus 10 years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of English B2 or higher Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (self-assessment).
• A minimum of 8 years of experience as an ICT Consultant in large-scale enterprise environments, tasked with systems administration of mission-critical production systems
• Minimum of 6 years in Database Administration with sensitive data in complex, high-security environments.
• Minimum of 5 years in Database Administration with the following tools and technologies:

1. Microsoft SQL Server Standard & Enterprise Edition (experience across versions from 2008 to 2022)
2. Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance.
3. Business Intelligence tools: OLAP Cubes (SSAS), ETL (SSIS), Reporting (SSRS, PowerBI).

• Minimum of 5 years in Database Administration with the following technologies: Business continuity, High Availability, Disaster Recovery, AlwaysOn Availability Groups, Windows Server Failover Clustering.
• Knowledge of methodologies for: Conceptual data modeling, Physical data modeling, Data model normalization, Entity-Attribute-Relationship diagramming,
• Database Administration knowledge with the following tools and technologies:

1. Microsoft SQL Server Standard & Enterprise Edition (versions 2008 to 2022),
2. Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance.
3. Business Intelligence tools: OLAP Cubes (SSAS), ETL (SSIS), Reporting (SSRS, PowerBI).

• Knowledge of Database Administration with:Business continuity, High Availability, Disaster Recovery, AlwaysOn Availability Groups, Windows Server Failover Clustering.
• Understanding of complex enterprise architectures and advanced ICT solution designs, including Micro Services.
• Familiarity with ITIL processes for managing complex IT environments.

Desirable Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years in Database Administration with: PostgreSQL. MariaDB and/or MySQL, associated database administration tools (e.g., pgAdmin, MySQL Workbench).
• Experience in Database Administration wit: MongoDB, Cassandra, Neo4J.
• Experience working with: VMWare virtualization, Containerization with Kubernetes.
• Database Administration experience in the following high availability and disaster recovery technologies: PostgreSQL HA & DR solutions, Streaming replication, Patroni, Etcd, HAProxy.
• Experience with MariaDB HA & DR solutions:Galera Clustering, MaxScale, Load balancing, data replication, failover.
• Database Administration with all mentioned DBMSs and technologies for on-premise environments.
• Development of scripts and solutions for: DevOps pipelines, Automated deployment, Database schema versioning and deployment,
• Using tools like Puppet, AzureDevOps/TFS, FlyWay, Scripting languages like Bash, PowerShell, Terraform.
• Knowledge of Agile methodologies and processes for bridging ICT Development and Operations.
• Knowledge of technologies relevant to ICT data centers, infrastructure, security, storage, networking, and service management.
• Knowledge of advanced concepts and technologies in:Data Lake, Data Mining, Data Analytics, Machine Learning.