Database & Data Platform Administrator

Summary of Job Responsibilities

This position is dual role responsible for the reliability, security, and performance of on-premises and cloud data platforms supporting Colorado PERA systems. Key responsibilities include ensuring data availability by proactively monitoring database and data platform health, enforcing database standards and governance, troubleshooting issues, and advancing database management practices and policies. The position partners across IT and business teams to analyze requirements, design and implement data solutions, and drive continuous process improvements. It supports both the delivery of new data platform capabilities and the enhancement and maintenance of existing environments. Additionally, this role contributes to strategic planning alignment and provides guidance and mentorship to less-experienced database administrators, data engineers, and developers.

Ideal Candidate Statement

We are seeking a tenacious problem-solver who thrives in complex environments and takes full ownership of hybrid data platforms. This role requires deep, hands-on expertise in on-premises database technologies (Oracle, DB2, SQL Server) along with experience managing cloud-based platforms such as Snowflake and PostgreSQL.  The ideal candidate will have strong experience with modern data ecosystem components, including ELT pipelines, metadata management, master data management (MDM), CI/CD, and CDC practices. This individual will emphasize operational excellence, platform modernization, and developer enablement by developing and supporting DataOps practices and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performing database environments across development, test, and production.

Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Individuals must be able to perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Advanced Data Platform Engineering

• DataOps & Automation
  • Drives DataOps maturity through CI/CD, automation, and observability best practices
  • Promotes DataOps practices including automated testing, version control, and deployment orchestration
  • Implements automated promotion processes and environment synchronization, including data overlays
• Platform Reliability & Resilience
  • Ensures platform reliability through proactive monitoring, incident prevention, and resilience engineering
  • Delivers systems with built-in fault tolerance, backup/recovery strategies, and disaster recovery capabilities
• Platform Optimization & Modernization
  • Leads hybrid platform optimization and modernization initiatives
  • Contributes to enterprise data strategy and long-term platform evolution
• Data Governance & Integrity
  • Minimizes data duplication and enforces “single source of truth” principles aligned with MDM strategies
  • Oversees environment consistency and integrity across development, test, and production

Systems Engineering & Project Ownership

• Project Ownership
  • Owns assigned data platform projects by providing analysis, development, testing, and deployment; contributes to larger initiatives through effective collaboration with IT, AppDev and business SMEs.
• Technical Solutioning
  • Leverages deep understanding of business requirements to design and implement scalable, high-performance solutions using existing and new platforms and technologies, ensuring reliability, maintainability, and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Technical Design
  • Leads technical approach discussions and independently develops/proposes designs for complex data projects that meet established standards.
• Lead Implementation
  • Translates architectural designs into complex technical builds. Leads the technical delivery of major projects and peer-reviews all designs for lean management efficiency

Operational Support & Stability

• Troubleshooting
  • Troubleshoots data systems issues (Tier 1/Tier 2) and resolves incidents (dependent on level: common issues / most issues / all issues without escalation).
• 24/7 On-Call
  • Participates in the 24/7 data systems on-call rotation, taking tenacious ownership of system stability and minimizing downtime.
  • Document new fixes discovered during the shift and conducts post-incident review to improve the team's knowledge.
• Operational Excellence
  • Leads the stability of the entire data platform suite. Proactively identifies systemic risks and builds automated recovery/monitoring solutions. Works with the Enterprise Data Architect to optimize and reduce technical debt.
• Platform Upgrades and Patching

Manages data platform upgrades and patching in compliance with policy.

• Vendor Coordination
  • Acts as a technical liaison or Subject Matter Expert when working with vendors to resolve licensing, platform or integration issues.

Governance

• Data Governance
  • Defines solutions that support data quality, data linage, data access control, certified datasets to ensure trust in data assets.
• Security
  • Ensures that new data systems and development adhere to secure authentication and are compliant with access control policies.
• Documentation:
  • Develops and maintains high-quality technical requirements, solutioning, development, system support, and troubleshooting documentation.
• Process Governance:
  • Defines technical documentation standards for data platforms. Ensures the team's technical knowledge base is accurate, searchable, and audit-ready.

Knowledge & Leadership

• Technical Expertise
  • Maintains an in-depth understanding of PERA’s enterprise data systems, business needs across Lines of Business, and underlying network/database environments.
• Mentorship:
  • Shares technical and institutional knowledge with the team, leading training and brainstorming sessions to drive continuous improvement.
• Continuous Learning:
  • Proactively stays current on evolving data technologies and industry best practices through frequent technical learning.
• Technical Liaison:
  • Acts as the primary bridge between the data team and organization’s technical and business teams for daily data operations. Manages data project scope and senior stakeholder expectations.

Performs other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications

• Degree in technical (STEM) field and four years of experience in technical role preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Extensive enterprise data application integration and management experience
• Advanced expertise with relational and transactional databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, DB2, Snowflake, PostgreSQL 
• Expert level SQL data analysis and modeling experience
• Expert level Multi-Tiered Oracle/SQL Server database application development experience using PL/SQL, T-SQL 
• Expertise with multiplatform database performance monitoring and tuning and capacity planning
• In-depth understanding of database, security, server, and network environments preferred.
• Extensive experience with change management, incident tracking and version control
• Experience managing both on-premises and cloud databases including database platform migrations
• Proven success working with cross-functional business and technical teams

• Standard office environment with frequent telephone communication, computer operation, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy and printer machine.
• Occasional moving and positioning supplies in excess of 20 pounds
• All employees are expected to present themselves in a professional manner in alignment with the financial services industry
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Ability to operate standard PC equipment
• Ability to manage frequent deadlines and tight schedules

• Opportunity to work from home up to three days per week after orientation and training subject performance and manager approval. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA's Work from Home Policy.

Interested Candidates:
Complete the employment application online at https://www.copera.org/careers. Please have copies of your resume and cover letter available to upload. Please review the following questions. You will be asked for a response to these questions as part of your application:

1. How do you ensure a deployment did not have unexpected impacts?
2. Provide an example of how you supported a developer team using DataOps automation principles.
3. What is your favorite database platform and why?
4. Tell us about a time you had to solve a complex problem creatively that you’re most proud of.

Job Description Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned with or without notice.

Unfortunately, at this time, PERA cannot consider candidates that require sponsorship (now or in the future), or are located outside of the US.

All Colorado PERA employees are subject to PERA’s Ethics Policy and some employees are subject to the Personal Trading Policy. These policies include restrictions on outside business activities and employment and have certain requirements on personal trading.  You may request copies of these policies from PERA’s talent acquisition team and any questions can be answered by PERA’s Investment Administration team.

Why Work at PERA

Colorado PERA offers more than a traditional pension career. We are a mission-driven organization with a growing focus on technology and modernization. Employees have the opportunity to do meaningful work with a real impact on over 700,000 members. From enhancing digital tools and member experiences to supporting major enterprise initiatives, employees are part of meaningful, future-focused work that blends public service with innovation. We take pride in our inclusive culture, career development opportunities, and our consistent recognition as a Top Workplace based on employee feedback. PERA is a place to connect, contribute, and be part of something bigger.

A Culture That Cares

At PERA, leveraging employee strengths and supporting strong engagement are the foundations of our culture. Employees are encouraged to grow through development opportunities and internal career movement, while also being part of an organization where people feel respected, informed, and included. Collaboration is encouraged across teams, allowing employees to learn from one another and contribute in ways that maximize their unique skills. We strive to foster an environment where employees can do their best work and feel supported by the people around them

An Employer that Invests in You

PERA invests in our employees in ways that matter; from comprehensive benefits and generous paid time-off to thoughtful everyday amenities that enhance the office experience. Employees are encouraged to continue learning through training, mentoring, and development at every stage of their careers. We champion a workplace where people feel valued, inspired, and equipped to grow.

Join Us
If you’re energized by meaningful work, motivated by an organization that evolves with a changing world and looking for an employer that invests in you, then consider joining PERA’s team. Learn more about careers at PERA at copera.org/careers.

Position Title: Database and Data Platform Administrator
Division: Information Technology
Reports to: Investments Technical Services Manager
Job Status: Full-time, Exempt
Salary: $105,000.00 to $125,000.00 Annual, Commensurate with experience
Posting Dates: 07/02/2026 to 07/26/2026