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Intermediate Database Administrator (SQL Server & PostgreSQL)

Role Summary

We are seeking an Intermediate Database Administrator (DBA) with expertise in Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL to join our ICT team in South Africa. This is a permanent, hybrid role (mix of on-site and remote work) geared toward a mid-level professional with a solid track record in database administration. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing and maintaining customer database environments across both SQL Server and PostgreSQL platforms, ensuring their optimal performance, high availability, and integrity. You will play a key role in database planning, development, and troubleshooting to support seamless. This position offers an opportunity to work on enterprise-grade database systems, uphold industry standards (ISO-aligned processes and ITIL principles), and contribute to continuous improvements in how we deliver reliable data services.

Key Responsibilities

  • Database Administration: Install, configure, and maintain multiple SQL Server and PostgreSQL database instances across on-premises and cloud environments. Ensure databases are properly patched, upgraded, and running on supported versions for optimal stability and supportability
  • Performance Monitoring & Tuning: Continuously monitor database performance (e.g. query execution, indexing, resource utilization) and proactively tune configurations or SQL queries to optimize throughput and response times. Identify potential issues early and resolve bottlenecks to maintain optimal uptime and efficiency.
  • Backup & Recovery: Implement and oversee regular backup routines for both SQL Server and PostgreSQL databases. Perform periodic disaster recovery tests to verify that backups are reliable, and data can be restored successfully in accordance with RTO/RPO objectives. Develop and maintain database failover and recovery procedures to minimize downtime in the event of data loss or corruption.
  • Security & Access Control: Ensure robust database security by managing user accounts, roles, and permissions in line with best practices. Monitor for unauthorized access or anomalies and maintain compliance with data protection standards (e.g. ISO 27001 information security). This includes implementing encryption, data masking or other security measures where appropriate to safeguard sensitive information.
  • High Availability & Maintenance: Configure and support high-availability solutions such as database replication, clustering, or Always On Availability Groups (for SQL Server) and streaming replication or failover mechanisms (for PostgreSQL) to guarantee minimal downtime. Schedule and perform routine maintenance tasks (index rebuild, statistics updates, vacuuming, etc.) during appropriate maintenance windows to keep databases healthy.
  • Capacity Planning: Track storage utilization and database growth trends. Plan for capacity and future scaling needs of databases, ensuring that the infrastructure can handle increasing volumes of data and. Coordinate with infrastructure teams on provisioning storage, memory, and CPU resources for database servers based on forecasted requirements.
  • Documentation & Compliance: Document database configurations, standard operating procedures, and change logs for all database environments. Maintain up-to-date data dictionaries and ER diagrams for critical databases. Ensure that all database operations and changes adhere to ISO-aligned processes (with proper documentation and controls) and ITIL service management principles (e.g. change management, incident/problem management). Following ITIL best practices helps align database work with organizational goals, enables effective change execution, and fosters continuous improvement.
  • Support & Troubleshooting: Act as a go-to expert for database-related issues. Investigate and resolve database incidents (performance lags, errors, failures) in a timely manner, including after-hours support when necessary. Perform root cause analysis for recurring issues and implement preventative solutions. On-call rotation may be required to ensure 24/7 support for critical customer systems.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with software developers, data analysts, and system administrators to support application development and reporting needs. Assist developers in writing efficient SQL queries, optimizing schema designs, and debugging database procedures. Provide database-related guidance during project planning to ensure new applications or features are designed with best-practice data architecture.
  • Customer Environment Management: Maintain and administer customer database environments, ensuring that service level agreements (SLAs) for availability and performance are met. Communicate effectively with customers or internal stakeholders about database changes, upgrades, or incidents, managing expectations and providing professional support.
  • Continuous Improvement: Proactively seek opportunities to improve database operations. This includes automating routine tasks (using scripts or tools), refining monitoring mechanisms, and suggesting enhancements to improve reliability or efficiency. Stay up-to-date with the latest database technologies, features, and industry trends, and evaluate their potential adoption in our environment. You may also mentor junior DBAs or IT support staff by sharing knowledge of database procedures and best practices, helping to build the overall capability of the team.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

  • Experience: Approximately 3-5 years of experience as a Database Administrator (or in a related database engineering role) managing Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL databases in production.
  • Experience should include performance tuning, backup/recovery implementation, and security management on both database platforms.
  • Education: Formal qualification in a related IT field is required (or equivalent work experience).
  • Database Expertise: Proven proficiency in SQL Server (2008/2012/2016 or newer) as well as PostgreSQL (experience with recent versions). This includes ability to write and optimize complex SQL queries and stored procedures, design and modify database schemas, and use relevant administration tools (e.g. SQL Server Management Studio, pgAdmin). Knowledge of both Transact-SQL (T-SQL) and PostgreSQL PL/pgSQL is expected.
  • Performance & Tuning: Hands-on experience with database performance monitoring and tuning techniques. Familiarity with using performance analysis tools and execution plan tuning in SQL Server, as well as understanding of query plans and indexing in PostgreSQL. Ability to diagnose slow queries and implement indexing or query refactoring to improve performance is important.
  • Backup/Recovery & HA: Strong knowledge of backup strategies (full/differential/log backups in SQL Server; pg_dump, pg_basebackup, etc. in PostgreSQL) and restore procedures. Experience setting up and managing high availability and disaster recovery solutions (such as log shipping, failover clustering, replication, or AlwaysOn for SQL; streaming replication or Patroni for PostgreSQL). You should be comfortable performing recovery drills and ensuring backups meet RPO/RTO requirements.
  • Security & Compliance: Solid understanding of database security best practices, including user roles, permissions, and network access controls. Experience implementing data security measures (encryption at rest and in transit, row-level security, etc.) is a plus. Awareness of compliance frameworks like ISO 27001 and data privacy laws (e.g. POPIA) in the context of database management is advantageous, to ensure customer data is handled securely and compliantly.
  • ITIL & Process Orientation: Prior exposure to working in an ITIL-based environment or following formal IT Service Management processes is highly beneficial. For example, experience with change management (planning and getting approvals for database changes), incident management (using a ticketing system to track issues), and problem management (identifying root causes of recurring issues) will help in aligning with our operational standards. An ITIL Foundation certification is a plus, demonstrating knowledge of these best practices.
  • Operating Systems & Scripting: Competency in operating systems that commonly host databases – Windows Server for SQL Server and Linux for PostgreSQL. Ability to perform basic OS-level troubleshooting and resource monitoring (CPU, memory, I/O) on database servers. Scripting skills (PowerShell, Bash, or Python) to automate routine DBA tasks or manage infrastructure as code are a bonus.
  • Certifications: Relevant professional certifications are highly regarded. For example, a Microsoft SQL Server certification such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (or the retired MCSA/MCSE in SQL Server) validates your SQL Server expertise. Certification in PostgreSQL (such as EnterpriseDB’s PostgreSQL Associate or Professional certifications) or any database-specific training is a plus. Additional certifications in cloud platforms (AWS/Azure database services) or ITIL could also be beneficial.

Soft Skills & Competencies

  • Communication: Excellent communication skills are essential. The DBA must be able to communicate well across all business units – translating technical issues or requirements into clear, understandable terms for non-technical stakeholders, and vice versa You’ll often coordinate with developers, managers, and client representatives, so being articulate and professional is key.
  • Analytical Problem-Solving: A high level of analytical thinking is required to troubleshoot complex database issues and solve problems effectively. The ideal candidate has a proactive mindset to identify potential problems before they impact users, and the creativity to devise innovative solutions or workarounds.
  • Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and a thorough, methodical approach to work are critical traits for a DBA. Databases underpin critical systems, so the DBA must diligently follow procedures (for backups, restores, changes, etc.) and double-check configurations to avoid errors. Accuracy in script writing and an eye for anomalies in monitoring data will serve you well in this role.
  • Organizational Skills: Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently in a fast-paced environment. There may be multiple projects and maintenance activities happening concurrently (e.g., setting up a new database for a project while also handling performance tuning on another system). Being organized ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
  • Teamwork & Collaboration: A collaborative attitude and teamwork skills are important. While this role requires a good deal of independent work, you’ll also be part of a broader IT operations team. You should be willing to assist colleagues, share knowledge, and contribute to team problem-solving sessions. Similarly, be open to receiving guidance from senior DBAs and architects.
  • Customer Service Orientation: For customer-facing environments, a strong customer service mentality is valuable. This means being responsive to user or client concerns, maintaining professionalism under pressure (such as during a critical outage), and striving to meet or exceed client expectations in terms of service quality.
  • Adaptability: The ICT industry is constantly evolving. We need someone who is flexible and eager to learn new technologies or methods. Whether it’s a new performance tuning tool, a cloud database service, or an update to ITIL processes, the Intermediate DBA should adapt quickly and incorporate new knowledge to improve their work.

Additional Information

Location: South Africa (candidates should be based in South Africa and able to work on-site in Gauteng as needed). This is a hybrid position, so a reliable home office setup and internet connection for remote workdays are required. Occasional travel to client sites or data centres may be part of the job when on-site interventions are necessary.

Employment Type: Permanent, full-time. Normal working hours apply, with flexibility for after-hours maintenance or urgent issue resolution. The role is within the ICT industry, providing database services for enterprise systems (potentially across multiple customers or business units).

Culture & Growth: Join a dynamic tech team where innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement are part of the culture. We value initiative – if you see an area where we can do better (be it process, performance, or new technology), we encourage you to speak up. The intermediate DBA role is a great stepping stone toward senior DBA or database architecture positions; we provide opportunities for training, mentorship from senior experts, and involvement in exciting projects.

How to Apply: Interested candidates should prepare an updated CV highlighting relevant SQL Server/PostgreSQL projects and achievements, and a brief cover letter. We invite you to submit your application to [email protected]. Only applicants with the necessary qualifications and experience will be considered. If you do not hear back from us within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion.