Database Administrator (DBA)

As a Database Administrator (DBA) at Ellington Solutions, you will be responsible for leveraging your expertise with databases like Microsoft SQL Server, MariaDB, and Postgres. Your duties will involve maintaining bash scripts, performing basic database operations such as dumping and loading, managing transaction logging, and optimizing database performance. Additionally, you'll execute maintenance tasks, implement disaster recovery measures, and ensure compliance and security of databases throughout their lifecycle.

To apply for the Database Administrator (DBA) position at Ellington Solutions, candidates must possess a U.S. Citizenship and an active TS/SCI+FSP Clearance. A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field is required, or alternatively, four years of additional experience in relevant projects may be acceptable in lieu of a degree. Candidates should also have seven years of experience as a database administrator in similar contracts or programs.

A Database Administrator (DBA) at Ellington Solutions should be proficient in running SQL agent jobs for MSSQL and comfortable with software installation on Linux platforms. Familiarity with Redhat Ansible, Kubernetes for container orchestration, and basic knowledge of nLyte, as well as experience with automating data flows using NIFI, are valuable skills. Candidates should also have hands-on experience with Wazuh and HAProxy.

Beneficial experience for the Database Administrator (DBA) role at Ellington Solutions includes seven years of direct experience with database administration, specifically focusing on performance tuning, transaction logging, and database dump/load operations. Familiarity with managing user identities through Active Directory and experience with tools such as Salt for deploying configurations will also be advantageous.

At Ellington Solutions, Database Administrators (DBAs) are expected to work with various tools and technologies, including Microsoft SQL Server, MariaDB, Postgres, Redhat Ansible, Kubernetes, Ranger/Docker, and NIFI. Familiarity with virtualization tools like Vcenter/Vsphere is also beneficial, along with the ability to handle PKI certificates and perform configuration management using tools like Wazuh and Saltstack.

When answering this question, provide specific examples from your past roles where you successfully tuned database performance. Highlight the tools you used, such as SQL Profiler or performance dashboards, and the results from your tuning efforts, such as query speed improvement or reduced resource consumption.

To respond to this question, discuss the security measures you've implemented, such as regular audits, user access controls, and encryption methods. Emphasize how you monitor databases for potential vulnerabilities and maintain compliance with regulations to preserve data integrity.

Share detailed examples of backup and recovery strategies you have used. Talk about frequency, types of backups (full, differential, incremental), and recovery testing processes. Highlight any specific tools you have used, such as RMAN for Oracle databases or native SQL Server tools.

Explain your approach to diagnosing and resolving deadlock situations. Discuss tools or methods you've applied, such as query analysis and isolation level adjustments, along with any preventive measures you've established to minimize deadlocks in your databases.

Detail your experience with containerization and orchestration using Kubernetes. Provide examples of how you have deployed databases within a container environment, including any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Discuss your understanding of scaling and managing databases in microservices architectures.

In your answer, walk the interviewer through your troubleshooting process. Discuss how you would analyze the query execution plan, identify bottlenecks, and apply optimization techniques such as indexing, rewriting queries, or adjusting database configurations for better performance.

Discuss the version control tools you utilize, such as Git, for managing database scripts and changes. Describe your collaborative practices, including code reviews and handling migrations to ensure consistent deployment of changes across environments.

In response, talk about how you assess current and projected database usage, potential growth trends, and how this informs your capacity plans for hardware resources. Highlight any predictive analytics tools or methodologies you employ to foresee scaling needs.

Explain the monitoring solutions you have implemented, such as using native monitoring tools or third-party tools. Discuss the metrics you focus on (such as CPU usage, response times, and query performance) and how you establish alerting mechanisms to proactively address performance issues.

Outline your disaster recovery plan, focusing on immediate actions to rectify the failure and restore services. Discuss communication with stakeholders, the failover process, and steps taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, reinforcing your commitment to reliability and uptime.