Principal Oracle Database Administrator (Exadata & Migrations)

Principal / Lead Oracle Database Administrator (Exadata & Migrations)
Duration: 6 to 9 Months
Location: US Remote
Rate: C2c

MUST HAVE 15+ YEARS EXPERINCE CANDIDATE, MUST HAVE ARCHITECT LEVEL EXPEREINCE.

Position Overview
We are seeking a Principal Oracle Database Administrator to serve as our top-tier technical authority for mission-critical data platforms. In this role, you will architect, optimize, and secure high-volume enterprise databases. Your primary mission will be leading a major strategic initiative: migrating our high-performance databases from Oracle Exadata environments over to custom Oracle RAC (Real Application Clusters) infrastructure, ensuring minimal downtime and zero data loss.
This is a senior engineering and leadership role requiring expert-level knowledge of Oracle RAC, ASM (Automatic Storage Management), Exadata features, and advanced cross-platform migration methodologies.
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Key Responsibilities
Migration Architecture & Execution
Design and execute the end-to-end strategy for migrating terabyte-scale databases from Exadata to Oracle RAC environments.
Independently run deep discovery of Source Exadata Databases, ensure target RAC cluster readiness and build migration plan.
Formulate fallback strategies and perform rigorous proof-of-concept testing to guarantee minimal business disruption.
Decouple Exadata-specific features (such as Smart Scans, Storage Indexes, and Hybrid Columnar Compression) to run optimally on standard RAC and ASM structures.
Utilize advanced data movement tools, including Oracle GoldenGate for zero-downtime replication, RMAN cross-platform transportable tablespaces, Oracle Data Guard and parallel Data Pump.
Infrastructure & Cluster Administration
Install, configure, patch, and maintain complex Oracle 19c/23ai RAC and Grid Infrastructure environments.
Manage and optimize ASM disk groups, failure groups, and storage striping for optimal I/O throughput.
Administer on-premises Exadata database machines (compute nodes, storage cells via CellCLI/DCLI, and InfiniBand/RoCE networking) prior to migration phases.
Troubleshoot complex cluster issues including node evictions, split-brain scenarios, OCR/Voting disk corruptions, and interconnect bottlenecks.
Performance Tuning & Operations
Diagnose and resolve the hardest database performance issues using AWR, ASH, ADDM, and OS-level statistics.
Re-tune SQL statements and execution plans post-migration to compensate for the absence of Exadata storage offloading.
Provide Tier-3 escalation support for mission-critical 24x7 production databases.
Mentor junior and mid-level DBAs, establishing unified standards and automation frameworks across the team.
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Required Technical Skills & Qualifications
Experience
Minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in Oracle Database Administration.
Proven track record as a Lead or Principal DBA overseeing large-scale database modernization and platform migration initiatives.
Core Technical Competencies
Oracle RAC & Grid Infrastructure: Deep expertise with Oracle 12c, 19c, and 23ai clusterware, SRVCTL, CRSCTL, and SCAN configurations.
Storage Management: Advanced knowledge of Oracle ASM, disk rebalancing, and volume management.
Oracle Exadata: Hands-on administration of Exadata storage servers, cell software, and flash cache optimization.
Migration & Replication Tools: Mastery of Oracle GoldenGate, RMAN, Data Guard and Data Pump for large data moves.
Operating Systems: Strong proficiency in Oracle Linux or RedHat Enterprise Linux, including shell scripting (bash, ksh) for automation.
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Education & Certifications
Education: Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related engineering field.
Preferred Certifications: Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or Oracle Certified Master (OCM).