Senior SQL/Oracle DBA

Title: Senior SQL/Oracle DBA 
Location: The Woodlands, TX 77380 (Hybrid: 3 days onsite / 2 days remote)
Duration: Contract to Hire 
Work Requirements: , Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S. 

Senior Database Administrator (SQL Server & Oracle) – Hands-On (Cloud + On-Prem)

Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Senior Database Administrator (DBA) to own and operate our SQL Server and Oracle database environments across cloud and on-premises platforms. This role is responsible for ensuring availability, performance, security, recoverability, and scalability of critical database platforms. You will work closely with application teams, infrastructure, security, and data engineering to monitor, troubleshoot, tune, automate, and continuously improve database operations and reliability.
This position is ideal for a DBA who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys solving complex issues, and has deep expertise in monitoring, troubleshooting, fine-tuning, backup/recovery, HA/DR, upgrades, and automation.

Key Responsibilities
Database Operations & Reliability (Core)

• Own day-to-day administration of SQL Server and Oracle environments (cloud and on-prem), including installation, configuration, patching, upgrades, and lifecycle management.
• Ensure databases meet SLAs for availability, performance, and recoverability through proactive monitoring, alerting, and capacity planning.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting of production incidents
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) and implement preventative improvements to reduce repeat incidents.

Performance Tuning & Optimization

• Diagnose and optimize database performance using execution plans, indexing strategy, statistics management, query tuning, and parameter/workload analysis.
• Perform database-level tuning
• Partner with developers and data engineers to improve schema design, query patterns, and data access strategies.

High Availability / Disaster Recovery

• Design, implement, and maintain HA/DR solutions for SQL Server and Oracle.
• Own backup/restore strategy and routinely validate recovery via restore testing and DR drills.
• Maintain runbooks and ensure operational readiness for failover/failback.

Security, Compliance & Governance

• Implement database security best practices: access controls, least privilege, auditing, encryption, secrets management, and vulnerability remediation.
• Work with security teams to meet compliance requirements (e.g., SOX, HIPAA, PCI, depending on your environment).
• Manage database object permissions, role-based access, and secure connectivity.

Cloud + On-Prem Platform Engineering

• Operate databases in Azure and on-prem infrastructure.
• Support cloud migration initiatives and hybrid architectures; advise on managed services vs. self-managed database deployments.
• Improve platform resiliency and cost efficiency through right-sizing and resource optimization.

Automation & Tooling

• Build and maintain automation for routine DBA tasks (health checks, index/statistics maintenance, backups, patching support, reporting).
• Develop scripts and tools using languages such as PowerShell, Python, T-SQL, PL/SQL, and scheduling/orchestration solutions.
• Enhance observability using database monitoring tools.

Documentation & Collaboration

• Maintain clear documentation and runbooks for operational procedures, standards, and incident response.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior DBAs and technical teams.
• Participate in on-call rotation and support after-hours maintenance windows as needed.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in database administration covering SQL Server and Oracle in production environments.
• Deep expertise across core DBA functions:
  • Monitoring & alerting, troubleshooting, performance tuning
  • Backup/recovery, HA/DR, patching/upgrades, capacity planning
  • Security hardening, access control, and auditing
• Strong knowledge of database internals and performance diagnostics:
  • SQL Server DMVs, wait stats, execution plans
  • Oracle AWR/ASH, explain plans, redo/undo behavior
• Experience supporting hybrid environments (cloud + on-prem) and working with infrastructure/network/storage teams.
• Hands-on scripting/automation ability (e.g., PowerShell, Python, shell scripting) and strong SQL skills (T-SQL, PL/SQL).
• Proven ability to manage production incidents, lead RCAs, and improve operational stability.

• Experience with cloud-native or managed database services (Azure SQL)
• Experience with database migration tooling and methodologies.
• Familiarity with DevOps/IaC and CI/CD patterns for database changes (e.g., Git, Terraform, Ansible, Liquibase/Flyway).
• Certifications (optional but valued):
  • Microsoft (Azure/SQL), Oracle OCP, Azure cloud certs

Our benefits package includes:

• Comprehensive medical benefits

• Competitive pay

• 401(k) retirement plan

• ...and much more!

About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients'' business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business, we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at inspyrsolutions.com.

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.