Database Administrator

Job Description

ECS is seeking a Database Administrator to work in our Arlington, VA office / remote .

Overview

The Database Administrator will play a critical role in supporting federal IT modernization initiatives by designing, implementing, and maintaining robust database systems that enable the transformation of legacy systems into modern, secure, and efficient platforms. This position requires expertise in both traditional and cloud-native database technologies to support mission-critical applications serving federal agencies and the public. The successful candidate will work within a collaborative environment to ensure data integrity, security, and performance while adhering to federal compliance requirements and best practices.

This role offers the opportunity to directly impact government operations and citizen services through the modernization of critical IT infrastructure. The Database Administrator will work alongside cross-functional teams including software developers, system architects, cybersecurity specialists, and program managers to deliver scalable database solutions that meet evolving federal requirements.

Responsibilities

Database Design and Implementation

• Design and implement database architectures for modern applications replacing legacy federal systems

• Migrate data from legacy systems to cloud-based and hybrid database platforms

• Develop and maintain database schemas, tables, views, stored procedures, and functions

• Create and execute database migration strategies and rollback procedures

• Implement database partitioning, clustering, and distribution strategies for large-scale federal datasets
  
  

Performance and Optimization

• Monitor database performance and implement optimization strategies to ensure efficient operations

• Conduct performance tuning for queries, indexes, and database configurations

• Establish and maintain database capacity planning and scaling procedures

• Implement automated monitoring and alerting systems for proactive database management

• Optimize database resources to meet service level agreements and performance benchmarks
  
  

Security and Compliance

• Implement and maintain database security controls in accordance with federal standards (FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST)

• Configure database encryption, access controls, and authentication mechanisms

• Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability management activities

• Ensure compliance with federal data protection requirements and privacy regulations

• Maintain audit trails and logging mechanisms for regulatory compliance and forensic analysis
  
  

Backup, Recovery, and Business Continuity

• Design and implement comprehensive backup and disaster recovery strategies

• Test and validate database recovery procedures and document recovery time objectives

• Maintain high availability database configurations including failover and redundancy systems

• Develop and execute business continuity plans for critical database systems

• Coordinate with infrastructure teams to ensure integrated disaster recovery capabilities

Collaboration and Documentation

• Work closely with development teams to support application database requirements

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to junior database professionals

• Create and maintain comprehensive database documentation including procedures, configurations, and architectural diagrams

• Participate in change management processes and coordinate database deployments

• Support 24/7 operations through on-call rotation and emergency response procedures

Required Skills

• U.S. Citizen

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science , Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent professional experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Database Administrator in enterprise environments

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DHS Public Trust suitability determination

Desired Skills

• Proficiency in relational database management systems (PostgreSQL)

• Strong experience with cloud database platforms (AWS RDS )

• Proficiency in SQL programming, query optimization, and database performance tuning

• Experience with database security implementation and federal compliance frameworks

• Knowledge of backup and recovery procedures, high availability, and disaster recovery planning

• Understanding of database monitoring tools and automated management systems

• Previous experience working on federal IT modernization or government consulting projects

• Certification in database technologies (Oracle DBA, Microsoft SQL Server, AWS Database Specialty)

• Experience with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB)

• Knowledge of DevOps practices and database automation tools (Terraform, Ansible, Chef)

• Experience with containerized database deployments (Docker, Kubernetes)

• Familiarity with data warehousing and business intelligence platforms

• Understanding of federal IT procurement and project management processes

• Database administration across multiple platforms and versions

• Database migration tools and methodologies

• Performance monitoring and optimization tools (Oracle Enterprise Manager, SQL Server Management Studio, pgAdmin )

• Scripting languages (Python, PowerShell, Bash) for database automation

• Version control systems and collaborative development practices

• Cloud infrastructure and platform-as-a-service technologies

• Network protocols and security configurations relevant to database connectivity

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences

• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and matrix organizations

• Adaptability to rapidly changing technology landscapes and federal requirements

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Customer service orientation with focus on supporting mission-critical government operations

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ECS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis any characteristic protected by law. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local jurisdiction law.

ECS is a leading mid-sized provider of technology services to the United States Federal Government. We are focused on people, values and purpose. Every day, our 3300+ employees focus on providing their technical talent to support the Federal Agencies and Departments of the US Government to serve, protect and defend the American People.