Database Engineer, Senior at InsideHigherEd

Job Title: Database Engineer, Senior Location: USO-Information Tech Services Regular/Temporary: Regular Full/Part Time: Full-Time Job ID: 292383 About Us The University System of Georgia (USG) is comprised of 26 higher education institutions as well as the University System Office (USO). Within the USO, our administrative operations are primarily housed in the Trinity Washington Building located in downtown Atlanta. Our Information Technology Services (ITS) division is located in Athens. The University System of Georgia Shared Services Center (SSC) is located in Sandersville. The Georgia Public Library System is located in Atlanta. The Georgia Archives is located in Morrow. The State of Georgia Records Center is located in Austell.Location This role is based at the Information Technology Services (ITS) office in Athens, Georgia, located at 2500 Daniells Bridge Road. Onsite attendance is required five days a week, and remote work is not offered for this positionThis position is for permanent, full-time employment. Candidates must reside in the state of Georgia or be willing to relocate to Georgia as a condition of employment.Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or support visa transfers for this position at any point in time. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.Job Summary The Senior Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for the design, administration, and optimization of database environments supporting the University System of Georgia's enterprise applications, including PeopleSoft HCM, Financials, and Augusta Financials. This position ensures secure, high-performing, and reliable operation of application, web, and database servers, and supports integrations with third-party and cloud-based systems.The Senior DBA will play a key technical role in the Unified ERP Project, assisting in data conversion and integrations as USG transitions from PeopleSoft to Workday. The role combines traditional database administration expertise with strong understanding of data movement, security, and integration architecture across hybrid (on-premise and cloud) systems.Responsibilities Database Administration & MaintenanceAdminister Oracle databases supporting PeopleSoft HCM, Financials, and Augusta Financials applications.Apply PeopleSoft releases, upgrades, patches, and tools updates across development, test, QA, and production environments.Perform performance tuning, query optimization, and troubleshooting of long-running jobs and database-related issues.Manage backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies to ensure system resiliency and business continuity.Conduct server refreshes, manage file transfer requests, and clear application and web server caches as required.Oversee database password updates and security access reviews.Change Management & System GovernanceAdminister and upgrade the Phire change management application.Coordinate workflow, approvals, and deployment processes for application changes across environments.Maintain adherence to USG change management and data governance policies.ERP Transition & Integration SupportSupport the Unified ERP Project by assisting with data conversion and migration from PeopleSoft to Workday.Collaborate with developers, architects, and business analysts to support integration design and secure data movement between Workday, legacy systems, and third-party vendors.Participate in developing and maintaining data validation and reconciliation processes to ensure accuracy and completeness during transition.Apply principles of integration architecture, API usage, and middleware tools to facilitate scalable, secure data exchange.Security, Compliance & OptimizationImplement and monitor database and application security best practices to protect institutional data.Ensure compliance with higher education data privacy regulations and USG security standards.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure database configurations, integrations, and data exchanges adhere to established security and governance frameworks.Perform system performance tuning and optimization across databases and integration points.Collaboration, Leadership & DocumentationPartner with infrastructure, application, and integration teams to ensure system reliability and coordinated deployments.Document database configurations, operational procedures, and integration specifications.Mentor junior technical staff and contribute to knowledge-sharing within the Administrative Services Development Team.Stay current with database, integration, and Workday technologies; recommend improvements and new approaches for efficiency and security.Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field.7+ years of progressive experience in database administration for large enterprise systems.Proven experience managing Oracle databases supporting ERP applications (preferably PeopleSoft).Strong proficiency in SQL, PL/SQL, and database performance tuning.Experience applying upgrades, patches, and tools updates.Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.Ability to balance hands-on technical tasks with collaborative teamwork across functional and technical areas.Required Qualifications Experience supporting Phire or other change management tools.Direct experience supporting PeopleSoft HCM and Financials environments.Familiarity with Workday integration tools (Workday Studio, EIB, Core Connectors).Experience assisting in ERP transitions or hybrid integration projects.Experience in higher education or public sector IT environments.Knowledge of middleware or iPaaS technologies (e.g., Dell Boomi, MuleSoft, SnapLogic). Working knowledge of integration concepts and tools (e.g., APIs, REST/SOAP web services, ETL).Familiarity with both on-premise and cloud infrastructure and SaaS integration patterns.Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities ABILITIESAbility to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks through query optimization, indexing strategies, database parameter tuning, and resource utilization monitoring.KNOWLEDGEAdvanced knowledge of SQL (Structured Query Language) for querying and manipulating data, writing complex stored procedures, triggers, and functions.Proficiency in scripting languages such as PowerShell or Shell scripting to automate routine administrative tasks, monitoring, and reporting.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to diagnose and resolve database-related issues, including performance problems, data corruption, and connectivity issues.SKILLSProficiency in working with Oracle database management systems.Hands-on experience in database administration tasks such as installation, configuration, backup and recovery, performance tuning, and security management.USG Core Values The University System of Georgia (USG) includes twenty-six public institutions of higher education and the System Office. At USG, we are united by a shared commitment to Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect-our Core Values that guide how we work, collaborate, and serve.We foster a workplace culture that values innovation, service, and continuous learning, and uphold a strong commitment to ethical conduct and academic freedom.Our policies reflect our dedication to these principles, as outlined in the USG Statement of Core Values, the Code of Conduct, and the Board Policy on Freedom of Expression.Join us and become part of a mission-driven team that helps support and advance higher education across Georgia. Conditions of Employment Offers of employment are subject to federal and state laws, as well as the statutes, rules, and regulations of this institution, and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG). These Bylaws and Policies are available for inspection upon request.Other Information This is not a supervisory position.This position does not have any financial responsibilities.This position will not be required to drive.This role is considered a position of trust.This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).This position may travel 1% - 24% of the timeThis position does not require security clearance.Background Check Offers of employment are subject to a background investigation, including criminal records history, to determine eligibility for employment. Additionally, credentials and employment history stated in your application materials are also subject to verification.For certain positions, a satisfactory credit check, MVR, or other relevant investigations may also be conducted. The University System Office holds the sole discretion in assessing eligibility for employment.