Database Administrator

Churchill Downs Incorporated•Austin, TX

About The Position

At Exacta Systems, we’re not just shaping the future of gaming—we’re redefining it. As a leader in historical horse racing (HHR) technology, we create cutting-edge gaming solutions that power thrilling player experiences nationwide. Now part of the Churchill Downs family, we’re backed by a storied legacy of excellence in racing and gaming. This new chapter brings exciting opportunities for growth, stability, innovation, and impact. If you're looking for a career where technology meets tradition and where your ideas drive the future, let’s explore the possibilities together! JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Database Administrator (DBA) to support the reliability, performance, and scalability of our database environments. This role is responsible for managing and optimizing database systems, ensuring data integrity and availability, and supporting engineering teams through effective database design, monitoring, and troubleshooting. The Database Administrator will work closely with Engineering, DevOps, and Product teams to ensure our data systems are performant, secure, and aligned with the needs of a growing, high-throughput platform. This role requires a balance of operational excellence, proactive monitoring, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on maintaining uptime and supporting production environments.

Requirements

Strong experience with relational databases, particularly PostgresSQL
Experience with MongoDB
Experience with database performance tuning, query optimization, and indexing strategies
Familiarity with backup and recovery tools and methodologies
Understanding of high-availability and disaster recovery architectures
Experience working in production environments with uptime and reliability expectations
Knowledge of database security best practices and compliance considerations
Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools
Experience collaborating with teams in Agile environments
Strong problem-solving skills with attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience)
3–6 years of experience in database administration or related roles
Experience supporting production database environments

Nice To Haves

Experience in gaming, financial systems, or other regulated industries is a plus
Experience with cloud-based database environments (AWS, Azure) is a plus

Responsibilities

Monitor, analyze, and optimize database performance across environments to ensure high availability and responsiveness
Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, including query optimization, indexing strategies, and resource utilization
Partner with Engineering teams to improve database design and query efficiency
Install, configure, and maintain database systems (PostgreSQL, MongoDB)
Perform or automate routine database maintenance, including backups, restores, patching, and upgrades
Ensure database environments are stable, secure, and aligned with best practices
Design, implement, and maintain backup and recovery processes to ensure data protection and business continuity
Regularly test and validate backup and disaster recovery procedures
Ensure data integrity and consistency across systems, including replication and synchronization processes
Support production environments by diagnosing and resolving database-related issues in a timely manner
Participate in incident response efforts, including root cause analysis and post-incident documentation
Collaborate with DevOps and Engineering teams to improve system reliability and prevent recurring issues
Implement and maintain database security protocols, including access controls, encryption, and auditing
Ensure database environments meet regulatory and compliance requirements relevant to the gaming industry
Support internal and external audits as needed
Implement and maintain monitoring solutions to proactively identify issues related to performance, capacity, and availability
Automate routine database administration tasks to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention
Partner with IT and DevOps to integrate database monitoring and alerting into broader system observability
Work closely with Software Engineering teams to support database needs throughout the development lifecycle
Provide guidance on database best practices, schema design, and data modeling
Collaborate with Product and Analytics teams to ensure data structures support reporting and business intelligence needs