Database Administrator

Zenni Optical•Novato, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Database Administrator (DBA) at Zenni Optical maintains, secures, monitors, and optimizes company databases across on-premises and cloud environments. The role ensures the availability, performance, integrity, and security of production databases supporting critical business applications, reporting, and operational workflows. The DBA works with IT infrastructure, application development, DevOps, and data analytics teams to maintain reliable database operations, automate routine work, and support business continuity. This position requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional who can independently manage routine operations, troubleshoot production issues, document technical procedures, and improve database reliability, security, and scalability. The schedule is hybrid in Novato, California: two days in the office (Monday and Wednesday) and three days remote. On-call responsibilities include an every-other-week rotation supporting onsite servers, as well as ad hoc team support as needed.

Requirements

3–5 years of experience in database administration, database operations, or a related IT role.
Hands-on experience administering at least one major relational database platform, such as Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, or MariaDB.
Working knowledge of SQL, query analysis, indexing, execution plans, and database performance troubleshooting.
Experience with database backups, recovery procedures, replication, and production database maintenance.
Practical experience with Linux server administration and command-line troubleshooting on CentOS, Ubuntu, or related Linux distributions.
Understanding of database security, user and permission management, encryption, and vulnerability remediation.
Experience using monitoring tools to track database availability, performance, and resource utilization.
Basic scripting experience with Bash, Python, PowerShell, PHP, or a similar language.
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
Ability to manage assigned tasks independently, prioritize production issues, and collaborate effectively across technical teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing and supporting databases in on-premises and cloud environments, particularly AWS or GCP.
Hands-on experience with database monitoring and alerting tools, such as Zabbix.
Familiarity with Pervasive PSQL, MySQL, or MariaDB database administration and maintenance.
Familiarity with CI/CD workflows, Git-based version control, and database schema migration practices.
Experience supporting data integration and analytics platforms, including Fivetran and Databricks.
Understanding of high availability, disaster recovery planning, backup strategies, and recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).
Relevant certifications in database administration, cloud platforms, Linux system administration, or related technologies.
Java experience.

Responsibilities

Install, configure, upgrade, and patch database software across on-premises and cloud environments while minimizing service interruptions.
Monitor database health; analyze slow queries and execution plans; identify resource bottlenecks; and implement performance improvements.
Configure, monitor, and troubleshoot database replication to maintain data consistency and support business continuity.
Maintain scheduled backups, validate their integrity, and conduct periodic recovery tests.
Investigate and resolve database incidents, connectivity issues, performance degradation, and replication failures.
Monitor database growth, storage, CPU, memory, and other resource metrics to identify capacity concerns before they affect production.
Perform Linux server administration, including system monitoring, patching, log analysis, disk management, and basic troubleshooting.
Create and manage database accounts, roles, and permissions according to least-privilege principles.
Apply database and operating system security best practices, maintain secure configurations, and address identified vulnerabilities.
Perform routine database maintenance, including index optimization, statistics updates, log management, and storage cleanup.
Develop and maintain scripts using Bash, Python, or similar tools to automate repetitive database tasks.
Configure and maintain monitoring for database availability, performance, replication, backups, storage capacity, and critical service health, using tools such as Zabbix.
Analyze monitoring data and recurring incidents to identify root causes and recommend corrective or preventive actions.
Identify opportunities to reduce manual work, improve consistency, and streamline database operations through automation.
Support database deployment, migration, monitoring, and maintenance in cloud environments, particularly AWS and GCP.
Assist with cloud-native database services and database instances hosted on cloud virtual machines.
Collaborate with data engineering and analytics teams to troubleshoot database connectivity, access, performance, and data availability issues affecting Fivetran, Databricks, and related workflows.
Support database schema changes, deployment activities, and version-controlled database updates in collaboration with application development and DevOps teams.
Implement and maintain encryption, authentication, access controls, and secure database configurations.
Review database accounts and privileges periodically, remove unnecessary access, and investigate suspicious or unauthorized activity.
Track database and operating system vulnerabilities and coordinate timely remediation according to company security requirements.
Follow change-management procedures for database upgrades, configuration changes, maintenance, and production deployments.
Prepare and validate implementation steps, rollback procedures, and recovery plans before production-impacting changes.
Create and maintain database inventories, architecture diagrams, configuration records, standard operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, and recovery procedures.
Document recurring issues and resolutions to improve team knowledge and operational consistency.
Collaborate with infrastructure, security, application, development, and business teams to resolve database-related issues and support business requirements.
Contribute to database migrations, platform upgrades, infrastructure improvements, monitoring initiatives, and other IT projects.
Provide timely updates on incidents, maintenance activities, project progress, and identified risks.

Benefits

Annual bonus program.
Medical, dental, and vision premiums fully covered for employees and 50% covered for dependents.
Basic life and AD&D coverage, with an option for additional voluntary coverage.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
401(k) with up to 4% match.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Spring Health access to free therapy and coaching for employees and dependents.
Free access for employees and their families to the Wellness Coach digital wellness platform.
Flex Time Off (FTO) and a Week of Zen between Christmas and New Year’s.
16 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
Family-forming and fertility support and services through Maven.
Annual Zenni gift card for company products.