Senior Database Engineer

Glencore UK is seeking a Senior Database Administrator to take ownership of a diverse and complex database environment and drive innovation in how we manage and optimize our data platforms.

Our current estate includes Sybase (ASE, IQ & Rep), MS SQL, and Oracle. Expertise in Sybase and MS SQL is essential, while exposure to Oracle and open-source technologies is highly desirable.

This is a hands-on role for an experienced DBA who enjoys solving challenging problems, improving performance, and introducing automation to streamline operations. You’ll have the freedom to shape best practices, influence architectural decisions, and implement DevOps-driven automation to eliminate inefficiencies.

The role includes participation in a weekend Out-Of-Hours support roster as part of the DBA team.

This is an opportunity to work with a varied technology stack and help modernize our approach to data management.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Proven experience in enterprise-scale database environments
• Strong scripting skills and familiarity with Agile methodologies
• A passion for identifying pain points and replacing repetitive tasks with smart automation

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical direction and guidance, recommending improvements to the current infrastructure platforms where appropriate
• Ensure regular and clear updates on systems performance, management and maintenance
• Work closely to ensuring alignment with the DevOps capability within the internal development team wherever relevant
• Attendance of problem management sessions, managing 3rd parties and technical reviews for existing and proposed infrastructure as well as small project activities
• Drive automation and efficiencies using scripting and a DevOps approach wherever possible
• Manage support and escalations, incidents and root cause analysis
• Technical skills transfer to colleagues both UK and abroad
• Support, influence and guide external service providers/internal work streams to a successful outcome
• Develop and implement administration standards and procedures
• Create gap analysis based on operational input on current DBA infrastructure performance standards

Key competencies AND skills

• Thorough knowledge of the DBA concepts and best practices
• Knowledge of IS Architecture concepts and strategies as part of the Enterprise Content responsibility
• Solid understanding of Database design
• Expert level on Sybase ASE, IQ and Rep server
• Experienced with scripting using shell scripting (ksh, bash)
• Ability to think strategically and perform risk analysis
• Ability to accept change and adapt organizational change and shifting priorities
• High work standards with a quality orientation
• Working as part of a team whilst showing an ability to work on own initiative
• Good customer liaison skills and awareness of business requirements.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with leaders, customers, and team members.
• Attention to detail.
• Good problem solving.
• The ability to think quickly under pressure.

Essential:

• Experience of leading medium sized teams
• Subject matter expert in SAP (Sybase) ASE, RepServer & IQ
• Experienced with Sybase IQ migrations
• Strong experience with MS SQL
• Strong experience with SQL programming
• Thorough understanding of shell scripting (bash, ksh and pyton)
• Strong experience with RedHat Linux
• Experienced with Database replication
• Experience managing Delphix data platform
• Experienced with Database clustering, high availability and disaster recovery
• Proven experience of migrating to and managing IQ workloads in SAP Hana Cloud
• Familiarity with Azure SQL administration, tuning and optimisation, Azure security and Azure automation and scripting
• Scripting of DB snapshotting automation (leveraging REST APIs, Pure storage)

Desirable:

• Experienced with Oracle technologies
• Good understanding of Kubernetes technology
• Knowledge of open-source technologies such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
• Project management experience
• Understanding of Intel Windows server technology (Windows 2022 administration)
• Basic understanding of current and emerging Microsoft Technologies
• Basic networking skills LAN/WAN, TCP/IP