Senior Database Administrator

We are adding a Senior Database Administrator to our team!

Who We Are:

Since 1909, National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) has been one of America’s most successful and highly rated independent life insurance companies. We specialize in a suite of innovative products for life’s journey, giving people the financial stability, careful guidance and peace of mind to lead a life filled with confidence, dignity and grace.

NGL's Core Values – integrity, dependability, collaboration, compassion and growth are a foundation of our company and help to build on the interactions we have with our policyholders, partners, funeral homes and each other. We believe in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is encouraged to live their best, most authentic self. We offer Employee Resource Groups for employees to get involved, learn, network, and offer professional and personal development opportunities.

With over 100 years of experience, our passion is to serve people. Learn more. 

Work Environment: NGL offers a flexible work environment where employees can work fully remote, hybrid or onsite at our Madison, Wis. office. We support virtual working arrangements in certain states outside of WI.

A Day in the Life:

The Senior Database Administrator is responsible for performing and overseeing database administration and development of database systems, following best practices for development, testing, implementation and maintenance. Additional responsibilities include providing cloud-specific expertise, including database management (SQL/NoSQL), cloud platform proficiency (AWS, Azure, GCP), automation and scripting (Python, Shell, Terraform), and security and compliance. The Senior Database Administrator works closely with NGL’s Enterprise Architect, Developers, System Administrators, and Security to ensure high availability, performance, and security of databases that support NGL’s systems. Tasks assigned to this level require an in-depth understanding of the business processes and solution requirements, as well as the ability to identify and foresee problems, and the ability to perform analyses in order to recommend a resolution. Incumbent must be able to work in a changing, fluid environment that is dedicated to continuous improvement. This position operates under minimal supervision in a team environment.

Primary Responsibilities: 

Database Administration

• Responsible for availability and performance of all databases.
• Plan and perform maintenance functions on databases and database applications including moves, rebuilds, backups, upgrades and restores.
• Proactively monitor database systems with tools to ensure secure services with minimum downtime.
• Troubleshoot and resolve database integrity issues, performance issues, blocking and deadlocking issues, replication issues, log shipping issues, connectivity issues, and security issues.
• Install and configure new database servers.
• Upgrade existing database servers.
• Ensure all database servers are backed up, test backups, and document disaster recovery procedures to ensure we can meet the business’ Recovery Time Objectives (RTO).
• Setup and maintain PostgreSQL, SQL Server Enterprise, and DynamoDB databases.
• Provision resources on AWS using Terraform.
• Evaluate and recommend tools and methods to improve Database Systems management and automation.
• Anticipate system/application challenges and propose solutions; recommend improvements to existing database servers and software as necessary.
• Implement and enforce security measures, manage access controls, and ensure the overall integrity, accuracy, and consistency of data.
• Ensure appropriate users/authority or self-service solutions are in place, grant authority to Local DBAs as necessary.
• Ensure all databases are patched with security updates according to the patching schedule.
• Provide trend analysis to management to enable decisions regarding resource management.
• Responsible for accountability on all projects, that proper communication is maintained with the appropriate contacts and that there is continued increase of knowledge.

Production Support

• When performance issues arise, determine the most effective way to increase performance including best practices, configuration changes, and index/query changes.
• Document processes and train Database Administrators to insure they fully understand and can perform maintenance and recovery on all of NGL’s databases and database applications.
• Troubleshoot and resolve outages and database issues for both internal and third-party business customers, including after-hours and weekends.
• Provide off-hours support of scheduled production processing and system maintenance.
• Configure database server monitoring utilities to minimize false alarms.
• Write, optimize, and troubleshoot Stored Procedures, Triggers, Views, Indexed Views, etc.

M&A Support

• Collaborate with the team and business areas to develop, coordinate and execute plans to ensure successful acquisition project.
• Participate in efforts to convert and implement merged or acquired business.

Other

• Provide mentorship, guidance and support to developing team members.
• Lead and contribute to the training and onboarding of new and existing team members.
• Work as part of an Agile team and provide 7×24 support when required.
• Participate in Quarterly Planning, Daily Stand-up, Release Planning, Review and Retrospective meetings.
• Continually develop skill-sets and abilities to keep them relevant, current and applicable to NGL's current and future needs.
• Participate in and perform code/design reviews; strive for continuous improvement of code quality and development practices.
• Follow software development life cycle and quality assurance best practices and governance.
• Actively participate in virtual team meetings to promote collaboration and connection.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed.

Essential to Your Success:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Critical thinking, analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent technical and non-technical communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Excellent organizational skills and time/priority management
• Ability to understand high-level architecture and design content, and how it relates to implementation deployment
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of relevant business and system operations, policies, and procedures
• Working knowledge of DevOps methodologies and tools, such as Jenkins and Kubernetes, to integrate database management into the software development lifecycle
• Required System Proficiencies:
  • T-SQL (Microsoft SQL Server) / SQL Server Management Studio
  • SQL Server monitoring tools, Profiler traces, DMV queries, sp_BlitzIndex®
  • Microsoft Visual Studio / SSIS package development
  • Reporting/SSRS/Crystal Reports
  • SQL Availability Groups
  • Terraform and CloudFormation templates in AWS
  • AWS RDS PostgreSQL
• Preferred System Proficiencies:
  • Line-of-Business Administration Systems: ID3, OnBase
  • Microsoft Core Technology stack
  • NoSQL administration experience
  • Scripting languages (e.g., PowerShell, Bash) for automating routine tasks like backups, monitoring, and maintenance

Education Requirements:

• Preferred: 4 Year /Bachelors Degree
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology/Systems, or other related field.

Years of Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of on-call troubleshooting experience, SQL Server production databases and Microsoft SSIS.
• A minimum of 5 years of Microsoft SQL Server tools and management (T-SQL).
• A minimum of three years of utilizing cloud-base database services preferred.
• Expertise in at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) with specific experience in cloud-based database services such as AWS RDS/Aurora or Azure SQL Database preferred.

NGL is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

NGL is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [email protected].