Database Administrator

Unissant, Inc. delivers innovative capabilities to the agencies that keep our nation healthy and safe. We apply our domain expertise, data acumen, and technology know-how to achieve breakthrough results for our clients. Working collaboratively, we advance missions and careers through a focus on honesty, integrity, and dependability. We continuously look for talent, excited to join that effort. To learn more about our exciting organization, please visit us at www.unissant.com.

Unissant is seeking a Database Administrator to support a newly awarded program for a federal health agency. Administer assigned application databases to maintain availability, data integrity, performance, recoverability, and secure access.

The ideal candidate brings practical delivery experience, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach to maintaining Federal business applications while improving technical capability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Inventory database instances, configurations, versions, jobs, access permissions, and application dependencies during transition.
• Monitor database availability, capacity, performance, and scheduled processing; investigate alerts and failures.
• Maintain backup schedules and recovery procedures; execute and document approved restore and recovery tests.
• Plan and implement approved database patching, configuration changes, and maintenance with defined rollback steps.
• Analyze slow queries and resource utilization; recommend and implement approved tuning or indexing changes.
• Administer database accounts and permissions, support audit evidence, and coordinate vulnerability remediation.
• Support data migration and managed database adoption through readiness assessment, validation, and controlled cutover.
• Support transition knowledge transfer and maintain current technical or process documentation for assigned responsibilities.
• Coordinate assigned work with program leadership, Government stakeholders, and related teams; report blockers and dependencies promptly.
• Use Government-approved tools and handle program data within authorized environments. Validate any AI-assisted output before it informs delivery decisions.

Work Experience and Job Skills:

Basic Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience administering production relational databases and coordinating changes with application teams.
• Hands-on skills with an assigned platform, such as Oracle or SQL Server, including configuration and troubleshooting.
• Experience with backup, restoration, recovery planning, and verification of database integrity.
• Ability to analyze SQL performance, locking, resource utilization, and database capacity.
• Experience implementing access controls, patching, monitoring, and auditable operational procedures.
• Ability to support incident investigation and document repeatable database administration runbooks.
• Ability to document work clearly, protect sensitive program information, and collaborate across Government and contractor teams.
• Ability to meet federal suitability and access requirements and provide on-site support in the Bethesda, Maryland area as directed.

Additional Qualifications:

• Experience with AWS RDS/Aurora or other approved managed cloud database services.
• Experience consolidating databases or standardizing monitoring, backup, and maintenance processes.
• Familiarity with Splunk or SiteScope and reviewing automated tuning recommendations before implementation.
• Experience supporting a Federal IT services environment, preferably within a federal health agency or comparable federal IT environment.
• Experience transferring knowledge from an incumbent team and maintaining reliable services during transition.

Education:

• A degree or relevant coursework in computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.

Certificates, Licenses and Registrations:

• Relevant database administration or cloud database credentials are preferred.

Communication Skills:

• Clear verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to coordinate professionally across Government, prime contractor, and subcontractor teams.
• Ability to explain role-specific findings, document decisions and procedures, and communicate risks and recommended actions to the appropriate audience.

Clearance Requirements:

• Must hold or be eligible for a Public Trust Moderate (Tier 2) background investigation and meet applicable federal suitability, badging, and system-access requirements.

Travel:

• Washington, DC.

Environmental Requirements:

• Mainly a routine office environment.
• May be required to lift up to ten (10) pounds
• Flexible in working extended hours

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Unissant management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, where applicable and available, reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

Candidate(s) will be required to go through pre-employment screening.

Unissant, Inc. is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer! (EOE; M/F/Disability/Vets)