Requirements
The Database Tower Lead requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, or Engineering, with a master's degree preferred. Must have a minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience with Oracle Database in a large-scale banking environment, including 5+ years in a DBA leadership role. Proven experience with MS-SQL Server, Teradata, Informatica, Unix/Linux (Shell scripting), and DB2 is also required, with exposure to Bigdata platforms being a strong advantage. Essential technical skills include expertise in Oracle RAC, Data Guard, ASM, Goldengate, MAN, performance tuning (AWR/ASH, SQL tuning, indexing, partitioning), MS-SQL Always On, SSIS/SSRS, backup/restore strategies, Teradata utilities, Informatica PowerCenter, and scripting (Shell, Perl, Python) for automation. Deep understanding of banking core systems, data models, regulatory reporting, and audit requirements, along with strong communication, people management, decision-making, and collaboration skills are crucial.
Description
Job Description – Database Tower LeadTechnology & Operations1. Position OverviewThe Database Tower Lead is a senior technical‑leadership role responsible for the design, implementation, operation, and ongoing optimization of Client enterprise data‑base environment. The incumbent will act as the subject‑matter expert for Oracle Database (banking‑core), while also overseeing the broader multi‑platform portfolio (MS‑SQL, Teradata, DB2, BigData/Hadoop, etc.) and the data‑integration layer (Informatica). The role requires strong hands‑on expertise, a proven track‑record of leading DBA teams, and deep understanding of banking‑specific data‑governance, security, and regulatory requirements3. Core Responsibilities Domain Key AccountabilitiesStrategic Architecture & Design• Define and maintain the end‑to‑end database architecture roadmap aligned with Client's digital‑banking strategy.• Champion best‑practice designs for high‑availability (RAC/Failover), disaster‑recovery (Data Guard, always‑On, standby), and scaling (sharding, partitioning).• Evaluate and recommend emerging database technologies (e.g., Cloud‑native, NoSQL, Bigdata) and provide business‑case analysis.Operational Excellence• Lead the daily DBA team (Oracle, MS‑SQL, Teradata, DB2, Hadoop, etc.) delivering L1‑L3 support, incident resolution, and service‑level adherence (RTO/RPO).• Own the Database Run‑Book – backup/recovery, patching, upgrade, capacity planning, and performance‑tuning procedures.• Ensure 100 % compliance with the bank's Information Security Policy (ISA‑03‑2024), data‑privacy (PDPL), and banking regulations (e.g., Saudi Central Bank C‑Bank, Basel III).Performance & Tuning• Conduct regular health‑checks, identify bottlenecks, and implement SQL/PLSQL optimization, index strategy, and storage‑layout tuning across all platforms. • Implement automated monitoring (Oracle Enterprise Manager, SQL Server Management Studio, Teradata Viewpoint) and proactive alerting.Data Integration & Migration• Provide technical leadership for Informatica PowerCenter (and other ETL tools) to ensure robust data pipelines between source systems and data‑warehouses.• Oversee data‑migration projects (e.g., Oracle 12c → 19c, on‑prem → cloud) and validate data integrity.Security & Compliance• Enforce least‑privilege access, role‑based security, and encryption (TDE, Transparent Data Encryption).• Coordinate with the Information Security and Risk teams for regular audits, vulnerability assessments, and remediation.Team Leadership & Talent Development• Directly manage a team of 5‑12 DBAs (junior, senior, specialists).• Set performance objectives, conduct regular 1‑on‑1s, and drive certifications (Oracle OCP, Microsoft MCSE, Teradata Certified Professional).• Build a culture of knowledge sharing – formal Lunch‑and‑Learn, internal wiki, and documentation standards.Vendor & Project Management• Liaise with Oracle, Microsoft, Teradata, IBM, and cloud‑service vendors for support, licensing, and POCs.• Participate in cross‑functional project steering committees, delivering database‑related work‑streams on time and budget.Continuous Improvement & Innovation• Lead Root‑Cause Analysis (RCA) for major incidents; generate actionable lessons‑learned and update SOPs.• Promote automation (Ansible, PowerShell, Bash) for routine tasks (provisioning, patching, health checks). Stakeholder Communication• Produce regular status dashboards for senior business owners and regulators.• Serve as the escalation point for critical database incidents; communicate impact, mitigation, and timelines clearly.4. Required Qualifications| Education | bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field (master's preferred). || Experience | • Minimum 10 years of hands‑on experience with Oracle Database (11g/12c/19c) in a large‑scale banking environment.• 5 + years in a DBA‑leadership or team‑leadrole.• Proven experience with MS‑SQL Server, Teradata, Informatica, Unix/Linux (Shell scripting), andDB2.• Exposure to Bigdata platforms (Hadoop, Hive, Spark, Kafka) is a strong advantage. || Technical Skills | • Oracle RAC, Data Guard, ASM, Goldengate, MAN.• Performance tuning – AWR/ASH, SQL tuning, indexing, partitioning.• MS‑SQL Always On, SSIS/SSRS, and backup/restore strategies. • Teradata utilities (BTEQ, Fast Load, Multiload) and performance‑tuning concepts.• Informatica PowerCenter design, mapping, workflow orchestration.• Scripting (Shell, Perl, Python) for automation.• Familiarity with Cloud DB services (Oracle Cloud, Azure SQL, AWS RDS) – bonus. || Certifications (Required/Preferred) | • Oracle Database Administrator Certified Professional (OCP) – required.• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate – preferred.• Teradata Certified Professional – preferred.• Informatica PowerCenter Developer/Administrator – optional.• ITIL Foundation or COBIT – advantage. || Domain Knowledge | • Deep understanding of banking core systems (Core Banking, Payments, AML, Risk) and associated data models.• Familiarity with regulatory reporting (CRR, Basel III, Saudi C‑Bank) and audit requirements. || Leadership & Soft Skills | • Strong communication – ability to translate technical concepts to non‑technical senior stakeholders.• Proven people‑management – recruiting, coaching, performance appraisal.• Decision‑making under pressure; calm demeanor during high‑severity incidents.• Collaborative mindset – works closely with application architects, security, and compliance teams. || Languages | Fluent in English (written & spoken). Arabic proficiency is a plus. |5. Preferred Additional Expertise TechnologyBigData/Hadoop ecosystem (HDFS, Hive, Spark, Impala) Enables integration of high‑volume transactional data into analytics pipelines.Cloud Platforms (OCI, Azure, AWS) Supports migration, hybrid‑cloud strategies and cost‑optimisation. Data Governance tools (Collibra, Alation) Aligns with bank's data‑quality and lineage requirements.CI/CD for DB (Liquibase, Flyway, DB‑Change‑Automation) Accelerates release cycles while maintaining compliance. Linux/Unix System Administration Critical for managing Oracle and other DB instances on Red Hat/SUSE.6. Performance Metrics (KPIs)Metric Target / ExpectationDatabase Availability≥ 99.9 % (excl. scheduled maintenance) for core Oracle systems. Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) – Critical Incidents≤ 30 minutes (first‑level); ≤ 2 hours (full resolution).Backup/Recovery Success Rate100 % successful restore tests (quarterly).Capacity Forecast Accuracy± 5 % variance vs. actual usage. Team Development≥ 80 % of DBAs maintain current certifications; at least one internal training per quarter. Audit Findings Zero critical audit findings related to database security or controls.7. Working Conditions Shift Model: 24 × 7 support – the Lead will set up an on‑call rotation for the DBA team and act as the escalation point for Tier‑2/Tier‑3incidents. Travel: Minimal; occasional visits to data‑centre's (Riyadh, Jeddah) or vendor sites for major upgrades. Physical: Office‑based with standard workstation; occasional remote work permissible per bank policy.