Database Team Lead

Overview

The Database Team Lead is a senior technical leadership position accountable for the design, deployment, maintenance, and continuous enhancement of the client's enterprise database systems. This role primarily focuses on Oracle Database technologies in the banking core sector, while also managing a multi-platform environment including MS-SQL, Teradata, DB2, Big Data/Hadoop, and data integration via Informatica. A deep understanding of banking data governance, security, and regulatory frameworks is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain comprehensive database architecture aligned with the bank's digital strategy, ensuring high availability, disaster recovery, and scalability.
• Evaluate new database technologies including cloud-native and NoSQL options, providing analyses to support business decisions.
• Lead the daily operations of a DBA team covering multiple platforms delivering support from Level 1 through Level 3, incident management, and service-level adherence.
• Maintain critical operational documentation including backup, recovery, patch management, capacity planning, and performance tuning procedures.
• Ensure full compliance with information security policies, data privacy laws (PDPL), and banking regulations such as those from the Saudi Central Bank and Basel III.
• Perform regular database health assessments, optimize SQL and PLSQL queries, and implement efficient indexing and storage strategies.
• Deploy automation tools and monitoring systems to proactively manage database environments.
• Provide guidance and leadership for Informatica PowerCenter usage and oversee data migration projects ensuring data integrity.
• Implement security best practices including role-based access, encryption technologies like Transparent Data Encryption, and collaborate on audits and vulnerability mitigation.
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of 5-12 DBAs, setting objectives, conducting reviews, and promoting professional certifications.
• Coordinate vendor and project management activities with key technology partners.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives, root cause analyses of incidents, and update operational procedures accordingly.
• Communicate effectively with senior stakeholders and serve as a critical escalation point for database-related issues.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related fields; Master's degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of hands-on experience with Oracle databases in large-scale banking setups, including Oracle versions 11g, 12c, and 19c.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role managing DBA teams.
• Solid expertise in MS-SQL Server, Teradata, Informatica, Unix/Linux shell scripting, and DB2.
• Experience with Big Data ecosystems such as Hadoop, Hive, Spark, and Kafka is advantageous.
• Strong technical knowledge in Oracle RAC, Data Guard, ASM, GoldenGate, RMAN; SQL tuning and performance optimization.
• Experience with MS-SQL Always On, SSIS/SSRS, Teradata utilities, and Informatica PowerCenter.
• Proficiency in shell, Perl, and Python scripting for automation purposes.
• Familiarity with cloud database services (Oracle Cloud, Azure SQL, AWS RDS) is a plus.
• Required certifications: Oracle Certified Professional (OCP). Preferred certifications include Microsoft Azure Database Administrator Associate, Teradata Certified Professional, and Informatica Developer/Administrator certifications.
• Knowledge of banking core systems, regulatory reporting, and audit processes.
• Excellent communication skills in English; Arabic language skills are a benefit.
• Strong leadership qualities including team management, decision-making in high-pressure situations, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Additional Preferred Knowledge

• Expertise in Big Data platforms to enable analytics integration.
• Experience with cloud platforms supporting migration and hybrid cloud strategies.
• Familiarity with data governance tools to maintain data quality and lineage.
• Proficiency with CI/CD tools for database management to facilitate compliance and faster releases.
• Linux/Unix system administration skills to manage database instances effectively.

Performance Goals

• Maintain database availability at or above 99.9% excluding planned maintenance.
• Resolve critical incidents within target mean times (first level in 30 minutes; full resolution in 2 hours).
• Achieve 100% success rate on backup and recovery tests quarterly.
• Forecast database capacity within a ±5% margin of actual usage.
• Ensure at least 80% of DBAs retain certifications and conduct quarterly internal training sessions.
• Maintain zero critical audit findings regarding database security controls.

Working Conditions

• This role operates on a 24/7 support model inclusive of establishing an on-call rotation schedule and serving as escalation for Tier-2/3 incidents.
• Minimal travel, occasionally to data centers in Riyadh or Jeddah and vendor offices for major upgrades.
• The position is primarily office-based at Riyadh with occasional remote work as permitted.