Senior Database Administrator

Overview of role:

WestJet is seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Senior Database Administrator to join our Database Services team. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with mentorship, supporting the growth of intermediate team members while driving operational excellence.

Working alongside a team of dedicated professionals, the Senior DBA is responsible for delivering secure, reliable, and high-performing enterprise database platforms across Oracle, IBM Db2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Azure SQL Database environments. The role supports day-to-day operations, ensuring database availability, performance, and reliability while contributing to solutions that enable critical business objectives and outcomes.

This role participates in the On-Call rotation.

Key deliverables / responsibilities include:

Provide technical leadership and operational support for enterprise database platforms across Oracle, IBM Db2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Azure SQL Database environments, contributing to platform design and ensuring database availability, performance, security, resilience, and recoverability through proactive monitoring, maintenance, high availability, backup, and disaster recovery practices.
Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of database operations, including performance tuning, capacity planning, patching, upgrades, security controls, and automation initiatives that enhance reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Manage database security and compliance requirements, including access controls, permissions, auditing, and vulnerability remediation, ensuring adherence to security standards and the principle of least privilege.
Lead the resolution of complex database incidents and problems, performing root cause analysis, implementing corrective actions, and developing innovative solutions to improve service reliability and prevent recurrence.
Partner with application, infrastructure, cloud, DevOps, architecture, and cybersecurity teams to support database design, deployments, schema changes, migrations, and modernization initiatives, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, and operationally supportable.
Contribute to cloud adoption, platform modernization, and process improvement initiatives, leveraging automation and industry best practices to improve consistency, agility, and operational effectiveness.
Develop, maintain, and promote database standards, procedures, and operational documentation, helping ensure consistent delivery and support across enterprise database environments.
Provide technical mentorship, guidance, and leadership to intermediate and junior DBAs, serving as an escalation point for complex issues, supporting skill development, and collaborating with Database Platform Specialists to advance team capabilities and drive continuous improvement.
Exercise sound technical judgment and a high degree of autonomy to solve complex problems, develop pragmatic and innovative solutions, and contribute to the achievement of team and organizational objectives.

Experience and qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, and 7+ years of experience in database administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Advanced experience administering Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases in large, mission-critical environments.
Strong knowledge of Oracle technologies, including RAC, ASM, RMAN, Data Guard, multitenant databases, OEM/OMS, and Oracle Engineered Systems.
Experience with SQL Server HA/DR technologies, including Always On Availability Groups, backup/recovery, and performance tuning.
Experience with Azure SQL and Azure database services (PaaS/IaaS) is considered an asset.
Experience with IBM Db2 is considered an asset.
Proven expertise in database performance tuning, troubleshooting, capacity planning, root cause analysis, and database security.
Experience with Linux and Windows administration, including scripting and automation using Bash, PowerShell, Python, or similar technologies.
Experience with database monitoring and diagnostic tools such as Oracle Enterprise Manager, Redgate Monitor, SolarWinds DPA, Dynatrace, or equivalent.
Working knowledge of networking, application architectures, enterprise data platforms, security-by-design principles, ITSM practices, and change management processes.
Demonstrated ability to resolve complex technical issues, provide mentorship to other DBAs, and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive continuous improvement.
Industry certifications in Oracle, OCI, Microsoft Azure, SQL Server, or related technologies are considered an asset.