Job Specifications
Required Security Clearance: NATO SECRET
DUTIES AND ROLE
Operational DBA Duties
Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade MySQL instances (standalone and/or clustered).
Perform routine maintenance (schema housekeeping, index maintenance, statistics updates, data retention support).
Manage users, roles, privileges, and authentication methods according to least-privilege principles.
Manage storage growth and capacity forecasting (disk usage, table growth trends, partitioning/archiving recommendations).
Maintain environment consistency across DEV/UAT/PROD where applicable.
Performance & Query Optimization
Analyze and optimize performance using tools and logs (slow query log, performance_schema, EXPLAIN/EXPLAIN ANALYZE).
Provide indexing strategy and implement approved indexes/changes.
Tune MySQL/InnoDB parameters (buffer pool, redo logs, flush behavior, connection/thread settings, temp tables, etc.).
Identify and remediate lock contention, deadlocks, replication delays, and inefficient access patterns.
Availability, Replication & Disaster Recovery
Design and operate backup strategies (logical/physical backups, binlog retention, encryption where required).
Execute and document restore tests on a defined cadence to validate RPO/RTO objectives.
Security & Compliance
Apply MySQL hardening standards (secure configs, TLS in transit, encryption at rest if supported, restricted remote access).
Manage patching and upgrades including risk/impact assessment and change planning.
Support audit/compliance requirements (access reviews, evidence gathering, logging and retention).
Monitoring, Incident Response & Problem Management
Implement/maintain monitoring and alerting (e.g., PMM, Prometheus/Grafana, cloud-native monitoring).
Define alert thresholds and reduce noise (actionable alerts, escalation paths).
Provide incident triage and resolution within agreed service hours and severity targets.
Conduct root cause analysis for major incidents and deliver corrective/preventive actions.
Maintain operational documentation (backup/restore, failover, replication fixes, common performance issues).
SKILL, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
The candidate must have a currently active NATO SECRET security clearance.
Strong administration of MySQL (preferably 8.0+).
Knowledge of SQL optimization, indexing, and query execution plans.
Expert knowledge on backup/restore (e.g., mysqldump, mysqlpump, Percona XtraBackup or equivalent) and point-in-time recovery.
Linux fundamentals (system resources, I/O, file systems, network basics) relevant to database performance.
Security best practices (TLS, privilege management, audit/logging, secure configuration).
Knowledge on a second database technology like PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server.
Automation/SRE mindset: scripting (Bash/Python/Perl).
5+ years hands-on MySQL DBA experience in production environments.
Demonstrated experience supporting business-critical systems with defined SLAs.
Proven track record in performance troubleshooting and incident handling.
About the Company
Contact One Communications, Inc. is a worldwide systems integration company providing leading edge Information Technology services including Engineering and Installation (E&I), Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Force Protection in the fields of Cyber Security and Information Assurance, Perimeter Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure.
We are a "go to" organization for rapid response requirements in support of expeditionary missions. We work on US Department of Defense (DoD), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NA...
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