Maryland Department of Information Technology

Compensation

Full Description

Introduction Maryland Benefits (MD Benefits) is a dynamic, cloud-based platform. This enterprise-wide digital service allows organizations to build, test, host, operate, and integrate mission-driven applications, data, and emerging technologies. MD Benefits offers cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities, a shared data architecture, and product development services, all developed by the State of Maryland to help multiple agencies deliver and manage health, human, and social service benefits and programs. On July 1, 2025, the operation of the MD Benefits shared platform and statewide applications transitioned from the Department of Human Services (DHS) to the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). • **This is a contractual position, with limited benefits*** • **All hires need to be eligible to work in the U.S., either as a U.S. Citizen or those who have a Permanent Resident or green card as the state of Maryland does not have the ability to sponsor employees*** • **Applicants are required to submit an up-to-date and accurate resume.*** Main Purpose Database Administrators (DBAs) play a vital role in addressing the challenges associated with a shared platform environment where multiple applications and tools use the same databases, ETL processes, and reporting tools. DBAs contribute significantly to the reliability, performance, stability, and observability of the shared platform. Their proactive monitoring, optimization efforts, and collaboration with various stakeholders help create a robust and well-maintained data infrastructure, facilitating smooth operations for all applications and tools sharing the platform. Position Duties • Performance Monitoring and Tuning: DBAs continuously monitor database performance, identifying bottlenecks and proactively optimizing query execution plans, indexes, and database configurations to ensure optimal performance. This ensures efficient use of resources and enhances overall system performance. • Resource Allocation and Management: DBAs manage database resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, to prevent resource contention and ensure fair distribution among applications and tools. • Backup and Recovery: DBAs implement robust backup and recovery strategies to safeguard data integrity and ensure rapid data recovery in the event of failures or disasters. This ensures the reliability and stability of the shared platform. • Security and Access Controls: DBAs enforce security measures, access controls, and encryption to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, ensuring data privacy and compliance with relevant regulations. • Database Provisioning and Scaling: DBAs handle the provisioning of new databases and scaling of existing databases to meet the evolving demands of applications and tools on the shared platform. This ensures scalability and flexibility in data storage. • Data Replication and High Availability: DBAs configure database replication and high availability mechanisms to minimize downtime and provide continuous access to critical data for applications and users. • Query Optimization and Troubleshooting: DBAs optimize complex queries, identifying and resolving performance issues. They collaborate with application developers to troubleshoot and resolve database-related problems. • Version and Change Management: DBAs manage database schema changes and versioning to coordinate updates and ensure compatibility between different applications and tools. • Monitoring and Alerting: DBAs establish monitoring and alerting systems to proactively identify issues and respond promptly to potential problems on the shared platform, ensuring observability and facilitating quick incident resolution. • Capacity Planning: DBAs conduct capacity planning to forecast future resource requirements and ensure that the shared platform can meet growing demands while maintaining optimal performance. • Collaboration with Data Architects and Developers: DBAs work closely with data architects and application developers to understand data requirements and recommend improvements to database design, enhancements to data modeling, and best practices. • Database Security Audits: DBAs conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to maintain a secure database environment and address potential security risks. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field. Master's degree is a plus. Will accept 7 years of experience in lieu of education • 5+ Years of proven experience as a Database Administrator, with a focus on managing cloud-based databases such as RDS Postgres, RDS Aurora for Postgres, and RDS SQL Server in AWS cloud environments. • Extensive knowledge of AWS cloud services such as Networking, Security, and Alerts and Monitoring. • Strong understanding of data modeling principles, governance, and security practices. • Demonstrated expertise in designing data integration solutions and optimizing data processing performance. • Strong communication and presentation skills to effectively convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.