Sr Database Administrator

Job Description

Office of Information Technology


Annual Salary Range Senior IT Analyst: $104,308 - $139,079


FLSA Exempt | Union-represented

About the Office

The Office of Information Technology (IT) is responsible for enabling State Bar's internal and external stakeholders by the management, implementation, and maintenance of an organization's technology to support of State Bar's mission and goals. The office's primary goals are to build and maintain functional capabilities, to support innovation and to ensure that all systems are running smoothly, efficiently, and securely to support the needs of the organization and its stakeholders.


About the Role

The Senior IT Database Administrator (DBA) manages and modernizes the organization's mission-critical data platforms, ensuring performance, security, and data integrity, and business continuity across custom and enterprise applications. As part of the Hybrid Cloud and Data Modernization initiatives, the Senior DBA will manage SQL Server databases in Azure and on-prem, applying could engineering principles to their design and hosting.

The role also performs DevOps functions, automating and streamlining database deployments and coordinating changes with application releases to prevent service disruptions. Working closely with application and infrastructure teams, the Senior DBA recommends and implements improvements that strengthen resilience, control costs, and supports infrastructure, network, and application needs as required.


The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on Senior Database Administrator with strong SQL Server experience and a growing command of Azure. They thrive on transforming legacy systems, reducing technical risk, and taking long-term ownership of the platforms they build. With a keen interest in DevOps and automation and a problem-solving mindset, they collaborate easily with technical and business partners. Most of all, they want work that matters: supporting the systems that serve California's attorneys and the public while advancing their expertise in cloud technologies.


The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing, tuning, and optimizing SQL Server environments both on-premises and in Azure, ensuring performance aligns with application requirements. They will lead the assessment, planning, and migration of legacy databases to Azure SQL Managed Instance and other supported platforms, recommending cost-effective hosting options with minimal disruption. This role includes documenting and testing backup, restore, and high-availability configurations across all SQL environments, as well as integrating databases with monitoring and security tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Defender for Cloud, and Sentinel. The candidate will automate and streamline database deployments, patching, backups, and routine maintenance, and build and maintain CI/CD pipelines to coordinate database changes with application releases. Additionally, they will partner closely with application owners and infrastructure teams to resolve compatibility issues related to newer SQL versions while supporting legacy databases throughout the transition.


Description

Under general direction, performs advanced, specialized work of professional nature, utilizing skills that require technical expertise and an understanding of complex analytical procedures and systems processes, including network operating systems, the development of complex applications; network infrastructure; database management; and web server management administration and installation, while working with a significant amount of independent authority and judgment. Incumbents' primary responsibilities consist of acting as the lead over a team of professional information technology employees and/or providing expertise and guidance in complex information systems analysis and solutions, including the strategic, overall design of complex systems; and performs other related duties as assigned. May provide functional, technical, or lead direction over lower level technical and/or professional staff.


Examples of Essential Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as a technical expert within area of assignment, providing guidance and direction to other professional staff and resolving complex problems; participates in developing strategic plans for systems/applications development and modification within area of expertise.
• Analyzes and evaluates computer network design (including the State Bar's overall network and website), operating systems and/or business requirements; consults with personnel from various departments and identifies areas for strategic network, database, web, and/or operating system improvements and upgrades; or the development of technical solutions to automate and/or improve business processes. Designs system architecture, network infrastructure and configuration, database, web server environments, and/or web-based application solutions that meet the needs of the organization and develops plans to initiate improvements.
• Prepares complex reports, correspondence, and other documents; participates on committees and task forces; attends meetings, conferences, and training sessions.
• Answers questions and provides information to other departments; analyzes questions and recommends appropriate corrective action.
• Coordinates with systems, network and/or database administrators to implement application or system design specifications and coordinate integration across multiple platforms and technologies; maintains effective communications with users regarding vendor activities, problems, status timelines and other details.
• Trains, leads, and provides technical guidance to professional and technical staff assigned to operating systems, network infrastructure, business systems analysis and application development, database administration, web server management administration, and/or telecommunications systems.
• Provides technical and functional supervision of contractors/vendors and after-hours technology support as required.
• Coordinates the activities of State Bar technical personnel and contract personnel during major and minor network problems; provides problem status, oral and written, to management; focuses on preventing and resolving network and system problems related to area of assignment.
• Serves as the administrator for large and highly complex databases; researches and identifies database environment requirements and specifications; determines integration requirements to ensure inter-operability across multiple platforms and technologies.
• Oversees and provides guidance and expertise in the design, building, installation, configuration maintenance and administration of highly complex network infrastructures, web server environments, telecommunications systems, or server platforms and operating system components.
• Communicates and coordinates with various State Bar departments and divisions on business process automation needs; identifies the appropriate staff resources for projects based on knowledge, skill, and workload and assigns projects accordingly. Designs and creates and/or directs others in the design and creation of complex software and/or web-based applications across that cross multiple State Bar departments.
• Provides recommendations related to the development and/or improvement of hardware, software, and/or web-based applications across multiple State departments; recommends and/or implements operating system adjustments to maximize application performance and resource resolution.
• Follows, maintains, and implements internal controls, network and web security and other security systems for computer and telecommunication data, systems, and hardware protection.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of effective team building, leadership and conflict resolution, project management and workflow analysis.
• Principles of application development methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, etc.
• Principles of Web architecture and development tools, testing and implementation of scripts and programs for the production and delivery of Web content.
• Advanced principles and practices of systems and procedures analysis and design.
• Complex software Tools, text equipment and measurement techniques.
• A broad range of operations, services, concepts, terms, and activities common to a comprehensive, state-of-the-art information systems program.
• Principles, methods, and techniques used in designing, developing, testing, and implementing computer hardware and software systems.
• Principles and practices of troubleshooting computer hardware, software, and network problems.
• Principles and practices of customer service.
• Methods and techniques of developing and presenting technical documentation and training materials, recordkeeping, modern office procedures and equipment.
• Techniques and practices used in managing, designing, implementing, maintaining, and operating I Network and telephony systems including WAN/LAN, VoIP, Audio/Video systems, and associated network equipment.
• Programming tools for Website servers and transaction and ancillary systems for Website support.
• A broad range of protocols commonly used in wired and wireless communications networks (e.g., TCP, IP, UDP, SNMP, RADIUS, BGP, OSPF, RIP, Serial, TDM, TFTP, FTP, SSH, SSL, etc.).
• Complex applications utilized by the State Bar and associated processes, including civil, juvenile, and traffic court, as well as the associated programming languages.
• Principles and practices of business operations analysis, complex database design and administration, website management, and enterprise level information technology infrastructures.

Desired Knowledge of:

• Microsoft SQL Server administration, performance tuning, and high availability (Always On, failover clustering, backup and restore).
• Azure SQL platforms and database migration methods for on-prem, hybrid, and cloud environments.
• DevOps principles and CI/CD practices as applied to database deployments.
• Database security, monitoring, and internal controls.

Ability to:

• Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Gather, analyze, and evaluate data and information to reason logically, draw valid conclusions, take appropriate actions and/or make appropriate recommendations.
• Research, design, implement and maintain various hardware and software technology solutions, including new technology.
• Communicate technical information to a wide variety of users.
• Interpret and explain pertinent State Bar and department policies and procedures.
• Plan, organize, prioritize, and process work to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Learn and utilize specialized terminology, if needed, and interpret and apply technical information pertaining to computer and network systems.
• Adapt quickly to changes in policies, procedures, assignments, and work locations.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within and outside the department.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for procedures, processes, and tables related to area of assignment.
• Identify and resolve system performance and security issues.
• Read, comprehend, and retain technical information on computer products and systems.

Desired Ability to:

• Administer large, complex, mission-critical databases across multiple platforms.
• Plan and carry out database upgrades and migrations with minimal disruption.
• Automate routine database tasks using PowerShell, T-SQL, or similar tools.
• Communicate and coordinate effectively with technical teams, business users, and vendors.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in a field that develops skills related to essential duties, or equivalent academic achievement.
• Possession of one or more approved information technology certificates and/or completion of other approved technology-related training may substitute for some or all of the required education.

Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of journey level professional information technology experience

comparable to an IT Analyst II with the State Bar.

• Desired: Five (5) years of full-time, progressively responsible experience in SQL Server database administration, Azure cloud database platforms, and database automation is desirable.

License, Certificate, Registration Requirements

• None required.
• Desired: Possession of relevant approved information technology certificates and/or completion of other approved technology-related training may substitute for some or all of the required education; certification or equivalent training hours is equal to one (1) year of education.

Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar's selection process for this classification.


About the State Bar


The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.


Our Values


Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset


Learn more about our values.


DEI Statement


We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.


Learn more about our commitment to DEI.