Senior Database Administrator
BBC Media Action
JOB DETAILS
JOB BAND: D
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent, Full-time
DEPARTMENT: HIPE (Hosting Infrastructure & Platform Engineering) in Technology & Media Operations
LOCATION: London - hybrid
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: Up to £62,500 plus London Weighting depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As a Senior Systems Engineer (DBA) within the BBC's Technology & Media Operations group, you’ll be working with systems that support both broadcast and corporate services. This role gives you the chance to directly influence technical strategy and key engineering decisions, driving performance, resilience, and reliability across business-critical platforms. You will work hands-on with a wide range of relational database technologies, including Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
Join the well-established, highly skilled Database Team working alongside other Engineering teams. As a Senior Systems Engineer (DBA), you will work across the BBC’s diverse on-premise database estate while helping shape our journey into cloud-based operations. You will also get the chance to explore machine learning and containerisation technologies, making this a great opportunity to innovate, develop new skills, and make a real impact across the BBC.
YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT
• Work with teams across the BBC and with system vendors and suppliers on the implementation of secure and highly available database solutions
• Write, review and take responsibility for technical documentation as part of project and product delivery
• Install, configure and provide operational support for relational databases
• Monitor and tune database performance
• Respond to incidents during office hours and as part of out of hours support, leading on resolution and root cause analysis
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE – KEY CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
• Expertise in at least 3 of the following major RDBMS (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL)
• Strong SQL, T-SQL/PL-SQL, scripting (Python, PowerShell).
• Knowledge of monitoring and performance tuning solutions for relational databases
• Familiarity with replication, clustering, and HA/DR configurations for different database technologies.
• Experience with backup and recovery strategies and their implementation
• Experience with security best practices and compliance, and their implementation
DESIRED BUT NOT REQUIRED
• Experience with databases on cloud platforms
• Experience with containerisation technologies.
• Experience with NoSQL databases
• Experience with automation and Machine Learning
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
For any general queries, please contact: bbchr@bbc.co.uk
Redeployment
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:
• Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
• Excellent career and professional development.
• Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
• A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis or on an orchestra conditions contract.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
