Senior Application Database Administration

Job Summary

The Senior Application Database Administrator is an expert in Oracle database design, PL/SQL development, and application to database performance tuning. This role serves as the technical authority for the data layer supporting TMRS business applications, setting standards for schema design, database code quality, query performance, and data security. This role will work within the IS Department and will also work very closely with Business stakeholders, Software Engineers, Business Analysts, Infrastructure Database Administrators, Information Security, and other IS Department teams.

Key Responsibilities

- Expert understanding of Oracle database design; architect and maintain schemas, tables, indexes, partitions, views, materialized views, sequences, types, and packages supporting enterprise applications.

- Serve as design authority for the application data layer; review and approve data model and schema changes proposed by development teams prior to implementation.

- Write, optimize, and maintain complex PL/SQL including packages, stored procedures, functions, and triggers supporting core application logic and high-volume batch processing.

- Establish and enforce PL/SQL coding, exception handling, and unit testing standards; lead peer code review for all database logic entering production.

- Diagnose and remediate complex performance problems using AWR, ASH, ADDM, SQL Monitor, execution plan analysis, and SQL plan management.

- Own optimizer statistics, indexing, and partitioning strategy across application databases; establish and publish performance baselines for critical batch and transactional workloads.

- Lead the database components of application upgrades, vendor patches, and major releases, including migration script authoring, validation, and rollback planning.

- Design and support data movement processes including replication, Data Pump, ETL, environment refreshes, and masking of member data in non-production environments.

- Define and implement database security controls including least-privilege roles, profiles, grants, auditing, encryption, and redaction of sensitive member data.

- Partner with Infrastructure Database Administrators on capacity planning, high availability, backup and recovery validation, and disaster recovery testing.

- Mentor mid-level and junior staff and developers on SQL efficiency, data modeling, and Oracle features; serve as the escalation point for database incidents.

- Work with Business Analysts to estimate and architect solutions.

- Investigate new technologies and assess their viability and usefulness in current and future projects.

- Improve process, performance, and security of developed applications and integrations.

- Produce and maintain data models, data dictionaries, and runbooks, and supply evidence supporting internal audit, SOC 1, and state security control requirements.

- Contribute new viewpoints and strategies to stimulate growth.

- Agile development experience is a plus.

- Ability to use and integrate approved AI solutions.

- After hours support as needed, including participation in an on-call rotation supporting 24/7 availability.

- Other duties as assigned

- Follow all applicable policies and procedures including all security policies.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

Hands-on experience with

- Oracle Database 19c or later, administration and development

- PL/SQL (packages, procedures, functions, triggers, bulk processing, dynamic SQL)

- SQL performance tuning (AWR, ASH, ADDM, execution plans, SQL plan baselines)

- Data modeling, partitioning, and index strategy for high-volume applications

- Oracle Enterprise Manager, SQL Developer, and Data Pump

- Database security controls (roles, profiles, auditing, encryption, data redaction)

Required

- Bachelor’s degree in CIS, computer science, engineering, MIS, mathematics or related field and a minimum of 6 years of hands-on Oracle database experience, including at least 2 years writing and tuning production PL/SQL.

- Demonstrated experience leading database design and performance work across multiple concurrent application releases.

Preferred

- Oracle Certified Professional (Database Administrator or PL/SQL Developer)

- Oracle Data Guard, Advanced Security, or Oracle APEX

- Database DevOps tooling (Liquibase, Flyway, or Redgate) with Git-based version control and CI/CD pipelines

- Scripting in Bash, PowerShell or Python for automation

- Public sector, pension administration, or financial services data environment

- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Azure, or AWS database services

- Linux and Windows server administration

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force. Ability to perform the essential job functions safely and successfully consistent with federal, state, and local standards.

TMRS Overview

Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) is a trusted partner to more than 945 cities across Texas, providing retirement, disability, and survivor benefits to over 260,000 public servants and their families. We are proud to be recognized as an example of fiduciary excellence through our management of more than $52 billion in Trust Fund assets.

At TMRS, every role supports our mission: providing secure lifetime income to our members. Our work gives back to communities across Texas, and we take pride in doing it with integrity, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.

Compensation and Benefits

- Starting base salary (based on experience and qualifications)

- Participation in TMRS pension plan, with a 2:1 organization match

- Optional participation in a 457(b) deferred compensation plan

- Medical, dental, and vision insurance at no cost to employees

- Hybrid work opportunities; 12 paid holidays; generous leave

- Modern, centrally located Austin office

TMRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.