WHAT DOES A DATABASE DO?

Published: Jun 19, 2025 - The Database Professional designs, develops, and administers robust database systems that support mission-critical applications and ensure high availability, scalability, and data accuracy. This role leverages SQL, NoSQL, and emerging database technologies to manage, analyze, and secure large volumes of structured and unstructured data. This position also focuses on performance tuning, backup strategies, and compliance with data governance standards to optimize system efficiency and maintain regulatory integrity.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Database

1. Database Administrator Roles and Responsibilities

  • Database Administration: Manage and administer Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases and application servers
  • Oracle DBA: Oracle database administration, installation, and configuration
  • Data Governance: Establish and administer enterprise data governance, ensuring optimal transparency, quality, and consistency
  • Server Maintenance: Install, configure, and maintain database and application servers
  • ERP System Management: Manage and administer the Banner ERP system
  • Troubleshooting and Tuning: Provide advanced troubleshooting and tuning for SQL, PL/SQL, and application servers
  • Backup and Recovery: Manage and implement backup and recovery strategies
  • Access Management: Manage ongoing operational support and access privileges
  • Technical Support: Review the design and architecture by developers and provide technical support at all levels

2. Senior Database Administrator Duties and Roles

  • Database Performance: Oversees the performance, security, and availability of databases.
  • Documentation: Prepares documentation and specifications.
  • Database Procedures: Handles common database procedures, such as upgrades, backups, recoveries, and migrations.
  • Product Design: Provides subject matter expertise in the design and evolution of Engage products.
  • System Optimization: Reviews current systems and optimizes for best performance and efficiency.
  • Resource Monitoring: Monitors server resource usage and optimizes.
  • Security Management: Uncovers and closes security gaps in databases.
  • Database Implementation: Documents, analyses, implements, tests, or modifies database infrastructure based on user or client design specifications.
  • Infrastructure Hardening: Maintains and administers hardening standards for all infrastructure.
  • Issue Escalation: Escalates or communicates issues and concerns.
  • Disaster Recovery: Participates in regular DR and BCP exercises.
  • System Documentation: Maintains diagrams and documentation of systems, including data models and schemas.
  • On-Call Support: Participates in 24/7 on-call support for systems incidents and client support.

3. Database Architect Key Accountabilities

  • Problem Solving: Troubleshoot problems and provide solutions
  • User Communication: Communicate with the users to determine problems or design requirements
  • Team Collaboration: Work with other SEs, customers, Web Designers/UI/UX Engineers, etc., teams and deliver on time.
  • Change Documentation: Document changes and follow the Systems Development Life Cycle process independently.
  • Data Modeling: Resolve roadblocks and challenges, evaluate problems, and develop appropriate data modeling solutions
  • Technology Adaptation: Learn and adopt new technologies in a short period as required by the Project.
  • Solution Design: Design solutions for complex data structures and projects.
  • Requirement Analysis: Coordinate with the customer to review application requirements and develop/propose logical and physical models for services
  • Agile Participation: Participate in Backlog grooming and elaborate it into smaller user stories and present it to the team during backlog grooming.
  • Team Support: Consistently support newer members of the team and help them to learn the FAA domain and the tools/technologies used on the program.
  • Compliance Training: Complete FAA compliance training as required by the Customer.
  • Tool Maintenance: Ensure that GFE and all the tools are IDE and up-to-date and functioning for the team

4. Database Developer Tasks

  • Data Extraction: Extract data from accounting and application software systems to manage application processes and reporting
  • Data Transformation: Organize and transform payment and demographic data into required weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting templates
  • Trend Analysis: Use data to predict trends in the client base and the disbursement of aid
  • Program Improvement: Ensure data collected responds to the required reporting and information needed for ongoing program improvement
  • Impact Analysis: Perform analysis of data for impact reporting
  • Data Visualization: Develop and use tools and techniques to visualize data in easy-to-understand formats, such as diagrams and graphs
  • Data Quality: Monitor data quality and develop strategies to improve data quality
  • Stakeholder Communication: Communicate with stakeholders and funders to understand data content and requirements
  • System Administration: Serve as the System Administrator for the application software system, ensuring users (staff and clients) can access and manage with ease
  • Technical Support: Respond to application software questions and determine when a ticket to the application software company is needed
  • User Training: Train new staff and partner users on the application software
  • Vendor Liaison: Serve as liaison to application software companies

5. Database Engineer Overview

  • Database Support: Support and maintain InvestCloud's development, test, and production Oracle database estate
  • Outage Resolution: Work as part of a wider support team to investigate and resolve production outages
  • Database Installation: Install and configure new Oracle database servers to an established standard
  • Disaster Recovery: Ensure adherence and maintenance of DR, Backup, and Recovery procedures
  • Database Security: Manage and maintain database security standards and controls
  • Issue Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot and resolve data and performance-related issues
  • System Maintenance: Coordinate and implement patching, upgrading, and maintenance work
  • Vendor Coordination: Liaise with Oracle to resolve/escalate database issues through the My Oracle Support site
  • Process Automation: Assist with the continued automation of certain database-related activities
  • Technical Documentation: Develop and maintain technical documentation of processes and standards

6. Database Manager Functions

  • Database Design: Analyse the database needs of the organization and design effective database systems with high levels of performance, availability, and security
  • Database Monitoring: Monitor, tune, and maintain the database to ensure optimal health, performance, and efficiency
  • Issue Resolution: Troubleshoot, identify, and resolve database-related issues
  • Data Security: Implement database access policy, database security tools, and/or measures to safeguard the organisation’s data
  • MS Access Maintenance: Maintain and/or migrate existing MS Access database and applications
  • Application Development: Develop applications and tools that analyse the data for better insights and business intelligence
  • ETL Operations: Perform data mining and analysis (Extract, Transform, Load) operations, execute data queries, generate reports, and create dashboards
  • Backup and Recovery: Define and implement a database backup and recovery policy and procedures
  • Disaster Recovery Planning: Formulate a DR plan and build DR capabilities
  • Documentation: Maintain database dictionaries, SOPs, and other relevant documentation
  • Project Management: Ensure project milestones/goals are met and within budget
  • User Training: Conduct user training

7. Senior Database Manager Job Description

  • Database Maintenance: Maintain OPHW and all databases, schemas, tables, views, and processes therein
  • QA and Monitoring: Create/maintain QA and monitoring tools for data loads and other essential processes to quickly identify risks and errors
  • Real-Time Support: Respond in real time as needs arise
  • Server Optimization: Optimize the server to ensure health and seamless operations
  • System Improvement: Proactively and regularly make recommendations for system improvements
  • Security Planning: Design and maintain a security strategy and plan to meet H+H standards
  • Team Collaboration: Work closely with EITS and the Epic ETL team to ensure server maintenance and resolve issues that arise
  • Code Optimization: Assist others in code optimization and best practices, QA, and standardize all SQL code
  • Data Flow Design: Design a template data structure for optimal SQL Server to Tableau data flow

8. Database Programmer Role Purpose

  • SQL Development: Use knowledge of SQL and T-SQL to apply updates, extract data, and process projects, including building SSIS packages and stored procedures to optimize processing time
  • Data Processing: Assist with the processing of regulatory or client databases
  • Report Execution: Set up and execute SSRS for reports in SQL Reporting Services
  • Platform Knowledge: Maintain excellent knowledge of SPH’s applications and development/production platforms, including but not limited to database technologies
  • Project Delivery: Complete projects on time, exceeding quality standards
  • Troubleshooting Support: Assist Senior team members in troubleshooting and testing of sampling or automation of various tasks
  • Best Practices: Cultivate and disseminate knowledge of best practices to team members
  • Relationship Management: Maintain and cultivate strong relationships with SPH employees
  • Professionalism: Display a professional attitude to all internal and external personnel
  • Communication: Continue to provide exceptional communication to all parties, responding accordingly and promptly to requests
Relevant Information
What Does A Database Administrator Do?
What Does A Database Developer Do?
What Does A Database Engineer Do?
What Does A Database Manager Do?