Senior Database Engineer

Job Description

We’re looking for a Senior Database Engineer to help build and maintain scalable, resilient, and high‑performing database infrastructure services across the business. In this role, you’ll provide senior technical leadership across Viva Energy’s Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Cosmos DB platforms, while driving key project outcomes and ensuring strong governance and oversight of BAU services delivered by our managed service partner, DXC.

This position is ideal for someone who loves deep technical challenges, enjoys owning complex database environments end‑to‑end, and wants to play a pivotal role in shaping our modern data landscape. With a strong project delivery focus, you’ll influence architecture, performance, optimisation, and reliability across multiple critical platforms.

Responsibilities & Requirements

• Act as the senior technical authority for Viva Energy’s Oracle and SQL Server environments across on‑prem, cloud (Azure/AWS), OT, IT and ~1,400 retail & energy sites.
• Lead the design, engineering and delivery of major database projects — upgrades, migrations, cloud integration and modernisation across key systems like JDE, Dynamics 365, Oil Management Systems and more.
• Own database architecture standards, patterns and lifecycle roadmaps.
• Provide governance and oversight of BAU operations delivered by DXC, ensuring service quality, SLAs, stability and continuous improvement.
• Be the escalation expert for complex incidents and performance challenges, driving RCA and long-term fixes.
• Ensure platforms meet the highest levels of availability, performance, security and recoverability.
• Partner with Cloud, Infrastructure, Security and Application teams to drive modernisation and transformation initiatives.
• Oversee vendor management and commercial governance for database managed services.
• Lead database workstreams across major infrastructure and application projects, including cloud migrations, consolidations and decommissioning.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ experience in Database Administration in senior or lead roles
• Significant enterprise‑level experience administering and engineering Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server across production, non‑production and DR environments (retail or regulated sector experience ideal).
• Tertiary qualification in IT/Computer Science; Oracle or SQL Server certifications highly regarded.
• Strong capability in database architecture, performance tuning, backup/recovery, HA/DR and infrastructure operations.
• Experience with JD Edwards on Oracle/Azure is a major advantage.
• Proven track record leading database projects in large organisations and working effectively with vendors and managed service providers.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and analytical skills, including RCA and anomaly detection.
• Hands‑on experience designing and maintaining backup, recovery, HA and DR solutions (e.g., RMAN, Data Guard, SQL Server HA/DR) aligned to RTO/RPO targets.
• Skilled in monitoring and optimising performance and capacity — including advanced SQL tuning and proactive issue prevention.
• Strong understanding of database security, access controls, auditing, encryption and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of Azure and hybrid cloud, Infrastructure‑as‑Code (Terraform preferred), and automation/scripting.
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions for automated deployment pipelines.
• Able to produce clear architecture diagrams, runbooks and governance documentation

Additional Information

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Please note: This role is being sourced through Viva Energy Australia, therefore we will not be accepting applications via external recruitment agencies.