Entry Level System Administrator Jobs in Reston, VA

Position Description: CGI Federal has an exciting opportunity for Database Administrators within our Intel sector advancing the national security mission through cutting edge technology. You must have a passion for keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology advancements and leveraging your knowledge on a highly collaborative team to deliver state-of-the-art capabilities. The Database Administrator assists in monitoring, securing, and maintaining organizational databases. They typically handle routine backups, manage user access permissions, track system performance, and provide fundamental support to senior administrators to ensure business data remains safe and accessible. CGI Federal is growing its high-performance team whose members share a passion for building high-quality, scalable, advanced IT solutions in a collaborative, fast-paced, outcome-driven mission. This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable. Your future duties and responsibilities: Key Responsibilities (Entry Level)
• System Monitoring: Track database performance and storage space to catch minor issues before they disrupt business.
• Backup Management: Execute and verify daily or weekly data backups to prevent data loss in the event of an emergency. • Access Control: Create and update accounts for authorized users, ensuring individuals only have access to the data necessary for their roles.
• Security & Patches: Apply basic software updates and malware protection patches to database servers. • Routine Troubleshooting: Investigate user-reported errors, such as slow query times or access issues, and escalate complex problems to senior staff. • Documentation: Maintain updated logs of database structures, server configurations, and recovery protocols Key Responsibilities (Junior Level)
• Database Maintenance: Perform routine tasks such as database backups, transaction log management, and system updates to ensure optimal reliability. • Security & Compliance: Manage user accounts, enforce role-based access permissions, and ensure the system complies with privacy standards. • Performance Monitoring: Use diagnostic tools to track system health, monitor query speeds, and identify bottlenecks. • Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve common database errors, escalating more complex architectural or infrastructure problems to senior staff. • User Support: Assist developers, analysts, and end-users with retrieving data, generating reports, and resolving application-specific database issues Key Responsibilities (Mid-Level)
• Performance Tuning & Optimization: Proactively monitor database health, execute query tuning, and optimize storage utilization to support high-transaction volumes. • Architecture & Upgrades: Assist in database design, execute complex software patching, and implement scalable hardware or cloud-based solutions. • Backup & Disaster Recovery: Design and test rigorous backup, archiving, and multi-region replication strategies to ensure business continuity. • Security & Compliance: Administer strict database-level security, manage user access permissions, and enforce data compliance and audit trails. • Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex database errors, conduct root-cause analysis, and assist in tier-3 escalation support. • Team Collaboration: Provide technical leadership to junior DBAs and partner with software development teams to integrate scalable data solutions. Key Responsibilities (Senior Level)
Advanced Database Architecture & Design
• Design, build, and deploy highly complex, integrated relational (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra) databases.
• Define logical and physical database schemas, capacity constraints, and data distribution networks.
• Integrate on-premises data systems with multi-cloud environments (e.g., Azure SQL, Amazon RDS).
Performance Tuning & Optimization
• Act as the final point of escalation for complex performance bottlenecks, locking issues, and concurrency problems.
• Conduct in-depth SQL and PL/SQL query tuning using execution plans and diagnostic tools.
• Configure automated adjustments and indexing strategies for multi-terabyte (TB) databases to maintain aggressive SLAs. High Availability (HA) & Disaster Recovery (DR)
• Design and implement complex replication, clustering, and failover frameworks to ensure zero or near-zero downtime.
• Formulate, test, and execute disaster recovery protocols to prevent catastrophic data loss during system failures or breaches.
• Manage intricate backup, archiving, and storage strategies.
Security & Compliance
• Design and enforce exhaustive database security frameworks.
• Implement and manage encryption (data-at-rest and in-transit), data masking, and strict access controls to adhere to strict corporate and regulatory mandates.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments and forensic data tracking.
Leadership & Technical Oversight
• Review complex application programs for appropriate database structure usage.
• Provide technical consulting, project management, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Mentor and train lower-level DBAs and development teams. Key Responsibilities (SME Level)
• Architecture & Strategy: Design and maintain multi-tier database reference architectures, data warehouses, and scalable, high-availability cloud solutions. • Performance Tuning: Perform deep diagnostics on exceptionally complex queries, analyze statistics, and reconfigure DBMS engine parameters to resolve severe performance bottlenecks.
• Disaster Recovery: Formulate, script, and manage complex disaster recovery and backup strategies (e.g., cross-region replication, multi-AZ deployment) to ensure zero data loss.
• Security & Compliance: Oversee rigid information security frameworks, audit trails, user access controls, and compliance monitoring across all production and development environments.
• Leadership & Escalation: Serve as the final technical escalation point, mentor lower-level administrators (DBA 1-3), and provide cross-functional training Required qualifications to be successful in this role: All levels require an active TS/SCI with Poly Entry Level:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Bachelor's Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Knowledge: Basic understanding of relational database systems (e.g., MySQL, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server) and Structured Query Language (SQL).
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical problem-solving, meticulous attention to detail, and good written/verbal communication Junior Level/Moderate:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 2 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Technical Knowledge: Foundational proficiency in database management systems (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL) and writing/debugging SQL queries.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to investigate database performance issues and restore corrupted or lost data safely Mid-Level/Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience
• Database Platforms: Advanced proficiency in platforms such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or cloud-based engines like Amazon RDS / Azure SQL.
• Scripting & Automation: Strong scripting skills in Python, PowerShell, or Bash to automate repetitive database maintenance tasks.
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Working knowledge of Linux/Unix and Windows Server administration, alongside containerization and cloud infrastructure.
• Soft Skills: Excellent problem-solving, analytical thinking, and cross-team communication to translate complex business rules into data architecture. Senior Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 6 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience
• Technical Proficiencies: Mastery of advanced SQL, T-SQL, PL/SQL, and scripting languages (e.g., Python, PowerShell, or Bash) for automation.
• Certifications: Advanced vendor certifications are heavily favored (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Oracle Certified Professional, or MongoDB Certified DBA). • Soft Skills: Exceptional problem-solving skills under high-pressure scenarios, proactive continuous learning habits, and strong communication skills to present to non-technical stakeholders. SME Level/Exceptionally Complex:
• Education: o High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 10 years of relevant experience, o Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant experience, o or Masters Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
• Technical Proficiencies: Advanced, master-level mastery of SQL and multiple DBMS platforms (e.g., Oracle, MS SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or NoSQL). Deep understanding of cloud database infrastructures (AWS RDS, Azure SQL, GCP Cloud SQL).
• Soft Skills: Exceptional root-cause analysis, crisis management, project management, and cross-departmental communication CGI is required by law in some jurisdictions to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set, level, experience, relevant training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward for merit-based performance, CGI