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Principal Database Administrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Cox Automotive

Principal Database Administrator

Roslyn, NY · On-site

$178K - $297K/yr

The Principal Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration ...

Cox Automotive

Principal Database Administrator

Bronx, NY · On-site

$178K - $297K/yr

The Principal Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration ...

Cox Automotive

Principal Database Administrator

Norwood, NJ · On-site

$178K - $297K/yr

The Principal Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration ...

Cox Automotive

Principal Database Administrator

Syosset, NY · On-site

$178K - $297K/yr

The Principal Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration ...

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$10

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How much do principal database administrator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for principal database administrator in the United States is $49.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.46 and $59.13 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal database administrator?

Principal Database Administrators are senior-level IT professionals responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, maintenance, and security of an organization's databases. They set database standards, optimize performance, manage data integrity, and lead teams of database administrators. In addition to technical expertise, Principal DBAs provide strategic direction for database infrastructure and often collaborate with other departments to ensure data solutions align with business goals. Their role is critical in safeguarding data and ensuring databases run efficiently and securely.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal database administrator?

To thrive as a Principal Database Administrator, you need deep expertise in database architecture, performance tuning, and troubleshooting, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field and significant experience with major database platforms. Proficiency with tools such as Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL, automation scripts, and advanced monitoring systems, along with certifications like Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, is highly valued. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills are critical for leading teams and collaborating effectively with stakeholders. These competencies ensure the reliability, security, and scalability of data infrastructure, which are vital for supporting business operations and growth.

What are some common challenges faced by principal database administrators, and how are they typically addressed?

Principal Database Administrators often encounter challenges such as ensuring high availability, optimizing performance for large-scale databases, and managing complex migrations or upgrades. Addressing these requires a combination of proactive monitoring, thorough capacity planning, and close collaboration with development, infrastructure, and security teams. Staying updated on the latest database technologies and best practices is essential, as is the ability to mentor junior DBAs and contribute to strategic decisions about data architecture.

What is the difference between Principal Database Administrator vs Database Administrator?

AspectPrincipal Database AdministratorDatabase Administrator
CertificationsTypically requires advanced certifications like Oracle Certified Professional or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator AssociateOften requires foundational certifications such as Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Fundamentals
Work EnvironmentLeads database teams, designs architecture, and oversees large-scale database projectsManages day-to-day database operations, maintenance, and troubleshooting
ResponsibilitiesStrategic planning, architecture design, and high-level problem solvingRoutine database management, backups, and user support

The Principal Database Administrator focuses on strategic leadership, architecture, and overseeing database teams, while the Database Administrator handles daily operations and maintenance. Both roles require relevant certifications and industry experience, but the principal role involves higher-level planning and decision-making.

What states have the most Principal Database Administrator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Database Administrator jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Principal Database Administrator jobs?

For Principal Database Administrator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Principal Database Administrator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Database Administrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,260 per year, or $49.2 per hour.

Principal Database Administrator

West Hempstead, NY • On-site

Cox Automotive
Automobile Dealers • 5 - 10K employees
Learn more about Cox Automotiveexternal

$178K - $297K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Cox Automotive rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 144 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

The Principal Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration initiatives.This role will be responsible for managing, optimizing, and re-architecting the current on-premises database environment. As a key technical enabler of the organization's cloud strategy, the Senior Database Administrator will first stabilize and remediate the existing database infrastructure, then design and execute a safe, phased migration to AWS.
This position bridges the gap between the current aging, monolithic on-premises database environment running on on-prem infrastructure and a future-state scalable, cost-efficient, cloud-native database platform.
The ideal candidate is a technical leader who serves as the organization's primary database authority. They are responsible for defining database strategy, driving cloud modernization efforts, advising architects and software engineers on data architecture decisions, ensuring high availability and security of enterprise platforms, and leading complex migration, resiliency, and performance initiatives. They possess deep expertise across both traditional relational databases and modern cloud-native data platforms while influencing technical direction across multiple engineering teams.
Min Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related discipline with 10+ years of experience in database administration, database engineering, or related technical roles. The right candidate may also have a Master's degree with 8+ years of experience, a Ph.D. with 5+ years of experience, or 14+ years of directly related experience.

  • Experience in database design, database code development, database administration, and systems engineering to build high-performance, fault-tolerant database systems and infrastructure for database-centric applications.

  • 8+ years of experienced with multiple AWS RDS database technologies (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle) and NoSQL services such as DynamoDB, understanding trade-offs between AWS-managed variants.

  • Experience supporting 24x7 production systems with strict SLAs and uptime requirements.

  • Expertise in high-availability and disaster-recovery technologies (clustering, replication, failover, backup/restore strategies) to reduce risk and downtime across critical systems. Strong background in high-availability/disaster-recovery technologies (e.g., clustering, log shipping, GoldenGate, Always On, replica sets).

  • Perform logical and physical database design, data modeling, performance management/monitoring architecting and building databases from business requirements through planning, testing, and production deployment.

  • Provide expert-level leadership for Microsoft SQL Server environments, serving as the highest-level technical authority across database architecture, platform strategy, modernization, upgrades, migrations, cloud transformation, high availability, disaster recovery, replication, clustering, and backup/recovery ensuring resilient, scalable platforms with minimal business disruption and downtime.

  • 8 years of performance tuning, indexing strategies, query optimization, and execution plan analysis.

  • Drive innovation through implementation across functional teams, both internal and external, to meet business requirements.

  • Ability to design and support solutions spanning relational databases and microservice architectures, selecting the right technology for the right workload.

  • Strong collaboration with software engineers and architects on application and data architecture decisions, ensuring systems are built for scalability, resilience, and performance.

  • Use of observability tools and operational intelligence platforms to proactively monitor database health and drive data-informed operational decisions.

  • 8+ years Building and maturing CI/CD practices for database changes (schema migrations, deployment automation, version control, automated testing).

  • Mentor database administrators, influence architects and developers, review complex technical designs, lead strategic initiatives, and define the long-term evolution of the database platform.

  • Strong communication skills translating technical trade-offs for engineers and non-technical stakeholders.

  • Experience working in Agile development environments (Scrum, Kanban, or similar), collaborating within sprint-based delivery cycles.

USD 178,200.00 - 297,000.00
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $178,200.00 - $297,000.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
EOE, including disability/vets

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About Cox Automotive

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Cox Automotive, people of every background are driven by their passion for mobility, innovation and community. We transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars, accelerating the industry with global powerhouse brands like Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, Manheim and more. What's more, we do it all with an emphasis on employee growth and happiness. Drive your future forward and join Cox Automotive today! Cox empowers employees to build a better future and has been doing so for over 120 years. With exciting investments and innovations across transportation, communications, cleantech and healthcare, our family of businesses - which includes Cox Automotive and Cox Communications - is forging a better future for us all. Ready to make your mark? Join us today! Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page . Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Cox provides reasonable accommodations when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with disability, unless such accommodations would cause an undue hardship. Statement to ALL Third-Party Agencies and Similar Organizations: Cox accepts resumes only from agencies with which we formally engage their services. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Cox employees, Cox hiring manager, or send to any Cox facility. Cox is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.

Industry

Automobile dealers and technology, communication and media

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Atlanta, GA, US

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