Cassandra Database Administrator

PMAT is seeking a Mid-Level Cassandra Database Administrator (DBA), you will be responsible for managing and optimizing Cassandra database systems to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and scalability. Working closely with development teams, system architects, and stakeholders, you will play a key role in designing, implementing, and maintaining Cassandra databases to meet the organization's data management needs.

Clearance: US citizen withn the ability to receive a TS/SCI clearance and CI Poly

Primary Responsibilities:

• Database Installation and Configuration: Install, configure, and maintain Cassandra database clusters across development, testing, and production environments. Ensure proper configuration settings for optimal performance and reliability.
• Design and develop ETL (Extract, Transform & Load) solutions
• Data Modeling: Design and implement effective data models in Cassandra, considering data access patterns, scalability requirements, and performance optimizations. Collaborate with application developers to define and refine data models as needed.
• Performance Tuning and Optimization: Monitor database performance and proactively identify areas for optimization. Implement performance tuning strategies, such as indexing, partitioning, query optimization, data structure design and compaction, to improve query performance and reduce latency.
• Backup and Recovery: Develop and maintain backup and recovery procedures to safeguard data integrity and ensure disaster recovery readiness. Perform regular backups, test restoration procedures, and implement backup automation where applicable.
• Monitoring and Alerting: Set up monitoring tools and alerts to track database health, performance metrics, and resource utilization. Respond to alerts promptly, investigate issues, and take corrective actions to mitigate risks and maintain system availability.
• Security and Compliance: Implement and maintain security measures to protect sensitive data stored in Cassandra databases. Configure authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms to ensure data privacy and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Capacity Planning and Scaling: Monitor database growth trends and plan for capacity upgrades and scaling as needed. Scale Cassandra clusters horizontally or vertically to accommodate increasing data volumes and user loads.
• Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Create and maintain documentation related to database architecture, configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guidelines. Share knowledge and best practices with team members to facilitate collaboration and skill development.
• Incident Management: Participate in incident response and resolution activities related to database outages, performance degradation, and data integrity issues. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to diagnose root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Provide support for the maintenance and continuous improvement for a Cassandra system 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 6 years of experience as a database administrator, with a focus on Cassandra database management.
• Proficiency in Cassandra database administration, including installation, configuration, and performance tuning.
• Strong understanding of NoSQL database concepts, data modeling principles, and distributed systems architecture.
• Experience with database monitoring and management tools, such as DataStax OpsCenter, Prometheus, Grafana, etc.
• Knowledge of backup and recovery strategies, replication mechanisms, and high availability configurations in Cassandra.
• Familiarity with database security best practices, including authentication, authorization, and encryption in Cassandra.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, managing multiple priorities effectively.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in Cassandra administration or related technologies (e.g., DataStax Certified Cassandra Administrator).
• Experience with other NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Couchbase) and relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Knowledge of cloud platforms and services (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) for deploying and managing Cassandra clusters.
• Understanding of DevOps practices and tools for automation, configuration management, and infrastructure as code (e.g., Ansible, Terraform).

PMAT is an equal-opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

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