Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Database Reliability Engineer

A Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE) is a professional who ensures the reliability, performance, and scalability of database systems within an organization. In this blog post, we will explore the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Database Reliability Engineers.

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Main Responsibilities of a Database Reliability Engineer

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Database Reliability Engineer:

Advise

Advise on enhancing data integrity and availability.

Analyze

Analyze, configure and monitor continuously the health of the database and critical processes.
Analyze existing database implementation for performance improvements.
Analyze existing SQL queries for performance improvements.

Arrange

Arrange project requirements in programming sequence by analyzing requirements.

Assist

Assist developers in writing and troubleshooting queries.
Assist in database capacity planning.
Assist in the setup of production environment including application servers and database servers.
Assist with other TRREB special events, including on-site assistance as required.
Assist with server migration, backups and archiving as needed.

Attend

Attend and participate in all CGI member meetings (e.g., MSAPs, town halls, annual tour).

Automate

Automate database tasks and processes.

Balance

Balance the optimization of database with batch loading and resource utilization factors.

Build

Build and maintain the Clippers GitHub repositories and Clippers API Management tools.
Build an efficient data storage method for the database.
Build automated workflows for non-commercial data with apps such as PowerAutomate or Logic Apps.
Build out of Data Lakes needed to enable data discovery, predictive analytics and other features.

Champion

Champion quality by consistently producing high-quality deliverables of significant complexity.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define data requirements.
Collaborate with database administrators for infrastructure planning.
Collaborate with software developers to integrate applications with databases.

Communicate

Communicate status to team lead / project oversight.

Complete

Complete understanding of Linux operating systems and Bash shell.

Conduct

Conduct and document unit tests.
Conduct code reviews, by and for peers.
Conduct code walk-thru of systems solutions to ensure design quality and consistency.
Conduct data analysis and provide insights to stakeholders.
Conduct database testing and debugging.
Conduct Root-cause analysis of production-related DB issues.
Conduct SQL database troubleshooting.
Conduct technical sessions for internal teams, partners and customers.

Contribute to

Contribute appropriately to conversations.
Contribute to new ideas and solutions.

Convert

Convert existing SQL scripts and PL / SQL stored procedure code to migrate from Oracle to Postgres.

Coordinate

Coordinate with external third parities to set up automated data delivery.

Create

Create and maintain database documentation.
Create and maintain database objects (incl.
Create and maintain optimal data pipeline architecture.
Create and maintain SQL queries and scripts.
Create and manage database backup / recovery procedures.
Create and run robust error checking mechanisms in all tasks.
Create and update existing simple to complex stored procedures.
Create complex functions, scripts, stored procedures and triggers to support application development.
Create complex multi-sourced reports using a reporting engine (e.g. Reporting Services).
Create database triggers for use in automation.
Create prototypes for client engagements.
Create user stories, defining their acceptance criteria, and analyzing and documenting their risks.

Define

Define and create complex ETL processes.
Define and support a framework to document the data sources within the security data lake (Splunk).
Define, scope and deliver development projects.

Democratize

Democratize the monitoring data and federate dashboard configuration and events management.

Deploy

Deploy new releases in different environments.

Design

Design and build a data reporting system that will accompany the larger DevResults database.
Design and develop database schemas.
Design and develop innovative solutions to meet the needs of the business.
Design and development of SE content for simulation using CAE Lithos and MOTIF SE database toolsets.
Design and Implement data architecture that improves application features and performance.
Design and implement data warehouse solutions.
Design and implement ETL solutions using SSIS, stored procedures, PowerShell, functions, views etc..
Design and implement reports and dashboards utilizing SSRS as required.
Design database solutions to ensure quality, stability, reliability, integrity and performance.
Design key and indexing schemes and designs partitioning.
Design User interface screens based on graphical studios (toolbox) and JavaScript.

Develop

Develop and conduct test case scenarios for performance or load testing cases.
Develop and enforce database policies and procedures.
Develop and implement data migration strategies.
Develop and maintain data warehouse documentation.
Develop a thorough understanding of our clients services, businesses and industry.
Develop best practices for database design and development activities.
Develop complex database processes with PL / SQL containing batch or ETL functionality.
Develop custom code and reports.
Develop documentation for any code modifications.
Develop solutions using database development tools and languages such as Oracle PL / SQL.
Develop stored procedures, functions, packages, triggers and views.
Develop technical and training manuals.
Develop understanding of client business processes, objectives, and solution requirements.

Document

Document SE content data sets.
Document system operations, runbooks and troubleshooting procedures.
Document the company's database environment and best practices.

Ensure

Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
Ensure data integrity and security.
Ensure excellent communication with all stakeholders.
Ensure production and development environments and maintenance.
Ensure that standards for database performance, availability and security are being met.

Establish

Establish and maintain loading procedures for Oracle based data system.
Establish Protocols to Maintain and Troubleshoot the Database.

Evaluate

Evaluate and recommend database security measures.
Evaluate and recommend database technologies and tools.

Execute

Execute performance test and tuning activities.

Follow

Follow minimum security baseline (MSB) standards.

Generate

Generate technical specifications to design or redesign complex software components and applications.

Handle

Handle exceptions as they occur.

Help

Help scale MongoDB instances across multiple physical locations on cloud.

Identify

Identify and create indexes on tables, and work closely with the DBA on performance tuning.
Identify and implement database optimizations.
Identify and resolve production related errors.
Identify end-user needs for a wide-variety of internal stakeholders in DC and overseas.

Identity

Identity workarounds for specific issues and corner scenarios observed during migration.

Implement

Implement and manage the team's data management practices and policies.
Implement and optimize stored procedures and functions using T-SQL.
Implement automated database maintenance plans and backup routines using standard methodologies.
Implement data models and database structures.

Improve

Improve and maintain the company's database environment documentation.

Install

Install, monitor, and maintain database systems (Oracle, MS SQL, My SQL, Postgres).
Install upgrades and patches to existing databases.

Integrate

Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure.

Interact with

Interact with staff at all levels, sometimes under pressure.

Interpret

Interpret data and create actionable insights and communicate those insights to junior personnel.

Investigate

Investigate and update defects reported in the defect tracking tools.

Keep

Keep documentation up-to-date to reflect changes and complete work.

Lead

Lead and participate in defect root cause analyses.

Leverage

Leverage industry best practices to design, test, implement and support a solution.

Liaise with

Liaise with developers to improve applications and establish best practices.

Maintain

Maintain and continuously upgrade existing relational database systems.
Maintain and support data workflows.
Maintain a solid understanding of software testing best practices, methodologies, and terminologies.
Maintain existing and new databases, make modifications, deploy updates as required.
Maintain safety, security, and privacy standards throughout all areas of responsibility.
Maintain security standards.
Maintain, support, and improve current infrastructure and back-end.
Maintain version control repositories.

Manage

Manage and execute project tasks of varying complexity.
Manage a portfolio of a large number of students.
Manage own development timelines.

Monitor

Monitor and analyze database performance metrics.
Monitor and report on database and application failures and errors.
Monitor and Support existing product and custom developed databases.
Monitor database backups and disaster recovery procedures.
Monitor database performance, implement changes and apply new patches and versions when required.
Monitor databases for performance, bottlenecks and other issues, identify and deploy solutions.

Optimize

Optimize and maintain database systems.
Optimize and maintain legacy systems.
Optimize database performance and query efficiency.

Participate in

Participate in all levels of the software development process.
Participate in database performance tuning activities.
Participate in peer-reviews of solutions designs and related code.
Participate in performance tuning activities.
Participate in real-time troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
Participate in systems implementation, planning, and documentation development.
Participate in the database design and architecture process.
Participate in the design and implementation of future cloud data warehousing initiatives.
Participate in vendor product reviews and provide feedback on review.

Perform

Perform all work in accordance with company's quality programs, standards, and procedures.
Perform analysis and or special reports based on data stored when requested.
Perform database backups and recovery.
Perform data cleansing and normalization.
Perform extensive testing, as well as ETL and repository creation.
Perform maintenance on programs currently in production.
Perform other duties as required.
Perform overall solution design and creation of design specifications to implement changes.
Perform tests and evaluations regularly to ensure data security, privacy and integrity.
Perform various database administration functions.

Plan

Plan the design of database objects and schemas.

Prepare

Prepare reports, statuses, system documentation, technical papers, and presentations periodically.

Program

Program and generate data listings for ongoing studies.

Promote

Promote active listening with team members.

Propose

Propose, defend, and demonstrate new design & architecture ideas, solutions, and modifications.

Provide

Provide alternative diagnostic methods to resolve problems reported internally and by customers.
Provide and support the implementation of business solutions.
Provide assistance to the DBA as needed.
Provide documentation and training to the Database Administrator.
Provide feedback on and adhere to delivery dates.
Provide impact analysis and estimates for changes requested by the Market.
Provide maintenance support to existing applications.
Provide performance and capability feedback to appropriate managers.
Provide production deployment and production support as needed.
Provide support for ad-hoc data requests.
Provide technical guidance to other team members.
Provide technical support to applications in production and during user acceptance testing.
Provide third-level support to business users.
Provide Web Tools for end users.
Provide weekly progress reports.

Recommend

Recommend and implement solutions to improve performance, resource consumption, and resiliency.
Recommend application enhancements to automated repetitive tasks.

Report

Report design, creation and modification as requested by the client.

Research

Research and suggest new database products, services and protocols.

Resolve

Resolve IT and Data Issues.

Retrieve

Retrieve Data from Databases.

Review

Review and approve database design by the technical team.
Review and evaluate requirements from leadership and translate to technical design.
Review functional requirements to give development estimates and product development.
Review schema and provide feedback relative to best practices and improving performance.

Scope

Scope, plan, and prioritize multiple projects.

Setup

Setup, administer and support MySQL / Mongo databases servers for Production, QA and Development.

Share knowledge freely and openly with other team members.

Stay updated with

Stay updated with emerging database technologies and trends.

Support

Support application developers in database-related matters.
Support technical investigation and resolution of clinical database issues.

Take

Take ownership of all aspects of the team's approach to data both on-premise and in the cloud.
Take ownership of existing database code and schema, as well as trouble shooting and improving.

Test

Test all functionality of applications based on test plan.

Track

Track and resolve all data related issues.

Train

Train and mentor junior database developers.

Translate

Translate business & project requirements into data requirements with autonomy.
Translate business requirements into viable technical architectures, database schemas, and designs.

Triage

Triage, fix and validate bugs Proactively look for ways to improve code, processes and team speed.

Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot and resolve database issues.
Troubleshoot business and production issues.
Troubleshoot database connectivity and networking issues.
Troubleshoot production issues related to data and SQL code.
Troubleshoot systems used for verification and validation.

Understand

Understand database warehouse and decision support design and techniques.
Understand technical and functional design requirements.

Update

Update or replace existing database installation scripts.

Validate

Validate interface data according to data specifications.
Validate proper implementation.

Work with

Work closely with application teams to ensure business functionality and SLAs are met.
Work closely with other developers to integrate databases with other applications and reports.
Work closely with the Enterprise Data Architects to design, develop and maintain DB objects.
Work proactively to resolve issues and problems.
Work under minimal supervision, with general guidance from more seasoned consultants.
Work with ERD modeling tool such as E / R Studio and ErWin.
Work within a SecDevOps and agile application development team and act as a team player.
Work with the project team to assist in other aspects of the project.

Write

Write and optimize in-application SQL statements.
Write clear, concise, well organized technical documentation to maintain standards and procedures.
Write data checking procedures for quality control.
Write, maintain, improve, and upgrade existing and new data analysis scripts using SQL & Python.
Write tests and technical documentation.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Database Reliability Engineer:

Proficiency in SQL and database query optimization.
Experience with database management systems like Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.
Knowledge of database administration and performance tuning.
Expertise in database backup and recovery strategies.
Familiarity with database replication and clustering technologies.
Understanding of database security principles and access controls.
Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
Knowledge of database monitoring and alerting tools.
Experience with cloud-based database services (e.g., AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database).
Understanding of database schema design and optimization.
Familiarity with data modeling and database design principles.
Proficiency in database performance monitoring and optimization.
Knowledge of database automation and configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Chef, Puppet).
Experience with database version control and change management.
Understanding of database disaster recovery strategies and procedures.
Knowledge of database storage technologies (e.g., SAN, NAS).
Proficiency in database troubleshooting and problem-solving.
Experience with database migration and upgrade processes.
Familiarity with database high availability and failover solutions.
Understanding of data synchronization techniques and tools.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Database Reliability Engineer:

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Detail-oriented and meticulous in database operations.
Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies.
Teamwork and the ability to work well in cross-functional teams.
Strong documentation and reporting skills.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have explored the main responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Database Reliability Engineers (DBREs). These professionals play a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and scalability of database systems within an organization.