Job description template

Database Administrator

As a Database Administrator, you will be responsible for the reliability, performance, and security of the company’s production databases. You’ll work independently on well-defined work to troubleshoot incidents, optimize query performance, and implement database changes with safe, repeatable processes.

Responsibilities

Administer and maintain production database systems (e.g., availability, backups, restores, and routine maintenance).
Monitor database health and investigate performance issues, including slow queries and resource contention.
Design, implement, and review schema changes, indexes, and query improvements while minimizing downtime and risk.
Manage database security controls, including access management and least-privilege practices.
Support data integrity and reliability practices, including migrations, constraints, and operational guardrails.
Create and maintain operational runbooks and documentation for common database procedures.
Collaborate with engineering teams to support application-level needs that affect database behavior and performance.

Must-have qualifications

Hands-on experience administering relational databases in production (e.g., PostgreSQL or MySQL)
Experience troubleshooting database performance issues using logs, query plans, and metrics
Experience with backup and restore processes, including validation and recovery readiness
Working knowledge of database security practices (access control, least privilege, auditing)
Experience managing schema changes and database migrations with safe rollout practices
Ability to monitor, alert, and drive incident resolution for database-related issues

Nice to have

Experience with automation for database operations (scripting, configuration management, or orchestration)
Familiarity with cloud database services and infrastructure patterns
Experience with data warehousing or ETL-related database performance considerations

What success looks like in 12 months

Database reliability is maintained through consistent operational readiness
Performance issues are reduced and resolution times improve
Database changes are delivered safely with repeatable processes
Security controls are applied and verified
Operational excellence increases through documentation and automation

Logistics

Full-time (40 hours a week), remote from Latin America.
Working hours overlap with US business hours.

About the company

[About your company: what you build, your stage and team size]

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Interview scorecard

Score every candidate against the same bar

Ensure production databases are reliable, secure, and performant through disciplined operations, clear troubleshooting, and safe change management.

Outcomes to measure

What this hire should deliver in the first year. Replace [N] with your own targets.

Database reliability is maintained through consistent operational readiness. Measure: Achieve database availability of [X]% over the first [12] months and successfully complete backup/restore validation in [Y]% of scheduled cases
Performance issues are reduced and resolution times improve. Measure: Reduce recurring performance-related incidents by [X]% and improve mean time to restore/query performance by [Y]%
Database changes are delivered safely with repeatable processes. Measure: Complete [N] database schema/migration releases with [X]% meeting the planned rollout criteria (e.g., no rollback due to preventable database issues)
Security controls are applied and verified. Measure: Implement or review access control for [X] critical database objects and reduce over-privileged access occurrences by [Y]%
Operational excellence increases through documentation and automation. Measure: Publish/update [N] runbooks and reduce manual steps for a high-frequency operational procedure by [X]%

Competencies and weights

What to evaluate, how much it counts and what a strong answer looks like.

Production database admin · 22%
The role requires independent ownership of production database operations, health, and maintenance. Evaluated in Round 1.

Weak: Can explain basic database administration concepts but struggles to diagnose real production symptoms
Meets the bar: Handles routine production administration tasks and follows established operational procedures
Strong: Independently resolves complex production database issues and can justify operational decisions with evidence

Performance troubleshooting · 22%
A core responsibility is identifying and fixing slow queries and resource contention using measurable signals. Evaluated in Round 2.

Weak: Relies on guesswork and cannot interpret query plans or relevant metrics
Meets the bar: Uses logs/metrics and query plans to identify bottlenecks and proposes targeted fixes
Strong: Drives performance outcomes with a structured investigation and verifies improvement with before/after evidence

Backup and recovery readiness · 16%
Recovery readiness is essential to prevent data loss and to ensure fast restoration during incidents. Evaluated in Round 1.

Weak: Knows backup terminology but cannot describe a reliable restore validation approach
Meets the bar: Performs and validates backups/restores and can explain typical failure modes
Strong: Designs or improves recovery procedures and demonstrates confidence through tested recovery outcomes

Security and access control · 14%
The role manages access management and applies least-privilege practices to protect production data. Evaluated in Round 2.

Weak: Provides generic statements about security without practical control knowledge
Meets the bar: Applies least privilege, manages roles/permissions, and can describe auditability practices
Strong: Proactively identifies risky access patterns and implements secure changes with clear verification steps

Schema change safety · 14%
Safe schema/migration execution is critical to avoid downtime and prevent data integrity issues. Evaluated in Round 3.

Weak: Cannot explain how they mitigate migration risk or handle rollback concerns
Meets the bar: Plans and executes schema changes with safe rollout practices and validation steps
Strong: Designs migrations with strong risk controls, validates impact, and ensures backward compatibility when needed

Incident communication · 12%
Database incidents require clear, timely communication to coordinate resolution and minimize impact. Evaluated in Round 3.

Weak: Communicates late or focuses only on technical details without stakeholder context
Meets the bar: Communicates status updates and next steps with enough technical detail for alignment
Strong: Leads incident communications effectively, sets expectations, and documents learnings for prevention

Interview questions

Questions for every interview round

Each round has an owner, a time box and questions that test the competencies above.

Round 1: Core Database Operations
DB Engineering Lead · 45 min

Tell us about a production incident you diagnosed and resolved related to database availability or health. What signals did you use to pinpoint the cause?
Describe your approach to backup and restore validation. How do you ensure restores are actually usable (not just “successful”)?
Walk through your experience administering a relational database in production (e.g., how you manage maintenance, monitoring, and operational checks).

Round 2: Performance and Security Deep Dive
Performance/Platform Engineer · 45 min

Give a specific example of a performance problem you investigated. How did you use query plans, metrics, and logs to identify the bottleneck and validate the fix?
Describe how you apply least-privilege access in a database. How do you audit or verify that access remains appropriate over time?
Tell us about a time you prevented a performance regression. What signals or checks did you add to reduce the chance of recurrence?

Round 3: Change Management and Incident Leadership
Engineering Manager · 45 min

Describe a schema change or migration you managed in production. How did you plan rollout steps, validate impact, and handle risk/rollback concerns?
Walk through an incident where database changes or schema/migration activity contributed to an issue. What did you do to stabilize and what did you change afterward to prevent repeats?
How do you communicate during a database incident to keep stakeholders aligned? Provide an example of what you said and when.

Red flags to watch for

Cannot describe concrete experience administering or troubleshooting production relational databases (more than terminology-level knowledge)
No clear approach to backup/restore validation (e.g., “we take backups” without recovery testing)
Inconsistent or vague performance troubleshooting methods (no evidence of using query plans/metrics/logs)
Schema changes delivered without risk controls, validation steps, or rollback thinking
Security discussions focused on policies without practical knowledge of permissions, access control, and verification

How much does it cost to hire a Database Administrator in Latin America?

In 2026, a senior Database Administrator in Latin America costs $6,750 to $7,750 a month all-in, versus $14,625 in the US: up to 54% less. Mid-level starts at $4,500.

Country

Mid-level

Senior

Argentina

$4,500

$6,750

Brazil

$5,000

$7,500

Colombia

$4,500

$6,750

Mexico

$5,250

$7,750

United States

$11,875

$14,625

Monthly cost in USD, all-in: the talent's salary plus Teilur's flat 20% fee, from our 2026 rates. The United States row shows what the same role typically costs there.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Database Administrator do?

Typical responsibilities include: administer and maintain production database systems (e.g., availability, backups, restores, and routine maintenance); monitor database health and investigate performance issues, including slow queries and resource contention; design, implement, and review schema changes, indexes, and query improvements while minimizing downtime and risk. The full list is in the template above.

How much does it cost to hire a Database Administrator in Latin America?

In 2026, a senior Database Administrator in Latin America costs $6,750 to $7,750 a month all-in, versus $14,625 in the US: up to 54% less. Mid-level starts at $4,500.

Can I customize this Database Administrator job description?

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Database Administrator Job Description Template