Senior Database Administrator I

Job Title 

Job Description

About us
Part of Kaplan Inc, a US-owned business, Kaplan International is a world-leading education business providing English courses for international students (Kaplan International English) and preparation programmes for international students wishing to enter UK universities (Kaplan International Pathways). We are a premium brand with a reputation for high-quality tuition and excellent levels of pastoral support.

Information technology at Kaplan International (KI) is a key enabler of business transformation and growth. KI is going through a multi-year digital transformation programme across the student journey. As part of this transformation, we are leveraging public cloud to support both the business and the student journey.

Job Role: Senior Database Administrator (India)

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Database Administrator (DBA) to join our global technology team, based in India. The role is primarily focused on supporting and maintaining databases in AWS, where automation plays a key part of our operations. While exposure to Microsoft SQL Server and My-SQL is expected, we are ideally looking for someone with strong MySQL experience. This is an operational DBA role, though some exposure to database development is considered an advantage. The position offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic, cloud-driven environment and contribute to automation initiatives.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Strong command of SQL with working knowledge of My-SQL.
• Previous database development experience is desirable but not required.
• Advanced knowledge of database security, backup and recovery, and performance monitoring.
• Familiarity with relational and dimensional data modelling.
• Experience with scripting and automation tools (e.g., Python, PowerShell, Bash).
• Exposure to infrastructure automation tools (e.g., Ansible) desirable but not required.
• Exposure to cloud databases (AWS RDS, Aurora, etc.).
• Experience with enterprise monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Good written and verbal communication.
• AWS certifications or equivalent cloud knowledge desirable but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Operate, administer, and support databases primarily in AWS Cloud, with some on-premises systems.
• Ensure availability, performance, security, and compliance of critical database systems.
• Perform installation, configuration, upgrades, patching, backup and recovery, and performance tuning.
• Diagnose and resolve database-related incidents and errors.
• Develop and maintain database standards, documentation, and operational procedures.
• Automate recurring database and infrastructure tasks.
• Collaborate with global teams to deliver resilient, optimised, and secure database services.
• Participate in an on-call rota to provide 24/7 support coverage.

Education & Experience Requirements

• 5 + years of experience in database administration.
• Experience with MySQL (essential) and MS SQL Server (preferred).
• Exposure to Linux and Windows Server environments.
• Experience in AWS database services (RDS, Aurora) highly desirable.
• Scripting and automation experience with Python, PowerShell, Bash or similar.
• Familiarity with automation/orchestration tools such as Ansible desirable but not essential.
• Certifications (AWS, Microsoft) useful but not required.

Operational Responsibilities

• Support and maintain databases across AWS and on-premises environments.
• Deliver health checks, monitoring, performance tuning, and trend analysis.
• Manage escalation and incident response for database issues.
• Contribute to automation and continual improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with security and regulatory requirements.

Current Projects

• Migration within Cloud environments for databases to AWS Cloud.
• Database automation and self-healing systems.
• Microsoft SQL Server consolidation and resilience improvements.
• Enhancing MySQL reliability and performance in AWS.

Security & Compliance

• Partner with Security and Support teams to ensure compliance with standards.
• Conduct vulnerability checks and remediation.

Behavioural Skills

• Clear communication across global teams.
• Strong collaboration and adaptability.
• Open to change and fast learner.
• Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.

Additional Information

• Location: India
• On-call and occasional unsocial hours required for planned changes or critical incident response.

Location

Additional Locations 

Employee Type

Job Functional Area 

Business Unit

Diversity & Inclusion Statement:

Kaplan is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace that values diversity, promotes equity, and integrates inclusivity into all aspects of our operations. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, nationality, or sex. We believe that diversity strengthens our organization, fuels innovation, and improves our ability to serve our students, customers, and communities. Learn more about our culture here.

Kaplan considers qualified applicants for employment even if applicants have an arrest or conviction in their background check records. Kaplan complies with related background check regulations, including but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.  There are various positions where certain convictions may disqualify applicants, such as those positions requiring interaction with minors, financial records, or other sensitive and/or confidential information.

Kaplan is a drug-free workplace and complies with applicable laws.