Database Administrator

Azooa is preparing a response for RFQ LH-06901 – Lead Data Platform Administrator with the Australian Electoral Commission, and is seeking suitably qualified contractors with strong enterprise database administration, cloud database, security, performance tuning and stakeholder engagement experience.

Overview

The AEC is seeking 1 Lead Data Platform Administrator to support the Website Modernisation Project. The role is focused on ensuring databases supporting the modernised website and associated applications are secure, reliable, performant and well-governed.

The Website Modernisation Project team is responsible for the design, uplift and delivery of a modernised website for the Australian Electoral Commission. The role sits within the AEC’s broader CIOD environment, which is responsible for delivering robust ICT functions, maintaining election-ready systems and supporting ICT transformation and modernisation initiatives.

Core Purpose

The core purpose of this role is to provide lead-level database administration capability across development, test, staging and production environments, with responsibility for database architecture, optimisation, security controls, backup and recovery, operational support, documentation, governance and continuous improvement.

Scope / Responsibilities

The Lead Data Platform Administrator will be responsible for:

• Designing, administering and maintaining database architecture, schemas, tables, views and naming conventions.
• Ensuring data integrity and accuracy across database environments.
• Monitoring and tuning database performance, including indexes, queries, storage and connections.
• Supporting performance across development, test, staging and production environments.
• Implementing and maintaining backup, recovery and failover procedures.
• Contributing to disaster recovery planning and testing.
• Applying database security hardening and access controls.
• Managing roles, privileges, encryption, patching and audit requirements.
• Safeguarding information against unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
• Maintaining compliance with AEC security and governance frameworks.
• Supporting controlled changes to database structures and configurations.
• Maintaining versioned change records and technical documentation.
• Testing database systems and upgrades.
• Debugging, tracking, reproducing and resolving database-related issues.
• Writing and maintaining logical and physical database descriptions.
• Working with developers to optimise SQL and data access patterns.
• Contributing to solution design and data modelling discussions.
• Supporting data migration, cleansing and validation activities.
• Assisting with integrations, including CMS and API-driven services.
• Providing operational support for database-related incidents and problems.
• Providing specialist advice to project teams and stakeholders.
• Tailoring explanations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Implementing database documentation, guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve reliability, automation and operational efficiency.
• Supporting standardisation of database patterns and practices.

Key Deliverables

Key deliverables and service outputs may include:

• Secure, reliable and performant database environments.
• Database architecture, schema and configuration documentation.
• Backup, recovery and failover procedures.
• Disaster recovery planning and testing inputs.
• Security hardening, access control and audit compliance support.
• Versioned database change records.
• Database testing, upgrade and issue-resolution support.
• SQL optimisation and data access improvements.
• Data migration, cleansing and validation support.
• CMS and API integration support.
• Incident and problem management support.
• Database documentation, guidelines, policies and procedures.
• Continuous improvement recommendations for reliability, automation and operational efficiency.

Mandatory / Essential Criteria

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Experience administering enterprise databases such as MS SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL or MariaDB.
• Strong database performance tuning, monitoring and capacity planning experience.
• Experience implementing security controls, backups, recovery and high-availability patterns.
• Experience working in line with governance and audit requirements.
• Proven ability to support upgrades, patches and structured change processes.
• Experience with testing and issue resolution.
• Strong SQL skills.
• Experience collaborating with developers and technical teams to optimise queries and data design.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide sound technical advice to stakeholders at different levels.

Desirable Criteria

The following will be highly regarded:

• Experience with AWS database services, such as RDS, Aurora, snapshots and Performance Insights.
• Experience with cloud-hosted operational patterns.
• Experience supporting web platforms or CMS technologies.
• Drupal experience is desirable.
• Experience with data integrations using APIs.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with automated database deployment or schema management.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary Agile delivery teams.

Engagement Details

• RFQ: LH-06901
• Role: Lead Data Platform Administrator
• Buyer: Australian Electoral Commission
• Experience level: Lead / EL1 equivalent
• Location: ACT
• Work arrangement: Hybrid
• Office location: AEC National Office, Canberra
• Maximum hours: 40 hours per week
• Estimated start date: Tuesday, 21 July 2026
• Initial contract duration: ASAP to 30 June 2027
• Extension term: Not applicable

Clearance Requirements

Candidates must hold an active Baseline security clearance prior to commencement and must be able to obtain Negative Vetting Level 1.

RFQTS Relevance

This opportunity is directly aligned to the AEC’s Website Modernisation Project and requires a lead-level database administrator who can support secure, reliable and well-governed database services across enterprise and cloud-hosted environments. Strong experience in database administration, performance tuning, security controls, high availability, structured change, SQL optimisation, stakeholder advice and web/CMS integration support will be highly relevant.

Rate Guidance

Maximum rate: $144.29/hour including super

Azooa recommends bidding under the maximum rate to improve competitiveness.

Suggested positioning:

• Lower end: strongest chance of winning where skills, clearance and availability are aligned.
• Mid-range: competitive where the candidate has strong enterprise DBA, SQL optimisation, security and stakeholder experience.
• Near maximum: less competitive unless the candidate brings strong specialist value, such as AWS database services, AEC/Federal Government experience, Drupal/CMS integration exposure, high-availability database design, automation or strong security/governance capability.

Higher rates may still be considered where niche database administration expertise, current clearance, AWS database experience, CMS/web platform experience, strong security/governance capability or AEC/Federal Government experience outweigh rate considerations.

How Azooa Can Support You

Azooa can support you by:

• Positioning your profile to maximise win probability
• Helping align your rate with market expectations
• Assisting with tailored responses and submission strategy
• Providing access to similar Federal Government ICT opportunities