Lead Database Administrator

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:

Job Summary

The Database Lead is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and overall health of the organization's database systems. This role requires technical expertise, strategic planning, and leadership to guide a team of Database Administrators (DBAs) and collaborate with cross-functional IT and business teams. We are seeking a highly experienced Database Lead to manage and optimize enterprise-scale database environments. This role requires deep expertise across multiple database platforms including Oracle, MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL), DB2, and PostgreSQL, along with strong exposure to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle Fusion applications.

The ideal candidate will lead database strategy, ensure high availability and performance, and guide a team of DBAs while aligning database solutions with business objectives.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

1. Database Strategy & Leadership
       Lead and mentor a team of Database Administrators, setting performance goals and managing daily operations.
       Define and enforce database standards, policies, and procedures to ensure data integrity, security, and compliance.
       Develop the long-term database architecture and strategy (on-premise, cloud, or hybrid) to align with business growth and technology roadmaps.
       Act as a technical project leader for complex database initiatives, upgrades, and migrations.
2. Database Design & Architecture
       Suggest Design, model, and implement complex database structures (schemas, tables, relationships) to accommodate various application and reporting needs.
       Collaborate with application development and business intelligence teams to ensure efficient data access and management.
       Evaluate and recommend new database technologies, tools, and platforms (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, cloud databases).
       Provide technical leadership for Oracle, MySQL, MSSQL, DB2, and PostgreSQL environments

    Manage cloud-based database solutions, particularly on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

1.  Performance, Monitoring & Tuning
        Continuously monitor, analyze, and optimize database performance to ensure fast response times for front-end applications and users.
        Perform query optimization, indexing, and configuration tuning to resolve performance bottlenecks.
        Plan for and manage database capacity, storage, and resource utilization.
        Oversee backup, recovery, disaster recovery (DR), and high availability (HA) strategies
2. Data Security & Integrity
        Implement and manage comprehensive database security measures, including access controls, user permissions, and encryption.
        Develop, manage, and test robust backup, restore, and disaster recovery plans to ensure data availability and business continuity.
        Oversee and manage data migration (ETL/ELT) processes, ensuring data quality and consistency.
3. Troubleshooting & Maintenance
        Provide expert-level support for complex database issues, including performance degradation, system failures, and data corruption.
        Coordinate and execute database software installation, upgrades, and patching.
        Maintain detailed technical documentation for database configurations, standards, and operational procedures.
        Implement automation for database provisioning, monitoring, and maintenance

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  Complete knowledge of ITIL.
  Experience: Typically 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in database administration, with at least 2-3 years in a lead or supervisory role.
  Technical Expertise:
        a. Deep proficiency in one or more major Database Management Systems (DBMS) (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, cloud databases).
        b. Expertise in SQL (Structured Query Language), stored procedures, functions, and advanced query optimization.
        c. Strong knowledge of database design, data modeling, and data warehousing concepts.
        d. Experience with cloud database services (e.g., AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database, Google Cloud SQL) is often highly valued.
        e. Proficiency in database security best practices and compliance.
 Soft Skills:
        a. Proven leadership and team management skills.
        b. Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
        c. Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
        d. Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects under tight deadlines.
Certifications: Relevant certifications (e.g., Oracle Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate) are often preferred.

Can you describe your experience managing multiple database platforms such as Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, or PostgreSQL? Have you led a DBA team?

How do you approach database performance tuning and ensuring high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR)? Can you share a real example?

What is your experience with cloud database platforms such as Amazon Web Services RDS, Microsoft Azure SQL Database, or Google Cloud Platform SQL? Have you worked with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)?


What is your experience supporting PeopleSoft environments, including components like WebLogic, Tuxedo, and Process Scheduler?
 

What We’re Looking For: 

• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.
   

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:
We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

Who We Are:
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy