Senior DBA OCI Expert (m/f/d)

About the Role

At Sofico , we power the automotive finance, leasing, and fleet mobility industry with mission-critical software solutions running for top-tier enterprise clients worldwide.

The Database Performance team is a specialized group within Platform Infrastructure responsible for Sofico's database ecosystem and performance engineering capabilities.

As a Senior DBA / OCI Expert , you will play a key role in ensuring the reliability, scalability, performance, and cost efficiency of Sofico Cloud's Oracle landscape.

From our Ghent office, you will join a team of senior database professionals and act as one of the key experts for Oracle technologies and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) . Your role goes beyond traditional database administration, combining database engineering, platform infrastructure, automation, cloud operations, disaster recovery, and performance optimization.

This is a highly visible role where you will influence architectural decisions, drive operational excellence, and help scale Sofico's cloud platform for the future.

What You'll Do

• Design, operate, and optimize Oracle database environments running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), including Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure.
• Manage and continuously improve Oracle technologies such as Data Guard, RAC, and GoldenGate.
• Analyze and resolve complex database and platform incidents, performing deep root cause analysis and implementing preventative measures.
• Drive database performance optimization through execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, workload tuning, and capacity planning.
• Collaborate with the wider Platform Infrastructure team to manage OCI environments and Azure-OCI connectivity.
• Own database backup, restore, and disaster recovery strategies for Sofico Cloud.
• Plan and execute database patching, upgrades, and lifecycle management with minimal operational impact.
• Automate operational tasks using Infrastructure as Code and automation tools such as Terraform, Ansible, and scripting frameworks.
• Coordinate the deployment and onboarding of new customer database environments.
• Act as a technical escalation point for database-related challenges across the organization.
• Contribute to governance, documentation, standards, and operational best practices.
• Monitor and optimize Oracle licensing usage and infrastructure costs across the platform.

What You Bring

• Extensive experience as a Senior Oracle DBA supporting large-scale production environments.
• Strong hands-on expertise with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
• Experience with Oracle Exadata, Exascale Infrastructure, Base Database Services, and Autonomous Databases.
• Deep understanding of Oracle database internals and performance tuning techniques.
• Expertise in AWR, ASH, SQL tuning, execution plan analysis, and capacity modelling.
• Proven experience with Oracle Data Guard, RAC, backup and recovery strategies, and disaster recovery planning.
• Experience configuring and supporting Oracle GoldenGate replication environments.
• Strong understanding of database upgrades, patching, and lifecycle management.
• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and automation technologies such as Terraform, Ansible, Python, Shell scripting, or similar tools.
• Knowledge of OCI networking, security principles, and cloud governance.
• Understanding of Oracle licensing models and their financial impact.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a distributed team.
• Documentation-driven and committed to operational excellence.
• Excellent communication skills in English.

Nice to Have

• Experience operating mission-critical SaaS platforms.
• Exposure to Microsoft Azure environments and hybrid cloud connectivity.
• Experience with SQL Server administration.
• Familiarity with observability, monitoring, and SRE practices.
• Experience supporting highly available and globally distributed systems.

What's In It For You…

• Competitive Compensation Benefits: Attractive salary package complemented by meal vouchers, hospitalisation insurance, and group insurance, car or mobility budget
• Flexible Way of Working: Hybrid working model and flexible hours, giving you the autonomy to organize your workday in a way that suits you best.
• Modern Workplace: Work from a contemporary co-working space designed to foster collaboration, comfort, and productivity.
• Structured Onboarding Coaching: 6-month onboarding track with a dedicated job coach to get you up to speed.
• Collaborative Company Culture: Regular opportunities to connect with colleagues through informal drinks, team activities, and company-wide events that strengthen relationships beyond the workplace.