Lead, Database Administrator

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Lead, Database Administrator

Job Description Summary
The Database Services team is responsible for delivering secure, scalable, resilient, and high-performing database infrastructure and software deployment capabilities that support global payment solutions.
In this role, you will administer production, pre-production, UAT, and development database environments while contributing to the design and architecture of the database tier for our global payments platform. You will work closely with system engineers, application developers, and database administrators to ensure a robust, scalable, and high-performance database environment.
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Role and Responsibilities
• Lead database design, performance tuning, query optimization, and database operations.
• Install, configure, administer, and support PostgreSQL, Cassandra, Elasticsearch, Redis, and other NoSQL database platforms.
• Implement proactive monitoring and alerting strategies to identify and resolve issues before they impact application performance or customer experience.
• Configure and manage database replication technologies, including multi-node clustered and distributed environments.
• Perform database schema upgrades, testing, validation, and deployment activities.
• Design, implement, and maintain highly available database architectures.
• Maintain database security, including authentication, authorization, roles, privileges, and access controls.
• Develop and maintain documentation, operational procedures, and best-practice guides for database deployment and maintenance.
• Collaborate with development and support teams to participate in release management and change management processes, including the deployment of new features, patches, and upgrades.
• Support capacity planning, performance analysis, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis activities.
• Participate in incident management and production support activities for mission-critical systems.
Given the nature of our global payments environment, occasional work outside standard business hours may be required to support production activities and minimize downtime. The role may also require occasional international travel for training and business purposes. Successful candidates must possess a valid passport and be eligible for travel to the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.
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Qualifications and Experience
Required Qualifications
• Proven experience as a Database Technical Lead, Database Architect, or Senior Database Administrator.
• Strong hands-on experience with at least two of the following technologies:
o PostgreSQL, Apache , Cassandra, Elasticsearch, Redis
• Extensive experience administering databases in medium to large enterprise environments.
• Strong expertise in database performance tuning, query optimization, and troubleshooting.
• Advanced SQL skills and a solid understanding of database design concepts, including:
• Extensive experience with database backup and recovery, replication technologies, data migration, and performance monitoring.
• Experience configuring and maintaining clustered and distributed database environments.
• Strong understanding of high-availability and disaster recovery architectures.
• Strong knowledge of database architecture, data storage technologies, and data management principles.
• Experience with Linux/Unix operating systems and shell scripting.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate across global teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience within the payments, banking, financial services, or credit card industry.
• Enterprise database certifications for PostgreSQL, Cassandra, or other database technologies.
• Experience with DevOps and automation tools.
• Familiarity with IT Service Management and delivery frameworks, including:
o ITIL, Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Jenkins, Remedy
• Experience supporting large-scale, highly available, mission-critical applications.
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What We're Looking For
• A hands-on technical leader with a passion for building and supporting highly scalable database platforms.
• A collaborative team player who can work effectively across engineering, operations, and business teams.
• A proactive problem solver with strong troubleshooting and decision-making abilities.
• An individual who thrives in a fast-paced, high-availability environment.
• A professional with a positive attitude, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

THIS POSTING RELECTS ONE OR MORE CURRENT VACANCIES ON OUR TEAM, AND MASTERCARD INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY 01/10/2027. If the fill date has passed, Mastercard intends to fill this position as soon as possible.

Pay Ranges

Remote - Maryland: $122,000 - $207,000 USD

Job Posting Window

Posting windows may change based on the volume of applications received and business necessity. Candidates are encouraged to apply expeditiously.

About Us

Everyone wants easier ways to pay;

we invent them.

Checkout lines are slow;

we speed them along.

Merchants want more sales;

we give them data and insights.

People need financial access;

we connect them.

Corporate purchasing is complicated;

we make it simple.

Commuters are busy;

we speed them on their way.

Governments need greater efficiencies;

we help create them.

Small businesses are virtual;

we give them access to a world of buyers.

Retailers want to fight fraud;

we provide the tools.