Administrator, Epic Operational Database

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, and provision all Epic database environments (Production, Reporting, Disaster Recovery, Training, and Build) within the Azure cloud environment.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Collaborate with cloud engineers to deploy and manage the underlying Azure database infrastructure using tools like Terraform to ensure consistent, scalable builds.
• Execute rigorous volume testing to ensure the database can handle burst-heavy, high-throughput HL7v2 and FHIR API transactions from automated lab analyzers and middleware.
• DR Configuration: Implement and validate multi-region disaster recovery, failover clusters, and backup protocols to guarantee near-zero downtime and strict data recoverability prior to go-live.
• Monitor daily database health, server performance, I/O, and journaling to proactively identify bottlenecks and maintain high availability.
• Execute routine Epic version upgrades, system updates (SUs), and security patches across all environments according to strict change management processes.
• Serve in a 24/7 on-call rotation to provide advanced troubleshooting for database abends, slow query responses, data corruption, or severe system degradation.
• Execute daily operational tasks, including database space management, user access control, log rotation, and validation of automated database backups.
• Act as the primary technical liaison with Epic Technical Support (Epic TS) and InterSystems to coordinate maintenance windows and drive resolution of critical incidents.
• Continuously tune database memory, caching, and background processes to optimize responsiveness for rapid specimen accessioning, auto-verification, and integrated LIS workflows.
• Monitor storage consumption and transaction trends to accurately forecast resource needs and right-size Azure compute/storage resources for cost efficiency and performance.
• Design and execute database partitioning and historical lab-result archiving strategies to manage the rapid, compounding data growth typical of a national reference lab.
• Process Automation: Develop and refine automation scripts to streamline repetitive DBA tasks, system monitoring alerts, and failover validation processes.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Active Epic ODBA certification is required with a proven track record of maintaining certifications across multiple Epic release cycles.
• Minimum 7+ years of hands-on database administration experience managing InterSystems Caché/IRIS database environments, with a strong focus on enterprise-scale production systems.
• Demonstrated experience of managing, monitoring, and performance-tuning databases supporting high volume concurrent users and extremely high transaction volumes.
• Minimum 4 years of deep operational experience hosting and managing mission-critical Epic database workloads within Microsoft Azure, including advanced knowledge of Azure storage performance tiers and VM clustering.
• Expert level experience designing, configuring, and executing failovers for multi-node, geographically distributed high-availability database configurations and complex disaster recovery plans.
• Advanced Unix/Linux system administration skills (specifically Red Hat Enterprise Linux) with the ability to write sophisticated, production-grade automation scripts (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell) to manage large environment fleets.
• Proven experience designing and validating backup and restore strategies for massive databases, ensuring zero data loss and minimal recovery time objectives under pressure.
• Exceptional root-cause analysis skills with a demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex database corruption, severe performance degradation, or system abends in real-time.
• Commitment to participating in a flexible, 24/7/365 tier-3 escalations on-call rotation for critical database incidents.

Preferred Qualifications

• Large Diagnostic/Lab Network Experience: 10+ years of senior-level Caché/IRIS DBA experience, with specific experience in a national reference laboratory, massive multi-tenant healthcare system, or highly integrated diagnostic network.
• Deep technical knowledge of optimizing and tuning IRIS databases specifically to support high-throughput Epic Beaker (Clinical and Anatomic Pathology) workflows and massive interface transaction loads.
• Advanced experience automating database environment provisioning and configuration management using Terraform, Ansible, or similar enterprise-grade CI/CD pipelines.
• Proven experience designing and implementing advanced database partitioning, purging, and historical archiving strategies to manage aggressive, high-volume laboratory data growth.
• Prior experience serving as the Lead ODBA for a major, enterprise-wide Epic Go-Live, successfully guiding the database environment from build to steady-state optimization.
• Active, advanced Microsoft Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Database Administrator Associate, Azure Solutions Architect, or DevOps Engineer Expert).

Technical Training or Professional Licensing

• Active Epic Operational Database Administrator (ODBA) Certification: Must hold an active, non-expired Epic ODBA certification (Required)
• Epic New Version Training (NVT): Must be fully current on all Epic NVTs up to the organization's target Epic release version to ensure they are qualified to manage and upgrade the environment immediately upon hire. (Required)
• InterSystems System Administration Certification (Preferred)

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Healthcare Administration, or equivalent professional work experience. (Required)
• Master's degree in a technical or IT-related field. (Preferred)