DBA Career Levels

Starting from the first day the career levels could be something like this.

Trainee

Assist on tasks and issues. Can be given trivial tasks with some training. Mentor assigned to introduce to profession.

Junior (Level I)

The Junior DBA resolves issues while developing professional skills. Handle assigned tasks. Check test results. Will mostly work individual, but will have a close colleage as mentor (Sensei).

Usually with up to two years of experience. But the period length is not defining - it is the capabilities.

Specialist (Level II)

Works on troubleshooting, review and test. Does now have solid fundamental skills.

Between two to five years of experience. Unusally depending on the organisation, capabilities and the mentor (Sensei).

Senior (Level III)

Now works as individual contributor with deep understandings. Ownership of technical components like SQL Server components. Key resource in problem analysis. Give process recommendations. Comprehensive knowledge of practices and organization structures, both formal and informal (goat paths).

Develop and present proposals, also to customers. Negotiate project and product technical terms and requirements with vendors and customers. Participate in pre-sales. Professional mentor (Sensei). Key business knowledge. Recognized for technical skills on international level with influence on wide organizational level.

Typically more than five years of experience. Often more than ten years.

Principal

Designing and presenting technical stratigies. Setting department goals and creating implementation plans. Setting and manging engineering budgets.  Develop and implement proces improvements.

Provide expert advise. People management in research and design. Professional and career mentor (Sensei) but not as primary priority. Deep business knowledge.

Now it is no longer a matter of years but more of capabilities and ambitions. Usually has at least a bachelor degree.

Master

Guiding and training professional teams and individuals. This is the primary focus. Deep knowledge and experience in both tech and processes. Can also be called Sensei in a Lean context.

Executive

Part of senior management. Set budgets. Define products and projects.

Driven by career ambitions.

Very rare title. Most people has left database administration many years before this level is relevant to pursue a more focused business career.

Inspiration

• SHIFTMAG: Engineering career levels explained.
• indeed: Principal Engineer vs. Senior Engineer.

History

2024-11-16: Post created.

2024-12-23: Master level added.