Oracle Exadata

Impact(Job Summary/Why this Role Matters)

The Database Patch Engineer is responsible for planning, coordinating, testing, and applying patches and updates to database engineered systems to ensure security, stability, and compliance with cyber security standards. This role requires strong technical knowledge of database systems, patching best practices, and advanced troubleshooting skills.

Key Deliverables(Duties and Responsibilities)

• Manage and execute Exadata, ExaCC patching lifecycle (compute nodes, Dom U VMs, Grid Infrastructure and Databases).
• Exadata Infrastructure maintenance including Quarterly Maintenance Release (QMR) and Security Monthly Maintenance (SMR).
• Creating Infrastructure maintenance policy and define maintenance windows.
• Experienced with prep-work for before Infrastructure maintenance activities.
• Plan, schedule and execute OCI patching cycles across ExaCC infrastructure and DomU OS images, compute OS instances.
• Experienced with OCI console, CLI and Rest APIs to apply, rollback and monitor patches.
• Automate patching workflows using Terraform, Ansible.
• Manage Oracle RAC (Real Application Clusters) patching including GRID, RDBMS and ASM.
• Integrate and manage patching operations using LCM Fleet operations with OEM that includes gold image creation and deployment for GI and RDBMS.
• Knowledge on Data guard enabled patching procedure.
• Plan, schedule, and execute quarterly PSU/CPU, Third-Party and one-off patches with minimal downtime.
• Perform patch impact assessments, risk evaluations, and rollback strategies.
• Maintain documentation of patching procedures, schedules, and standards.
• Troubleshoot patch-related issues, database failures, and post-patch anomalies and provide RCA with remediation.
• Understanding of investigation and remediation techniques for non-patch related vulnerabilities.

Skills and Qualification(Functional and Technical Skills)

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience with Exadata/ExaCC environments and Oracle Database patching.
• Knowledge of Linux OS patching in Exadata/OCI environments.
• Hands-on experience with Oracle RAC patching, GRID Infrastructure patching.
• Solid understanding of Oracle Exadata ExaCC patching and administration.
• Exadata Infrastructure maintenance including Quarterly Maintenance Release (QMR) and Security Monthly Maintenance (SMR).
• Creating Infrastructure maintenance policy and define maintenance windows.
• Experience with backup and Rollback strategies for ExaCC Infrastructure and DB patching.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills in complex Oracle environments.
• Familiarity with ITIL processes (Change/Incident/Problem Management) for ITSM compliance.
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.
• Strong expertise in OCI patching automation (OCI CLI/API, OS Image updates, DomU patching, Grid and Database patching).
• Experience in working with multiple operating system environment RHEL.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or Oracle Exadata Management/OCI Architect equivalent certification.
• Experience with cloud-based database Oracle Cloud (OCI).
• Experience with LCM Fleet maintenance with OEM.
• Patch management for OMS and OEM agents.
• Experience in large-scale, high-availability, mission-critical environments.
• Strong security awareness in patching and vulnerability compliance.
• Familiarity with vulnerability scanning and reporting tools – Qualys and Brinqa

Relationships & Collaboration

• Ensure great Partnership with IT counterparts (India as well as US associates).
• Be available for team connects if any.
• Flexible to adjust work scheduled including evening, weekend as per Org need.
• Collaborate with Business wherever necessary.