Database Engineer

RwandAir Ltd is the flag carrier airline of Rwanda. It operates domestic and international services to East Africa, Central Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East from its main base at Kigali International Airport.

Our mission is to provide unsurpassed, safe, and reliable services in air transportation, including strategically linking Rwanda with the outside world while ensuring a fair return on investment. As part of the expansion strategy, we are looking for interested, qualified, and competent candidates to fill the following position.

Job Title: Database Engineer

Reports to: Manager Software Services
Department: IT
Location: Kigali, Rwanda (Head Office)

Job Purpose

The Database Engineer is responsible for keeping RwandAir databases available, secure, well performing and recoverable.

These databases support revenue management, engineering and maintenance (TRAX), flight and crew operations (AIMS and WBHUB), baggage reconciliation, quality and safety, finance, and applications developed in-house by Software Services.

Most databases run on Oracle, and RwandAir is moving them to Oracle Linux KVM on Oracle servers. The Database Engineer will participate actively in this migration and manage the new environment once it is live. The role also supports SQL Server and open-source databases.

1. Key Duties and Responsibilities

Database Administration

• Install, configure, patch and upgrade Oracle databases and other database platforms.

• Apply Oracle patches quarterly after testing in non-production.

• Manage Oracle Container Databases (CDB) and Pluggable Databases (PDB), including creating, cloning and refreshing PDBs.

• Monitor performance, space and growth daily.

• Investigate slow queries using AWR and execution plans.

• Work with developers or vendors to resolve database performance issues.

• Set up and maintain Data Guard standby databases and perform switchover tests.

• Carry out database migrations and upgrades with minimum downtime using Data Pump, RMAN or other suitable methods.

• Write shell, SQL and Python scripts to automate daily checks, refreshes and repetitive tasks.

Backup, Restore and Disaster Recovery

• Maintain backup schedules for production databases according to agreed recovery point and recovery time requirements.

• Check backups every day and follow up failed or missing backups immediately.

• Perform test restores of critical databases at least monthly and other databases quarterly.

• Record restoration time and problems encountered.

• Participate in disaster recovery tests, at least twice a year for flight-critical systems.

• Ensure backup copies are encrypted, stored off-site and protected from unauthorized modification or deletion.

Oracle Licensing and Capacity

• Maintain an up-to-date register of database servers, versions, editions and options.

• Check that new installations or changes do not create Oracle licensing exposure.

• Prepare yearly capacity plans for database storage, servers and licenses to support the IT budget.

Data Interfaces and Reporting

• Support loading and processing of revenue and sales files such as BSP, ARC settlement files, Amadeus HOT and RET files, ATPCO and bank files.

• Help resolve loading and reconciliation issues.

• Write and maintain SQL and PL/SQL for interfaces, reports and data checks.

• Support reporting databases and tools such as Business Objects.

• Manage user access to reporting systems.

Security and User Management

• Create, change and remove database users only through approved requests.

• Give users and applications only the permissions they require.

• Apply password profiles and change application/service account passwords according to IT security policy.

• Lock unused accounts.

• Store database passwords in the approved password vault.

• Never store passwords in scripts, emails or shared files.

• Enable auditing on sensitive databases.

• Mask personal and payment data when copying production data to test.

• Support PCI DSS, Rwanda data protection law, and internal/external audits.

General Responsibilities

• Participate in the IT on-call roster and respond to database incidents outside working hours when required.

• Raise and follow change requests for production changes with tested rollback plans.

• Work with software engineers on database design and review scripts before production deployment.

• Support software releases.

• Work with system vendors and support partners on incidents, upgrades and root-cause analysis.

• Keep procedures, diagrams and recovery documents updated.

• Train other team members and share knowledge.

• Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor.

2. Minimum Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering or a related field.

Experience

• At least four (4) years of experience as a DBA or Database Engineer in a production environment, mainly using Oracle.

• Hands-on experience with Oracle 19c, RMAN, Data Guard and Data Pump.

• Experience with backup and restore planning and conducting restore or disaster recovery tests.

• Experience working in a 24/7 organization.

Professional Certification

• Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or a similar database certification is an added advantage.

• Candidates without certification will be expected to obtain it within the first year.

3. Technical Knowledge

Oracle Database

• Oracle 19c and later

• Multitenant architecture

• RMAN

• Data Guard

• Data Pump

• AWR

• SQL tuning

• SQL and PL/SQL

Other Databases

• Microsoft SQL Server

• PostgreSQL or MySQL is an advantage

Operating Systems and Virtualization

• Oracle Linux / Red Hat

• Windows Server

• Oracle Linux KVM

• VMware

• SAN storage basics

Oracle Licensing

• Processor and named-user licensing

• Editions, options and packs

• Hard partitioning rules

Security

• Database encryption (TDE)

• Auditing

• User and role management

• Password policies

• Patching

Scripting and Tools

• Shell scripting

• SQL*Plus

• SQL Developer

• Oracle Enterprise Manager or another monitoring tool

• Python or Ansible is an advantage

Cloud

• Basic understanding of cloud database services such as OCI, Azure or AWS.

4. Desirable

• Previous experience in an airline, bank or telecom company.

• Knowledge of airline systems and data such as reservations, departure control, crew, maintenance and revenue accounting.

• Experience moving Oracle databases from VMware or other hardware to Oracle Linux KVM or Oracle Cloud.

• Knowledge of ITIL, ISO 27001 or PCI DSS.

5. Skills to Develop – Next Five Years

The successful candidate will be expected to develop:

• Oracle 23ai and later versions, including upgrade planning from 19c.

• Cloud and hybrid databases using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure or Azure.

• Cloud backup and disaster recovery.

• Automation of patching, provisioning and health checks using Ansible or similar tools.

• Database changes deployed through CI/CD.

• Preparing and managing data for reporting, analytics and AI use cases, including vector search.

• Stronger security controls for PCI DSS, data protection law and aviation cybersecurity requirements.

6. Key Competencies

• Careful and well organized, with good attention to detail.

• Able to work under pressure and remain calm during system outages.

• Good written and spoken English.

• French or Kinyarwanda is an advantage.

• Able to explain technical issues to managers and auditors in simple terms.

• Team player willing to share knowledge and support colleagues.

• High level of integrity and confidentiality.

7. Working Conditions

Normal office hours with on-call duty on a rotation basis.

Planned maintenance is usually performed at night or during weekends to avoid disrupting flight operations.

8. How to Apply

Applicants should submit:

• An application letter addressed to the Chief HR & Administration Officer.

• Recent Curriculum Vitae.

• Copies of notarized Degree/Diploma certificates.

• Relevant certificates.

• Copies of academic papers.

• A photocopy of Passport/National ID.

• Three referees.

Deadline: October 20th, 2026.

Applications must be submitted in PDF format through the RwandAir e-recruitment portal: RwandAir e-Recruitment