KINGSLEY MBAH
Washington,DC
Summary
Accomplished Senior Database Engineer with over extensive experience at SOVRA, specializing in AWS migrations and high availability solutions. Expert in database administration and performance tuning, I excel in mentoring teams and implementing Infrastructure as Code. Proven track record of enhancing data warehousing capabilities and ensuring security across cloud environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Database Engineer
SOVRA
Austin, TX
12.2023 - Current
- Coordinated management of a Department of Homeland Security program, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.
- Performed homogeneous and heterogeneous migrations from on-prem to AWS RDS/Aurora using AWS DMS and AWS SCT.
- Designed and administered Amazon Redshift (provisioned and serverless) clusters for enterprise data warehousing workloads supporting federal and commercial environments.
- Migrated Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server databases from on-prem data centers to AWS RDS and EC2 instances.
- Designed and implemented Terraform modules to provision and manage Amazon RDS (Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Document DB) and Aurora clusters across Dev, QA, and Production environments.
- Implemented Liquibase for version-controlled database schema deployments, enhancing deployment consistency across Dev, QA, and Production environments.
- Developed and maintained CloudFormation templates to provision RDS, EC2, Auto Scaling Groups, and networking components.
- Migrated reporting workloads from Oracle/SQL Server OLTP systems to Redshift, optimizing analytics performance and scalability.
- Executed heterogeneous migrations: Oracle → Aurora PostgreSQL and SQL Server → Aurora PostgreSQL using SCT + DMS.
- Executed homogeneous Oracle migrations to AWS using Datapump (EXPDP/IMPDP) and RMAN-based refresh processes.
- Performed SQL Server migrations to AWS using native backup/restore and validated cutover readiness.
- Planned and executed minor/major version upgrades and patching across Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server platforms.
- Maintained integrity, security, and availability across on-prem and AWS environments (RDS, Aurora PostgreSQL/MySQL, EC2).
- Managed capacity by monitoring tablespaces, datafiles, and log growth, and coordinated expansions or performed safe shrink operations.
- Administered users/schemas/roles and enforced least-privilege access controls for development and production teams.
- Implemented HA/DR including Oracle Data Guard and AWS-native resiliency patterns (Multi-AZ, replicas).
- Performed monitoring and performance tuning using OEM, AWR/ADDM/ASH and AWS Performance Insights/Enhanced Monitoring.
- Implemented RMAN hot/cold backups, cloning/duplication, and point-in-time recovery; integrated with enterprise backup tools (Veritas/TSM).
- Configured CloudWatch alarms and observability for database resource consumption and operational alerting.
- Provided 24x7 rotational on-call support for production environments.
Senior Database / AWS Cloud Administrator
PHILIPS
Boston, MA
09.2021 - 12.2023
- Deployed and administered MongoDB replica sets in AWS (EC2 and MongoDB Atlas) to support high-availability application workloads.
- Administered Amazon DocumentDB clusters (MongoDB-compatible) including parameter group tuning, instance scaling, and monitoring via CloudWatch.
- Facilitated migration of MongoDB workloads to Amazon DocumentDB using AWS DMS and native tools, enhancing data accessibility.
- Configured and managed replica sets (Primary/Secondary/Arbiter) ensuring automatic failover and data redundancy.
- Maintained integrity, security, and availability of multiple databases across on-prem data centers and AWS RDS/EC2.
- Migrated existing databases from on-prem to AWS RDS and validated post-migration performance and stability.
- Installed and configured new SQL Server database instances on AWS RDS and supported lifecycle management.
- Configured jobs to capture and forward SQL Server deadlocks to CloudWatch, enabling proactive incident response and minimizing downtime.
- Configured CloudWatch, Enhanced Monitoring, and Performance Insights for database monitoring and alerting.
- Supported Redshift environments in compliance-driven settings (NIST, FedRAMP-aligned architectures) ensuring encryption at rest and in transit.
- Designed document schemas based on application access patterns, balancing embedding vs referencing strategies.
- Designed and modified database objects (tables, indexes, triggers) and supported stored procedures/views changes.
- Established and enforced operational policies/procedures ensuring security, integrity, and compliance across database environments.
Senior Database / AWS Cloud Administrator
Solutions By Design II LLC
Fairfax, VA
09.2018 - 08.2021
- Migrated SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL databases from on-prem to AWS (RDS/EC2).
- Implemented and administered SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL on-prem and on AWS RDS/EC2.
- Configured AWS DMS for change data capture and ongoing replication to enhance data synchronization between RDS and EC2 workloads.
- Implemented CloudWatch alarms for CPU, memory, storage, and operational health monitoring.
- Integrated New Relic with AWS to improve application and infrastructure observability, enabling proactive alerting and faster issue resolution.
- Set up VPCs and security groups for EC2/RDS and implemented IAM roles and encryption keys for database security.
- Advised application owners on scalability strategies, performance tuning, and database best practices to optimize system performance.
Senior SQL Server & Oracle Database Administrator
Technatomy Corporation
Fairfax, VA
10.2014 - 09.2018
- Implemented High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions including Always On Availability Groups, clustering, mirroring, and log shipping.
- Designed and executed backup and disaster recovery strategies, troubleshooting issues and tuning performance for improved concurrency and throughput.
- Led SQL Server migration projects (2012 → 2016), managing service pack and hotfix deployments to ensure system integrity and availability.
- Utilized performance tools (DTA, Extended Events, PerfMon, SQL Profiler) to identify and resolve bottlenecks, deadlocks, and slow queries, enhancing overall database performance.
- Configured AWS DMS for ongoing CDC replication and supported hybrid on-prem/AWS architectures.
- Performed Oracle administration in multi-data-center environments with 24x7 support responsibilities.
- Administered security: user management, roles/permissions, and compliance alignment.
Oracle / MS SQL Server Database Administrator
T-Mobile Telecommunications
Greenbelt, MD
10.2011 - 10.2014
- Administered Oracle and SQL Server databases, ensuring reliable backup/recovery, performance tuning, and ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
- Installed, configured, and managed SQL Server (2008R2/2012/2014/2016 test) across development, test, and production environments.
- Implemented database security measures, including logins, users, roles, and permissions, in alignment with enterprise policy guidelines.
- Used DBCC utilities, DMVs/DMFs, and OEM for health checks, integrity validation, and performance analysis.
- Automated database operations with shell scripts and CRON, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Implemented encryption practices including TDE and wallet-based protection for sensitive data.
Oracle & SQL Server Database Administrator
Global Healthcare Service
Washington, DC
08.2009 - 10.2011
- Delivered production and development support for Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases, focusing on troubleshooting, maintenance, and operational monitoring to ensure system reliability.
- Managed SQL Server databases for efficient healthcare data management.
- Implemented backup and recovery strategies to ensure data integrity.
- Monitored database performance and optimized queries for faster access.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
University of Buea
Cameroon01.2007
Skills
- Database Administration
- Database Migrations
- Redshift administration
- Redshift tuning
- HA/DR
- Backup/Restore & Recovery
- Monitoring & Observability
- Security & Access Control
- AWS Cloud Administration
- Cloud/AWS
- Infrastructure as Code
- Automation
- Linux Administration
- Databases
- HA/DR
- HA/DR
Certification
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
- AWS Certified Database – Specialty
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals
- Oracle Database 11g: Administration II (OCA)
- Oracle Database 12c (OCA)
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
References
Available upon request.
Clearance
Active Public Trust Clearance
Personal Information
- Citizenship: US Citizen
- Title: Senior Cloud Database Engineer | AWS RDS & Aurora Specialist
Timeline
Senior Database Engineer
SOVRA
12.2023 - Current
Senior Database / AWS Cloud Administrator
PHILIPS
09.2021 - 12.2023
Senior Database / AWS Cloud Administrator
Solutions By Design II LLC
09.2018 - 08.2021
Senior SQL Server & Oracle Database Administrator
Technatomy Corporation
10.2014 - 09.2018
Oracle / MS SQL Server Database Administrator
T-Mobile Telecommunications
10.2011 - 10.2014
Oracle & SQL Server Database Administrator
Global Healthcare Service
08.2009 - 10.2011
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science
University of Buea