Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Oracle Database Developer

🎯 Role Definition

The Oracle Database Developer is responsible for designing, implementing, tuning and maintaining enterprise‑grade Oracle database systems that support business applications, reporting platforms and high‑volume data operations. This role involves collaborating with cross‑functional teams including data architects, application developers, infrastructure engineers and business analysts to ensure data integrity, performance, scalability and security in Oracle environments. You will build PL/SQL packages, optimise queries, manage schema design, oversee migrations and ensure the database platform aligns with broader business goals.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Oracle Developer (PL/SQL)
SQL/Database Developer (Oracle)
Data Engineer with Oracle emphasis

Advancement To:

Senior Oracle Database Developer
Oracle Database Architect / Lead Database Developer
Manager – Data Platforms / Head of Database Engineering

Lateral Moves:

Data Warehouse Developer (Oracle)
Big Data Engineer (with Oracle ecosystem)
Cloud Database Engineer (Oracle Cloud Infrastructure)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, develop and maintain PL/SQL packages, stored procedures, functions, triggers, and views in Oracle Database (11g/12c/19c) to support application business logic and data operations.
Create and optimise database objects including tables, indexes, sequences, views and partitions, ensuring high performance and data integrity across large‑scale environments.
Analyse business requirements with stakeholders, translate into logical and physical data models and implement schema designs that meet functional and non‑functional needs.
Perform query and code performance tuning — use tools such as AWR reports, SQL trace, index strategy, optimizer hints and partitioning to reduce latency and improve throughput.
Participate in database migration and upgrade projects (e.g., Oracle 12c to 19c or on‑premise to cloud), ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity during cut‑over.
Develop and execute backup and recovery strategies using RMAN, Data Pump and other Oracle utilities to ensure business continuity and data availability.
Build automation scripts for database tasks, data loading (SQL*Loader, external tables), ETL processing and routine housekeeping to improve efficiency and consistency.
Collaborate with application development and QA teams to review technical specifications, assist with database integration, troubleshooting and production support for deployed features.
Maintain data governance and security controls: manage user access, roles/privileges, audit logs, encryption standards and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Document database architecture, standards, coding guidelines, metadata definitions, process flows and maintain a detailed run‑book for database operations and support.
Monitor database health and performance metrics, proactively identify bottlenecks or resource constraints and take preventive measures to maintain optimal system behavior.
Refactor legacy database code, reduce technical debt, migrate deprecated constructs, and implement best practices for maintainability and scalability.
Support high‑volume data processing needs, design and optimise OLTP/OLAP workloads, data marts or data warehouses within Oracle ecosystems.
Participate in agile development cycles: estimation of database tasks, sprint planning, stand‑ups and demonstrate deliverables; support continuous improvement of database processes.
Provide mentoring to junior database developers: conduct code reviews, share knowledge of PL/SQL best practices, performance tuning and maintain standards across the team.
Liaise with data architects, infrastructure and operations teams to manage capacity planning, hardware sizing, storage growth and virtualization concerns impacting the Oracle database.
Integrate Oracle databases with other systems and tools: ETL/ELT processes, data warehouses, BI reporting platforms, messaging systems or custom integrations.
Ensure high availability and disaster recovery readiness: configure Oracle RAC, Data Guard, standby environments and conduct failover/troubleshooting procedures.
Review and validate database object design for use by application teams: work with ETL/BI developers, provide data modelling feedback, and support schema changes safely.
Stay current with emerging Oracle database features, cloud database solutions (OCI, Autonomous Database), new tools and apply innovation to enhance platform capabilities.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc data extraction, profiling or exploratory analytics tasks that validate data quality or support reporting requirements.
Contribute to the organisation’s data platform roadmap by recommending new database technologies, storage optimisations or migration strategies.
Collaborate with business teams to translate domain needs into database features or schema changes and partner with backlog management to prioritise tasks.
Participate in continuous improvement of database development lifecycle, tools, automation, monitoring and documentation standards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Strong proficiency in SQL and PL/SQL programming including packages, procedures, functions, triggers and orchestrating complex database logic.
Expertise in Oracle database architecture: Oracle 11g/12c/19c, RAC, Data Guard, partitioning, external tables, SQL*Loader and Oracle utilities including RMAN/Data Pump.
Experience with query performance tuning, use of AWR/ASH reports, optimizer hints and indexing strategies.
Data modelling skills: logical and physical schema design, normalization/denormalization, relational modelling and understanding of data warehouses/OLTP systems.
Experience integrating Oracle with ETL/BI/data warehouse systems, data pipelines and external data sources.
Knowledge of database backup, recovery, high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) architectures.
Familiarity with Unix/Linux environments, scripting (shell, etc.) and database deployment/patching in enterprise production.
Ability to write technical documentation: database design specs, run‑books, deployment guidelines and operational procedures.
Experience with version control, change management, release coordination and database migration/upgrades.
Understanding of data security, governance, auditing, compliance and user‑access control within Oracle platforms.

Soft Skills

Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills: able to investigate complex database problems, root‑cause performance issues and deliver durable solutions.
Strong verbal and written communication: able to articulate technical concepts to business stakeholders and collaborate cross‑functionally.
Ownership and accountability mindset: takes responsibility for database deliverables, monitors performance post‑deployment and drives improvements.
Team orientation and mentoring ability: supports junior team members, shares knowledge, conducts code reviews and fosters best practices.
Time‑management and prioritisation: able to juggle multiple database projects, production support tasks and development deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Adaptability and continuous‑learning attitude: keeps current with Oracle ecosystem changes, emerging technologies and applies them proactively.
Business‑ and data‑centric thinking: understands how database performance impacts application experience, business KPIs and user satisfaction.
Attention to detail and quality‑focus: ensures database changes are well documented, tested, compliant and maintainable.
Collaboration and stakeholder management: works closely with application teams, BI teams, operations and architecture groups to align database efforts with business goals.
Agile and delivery‑oriented mindset: participates in sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand‑ups and retrospectives; contributes to continuous improvement processes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems or a related technical field.

Preferred Education:
Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or relevant certifications such as Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) or Oracle Certified Database Developer.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Computer Science / Software Engineering
Information Systems / Data Engineering
Database Management / Data Architecture
Computer Information Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
3–5 years of hands‑on experience as an Oracle Database Developer working with PL/SQL, schema design and performance tuning.

Preferred:
5+ years of experience developing and administering Oracle database systems at scale, including large datasets, performance optimisation, migrations and leadership or mentoring responsibilities.