Job Description & Details
Database platforms like IBM i (AS400) and DB2 remain the backbone of many mission‑critical enterprises, making skilled administrators highly sought after. This contract role in Dallas offers a chance to drive performance, reliability, and security for complex on‑premise environments. If you thrive on solving intricate database challenges, this opportunity is a perfect fit.
Job Summary
The DB2/AS400 Administrator will install, configure, and maintain IBM i (AS400) systems and DB2 databases, ensuring high availability, data integrity, and optimal performance. Responsibilities include patching, performance tuning, backup/recovery, security management, capacity planning, and collaboration with application and infrastructure teams.
Top 3 Critical Skills Table
| Skill | Why it's critical | Mastery Level |
|---|---|---|
| DB2/AS400 Administration | Ensures system availability, data integrity, and compliance | Senior |
| Performance Tuning | Optimizes query speed and resource usage for production workloads | Senior |
| Backup & Recovery | Protects data against loss and enables rapid disaster recovery | Senior |
Interview Preparation
- How do you approach performance tuning for a slow‑running DB2 query on an AS400 system? Looking for understanding of indexing, query rewrite, statistics, and system resource analysis.
- Describe the steps you would take to implement a disaster recovery strategy for DB2 on IBM i. Evaluates knowledge of backups, replication, failover testing, and RPO/RTO considerations.
- What security controls and authority models are available in DB2/AS400, and how do you enforce least‑privilege access? Assesses familiarity with object‑level authorities, profiles, and audit trails.
- Explain how you would plan and execute a DB2 version upgrade on a production AS400 environment. Looks for change‑management process, impact analysis, testing, and rollback plans.
- Can you walk through a recent capacity‑planning analysis you performed? What metrics did you monitor and what actions resulted? Seeks evidence of proactive monitoring, trend analysis, and resource forecasting.
Resume Optimization
- DB2 Administration
- AS400 (IBM i) Management
- Performance Tuning
- Backup & Recovery
- Disaster Recovery (DR)
- Security Controls & User Authorities
- Capacity Planning
- Patch Management
- System Monitoring
- Technical Documentation
Application Strategy
When contacting the recruiter, send a concise email greeting, attach your updated resume, and clearly highlight your top relevant skills. Make sure to mention related skills you possess, such as DB2 performance tuning, backup/recovery procedures, and security administration. Reference any recent projects where you implemented upgrades or capacity‑planning initiatives that align with the JD.
Career Roadmap
| Current Role | Typical Experience | Core Focus | Next Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB2/AS400 Administrator | 3‑5 years DB2/AS400 admin | System stability, tuning, security | Senior DB2/AS400 Administrator |
| Senior DB2/AS400 Administrator | 5‑7 years, project leadership | Architecture, migration, team mentoring | DB2/AS400 Team Lead |
| DB2/AS400 Team Lead | 7‑10 years, cross‑functional oversight | Strategy, large‑scale projects | DB2/AS400 Architecture Manager |