Teradata Database Administrator DBA

QT-SUL-09-438

Teradata Database Administrator (DBA)

This role is strictly focused on System-Level Workload Management, Resource Governor Architecture, and TASM (Teradata Active System Management) Tuning.

It is not a SQL/Query-level performance tuning or indexing role. The ideal candidate must possess deep expertise in controlling system concurrency, configuring Priority Scheduler dynamics, managing resource partitions, and enforcing enterprise SLA governance using Teradata Viewpoint / Workload Designer.

Key Responsibilities

TASM Ruleset Design & Rule Architecture

Understand the currently TASM Ruleset and Architecture with minimal supervision.

Document the improvements required suitable for the current usage pattern on the systems.

Architect, configure, test, deploy enterprise TASM rulesets using Teradata Workload Designer in Teradata Viewpoint.

Design and implement System Throttles, Workload Throttles, and Query Arrival Rate Throttles to maintain system stability and prevent resource exhaustion (e.g., AMP Worker Thread / AWT depletion).

Establish System Filters and Workload Filters to intercept and block rogue, unoptimized, or non-compliant queries prior to execution.

Define and maintain Workload Definitions (WDs) and Workload Groups to categorize inbound database sessions accurately based on user attributes, application, database, and statement criteria.

Manage resource allocation across diverse workload tiers: Tactical, Service (interactive/BI), Batch/ETL, and Low/Idle/Dev priority workloads.

Optimize Delay Queue dynamics to control concurrency spikes during peak business hours without causing downstream job timeouts or thread starvation.

Balance system resources between concurrent operational reporting, ad-hoc discovery, and heavy background data ingestion

Operational Environments

Design dynamic Operational Environments (OpEnvs) and TASM States to adapt system rules automatically based on time-of-day, day-of-week, or business cycles (e.g., Nightly ETL vs. Daytime BI vs. Month-End Processing).

Configure System Events and Threshold Triggers (e.g., high CPU utilization, memory pressure, AWT starvation, high skew factors) to initiate automated, adaptive TASM rule shifts during system stress.

Establish system state transitions that adjust throttles and priority weights dynamically when system health degrades.

Workload Exception Handling & Automated Mitigation

Design and implement Workload Exception criteria utilizing metrics such as CPU time, I/O limits, execution time, block time, and query skew.

Configure automated exception actions, including Change Workload (WD demotion/promotion), Abort Query, Send Alert, and Log Only.

Establish rules to demote runaway ad-hoc queries out of high-priority workloads into restricted resource pools automatically.

Analytics, Telemetry, & Continuous Improvement

Perform deep-dive telemetric analysis on Database Query Log tables (DBQL: DBQLogTbl, DBQLSummaryTbl, DBQLOutlierTbl, DBQLStepTbl) focusing specifically on workload parameters: WDID, WDName, DelayTime, WDEvalOrder, WDOverride, and exception flags.

Analyze ResUsage tables (ResUsageSPS, ResUsageSPMA, ResUsageSAMP) to monitor system partition usage, Priority Scheduler allocations, CPU/IO skew, and AWT consumption.

Generate capacity and workload distribution reports for senior leadership, highlighting SLA compliance, delay queue wait times, and system utilization trends.

Conduct regular workload profiling to identify misclassified workloads, unassigned sessions falling into default WDs, or unmanaged query floods.

Technical Skills & Qualifications

Must-Have Technical Expertise

Core Tooling: Expert hands-on proficiency with Teradata Viewpoint, Teradata Workload Designer, Teradata Active System Management (TASM), and Teradata Dynamic Workload Management (TDWM).

Architecture Knowledge: Deep understanding of Teradata System Architecture (AMPs, PE, AWTs, BYNET, Memory, I/O subsystems).

System Metrics & Logging: Mastery of Teradata system tables and logging engines (DBQL, ResUsage, TDWM tables/views) for analyzing workload behavior and delay queue bottlenecks.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have Skills

Experience managing workloads on Teradata Vantage (On-Premises, AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform).

Familiarity with Teradata Vantage Core / Cloud workload management differences vs. traditional on-premises IntelliFlex systems.

Scripting capability in Python, BASH, or Perl for automating DBQL/ResUsage workload reporting.

Experience migrating legacy TASM rulesets during/post system upgrades.