SQL Server DBA - Only W2

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator (SQL DBA) to manage, maintain, secure, and optimize enterprise Microsoft SQL Server environments. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in SQL Server administration, performance tuning, High Availability (HA), Disaster Recovery (DR), backups, security, and Azure SQL. Experience supporting mission-critical production environments is highly preferred. This aligns with skills commonly requested for Houston-area SQL DBA positions.

Required Skills

• 8+ years of SQL Server Database Administration experience
• Strong experience with SQL Server 2016/2019/2022
• Experience with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups
• Database backup, restore, and recovery strategies
• Performance tuning and query optimization
• T-SQL scripting and stored procedure optimization
• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
• SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS)
• SQL Server Agent Jobs
• Database security and user administration
• Indexing, partitioning, statistics, and execution plan analysis
• PowerShell scripting for automation
• Experience with Azure SQL Database or Managed Instance
• Experience supporting production environments
• Knowledge of High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• Windows Server administration experience
• Familiarity with Active Directory
• Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills

Preferred Skills

• PostgreSQL or MongoDB administration
• Azure Data Factory
• Azure DevOps
• Redgate SQL Tools
• Monitoring tools such as SolarWinds, SentryOne, Redgate Monitor, or SQL Monitor
• Experience with cloud migrations
• Oil & Gas or Energy industry experience

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Monitor database performance and resolve bottlenecks.
• Perform query tuning and index optimization.
• Configure and maintain Always On Availability Groups.
• Manage backups, restores, disaster recovery, and business continuity.
• Implement database security, encryption, and auditing.
• Troubleshoot blocking, deadlocks, and replication issues.
• Support application deployments and database releases.
• Create and maintain maintenance plans.
• Automate administrative tasks using PowerShell and T-SQL.
• Monitor database health, storage utilization, and server capacity.
• Collaborate with developers to optimize database design and application performance.
• Ensure compliance with organizational security and governance standards.
• Participate in on-call production support as required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
• 8+ years of SQL Server DBA experience
• Strong experience with:
  • SQL Server Administration
  • Performance Tuning
  • Backup & Recovery
  • Always On Availability Groups
  • T-SQL
  • SSIS
  • SSRS
  • PowerShell
  • Azure SQL
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

Nice to Have

• Microsoft Azure Database certifications
• Microsoft SQL Server certifications
• Experience with AWS RDS SQL Server
• Experience with Kubernetes or Docker
• Experience with CI/CD database deployments

Top Skills

• SQL Server Administration
• Performance Tuning
• Always On Availability Groups
• Backup & Recovery
• T-SQL
• SSIS
• SSRS
• Azure SQL
• PowerShell
• Database Security
• Query Optimization
• High Availability (HA)
• Disaster Recovery (DR)
• Indexing
• Execution Plans
• SQL Server Agent
• Database Monitoring
• Windows Server