Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) (MS SQL Engineer)

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA with 10 15+ years of enterprise database administration experience. This role is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle management of SQL Server environments, including installation, configuration, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, backup/recovery, and high availability architecture.

The ideal candidate has deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, strong knowledge of enterprise database operations, and working familiarity with other major database platforms such as Oracle Database and PostgreSQL.

Key Responsibilities

Database Installation & Lifecycle Management

• Install, configure, and maintain enterprise SQL Server environments across development, QA, and production
• Manage full lifecycle of databases including provisioning, upgrades, migrations, and decommissioning
• Standardize database build processes and enforce configuration baselines

Patching & Upgrades

• Execute regular SQL Server patching cycles (CU, SP, security updates)
• Plan and implement major version upgrades with minimal downtime
• Validate compatibility across applications and dependent systems
• Maintain rollback and recovery strategies for all upgrade activities

Performance Tuning & Optimization

• Monitor and tune database performance (queries, indexes, execution plans)
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks in CPU, memory, I/O, and locking/contention
• Work with developers to optimize SQL queries and stored procedures
• Implement indexing and partitioning strategies for large datasets

Backup, Recovery & Disaster Recovery

• Design and maintain backup strategies (full, differential, transaction log)
• Perform regular restore testing and disaster recovery drills
• Ensure RPO/RTO requirements are met for business-critical systems
• Maintain DR environments and replication strategies

High Availability & Scalability

• Implement and support high availability solutions such as:
• Always On Availability Groups
• Failover Clustering
• Log shipping and replication
• Ensure database systems meet uptime and resilience requirements

Production Support & Incident Management

• Provide Level 3 support for production database issues
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) for database outages and performance incidents
• Collaborate with infrastructure, application, and network teams during critical incidents
• Participate in on-call rotation for production environments

Security & Compliance

• Manage database security, roles, and permissions
• Implement encryption (TDE, data-at-rest, data-in-transit)
• Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards (SOX, PCI, etc.)

Automation & Tooling

• Automate DBA tasks using PowerShell, T-SQL, Python, or scheduling tools
• Improve monitoring, alerting, and maintenance automation
• Integrate SQL Server with enterprise monitoring platforms

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with application teams, system administrators, and architects
• Maintain documentation for database architecture, procedures, and runbooks
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior DBAs

Required Experience & Skills

• 10 15+ years of hands-on experience as a Microsoft SQL Server DBA
• Deep expertise in:
• Database installation, configuration, patching, and upgrades
• Performance tuning and troubleshooting
• Backup/recovery and DR planning
• High availability solutions (Always On, clustering, replication)
• Strong T-SQL skills
• Experience with Windows Server environments supporting SQL Server
• Familiarity with monitoring tools (e.g., SCOM, SolarWinds, Redgate, Splunk)

Preferred / Nice to Have

• Experience with additional database platforms:
• Oracle Database
• PostgreSQL
• Experience with cloud databases (Azure SQL, AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL)
• Knowledge of ETL/BI tools:
• SQL Server Integration Services
• SQL Server Reporting Services
• Experience with automation tools like PowerShell and Ansible
• Exposure to DevOps and CI/CD pipelines for database deployments

Soft Skills & Leadership

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills under pressure
• Ability to lead incident bridges and coordinate cross-team resolution
• Excellent communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Mentorship experience for junior DBAs and engineers

Core Enterprise Database Ecosystem (Common in This Role)

In addition to SQL Server, senior DBAs often interact with:

• Microsoft SQL Server
• Oracle Database
• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• Azure SQL Database