Job Title : Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) (MS SQL Engineer)
Location: Iselin, NJ (3 days a week Hybrid onsite)
Duration : Long term contract
Contract: W2
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.
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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:
o Always On Availability Groups
o Failover Clustering
o 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
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Required Experience & Skills
10 15+ years of hands-on experience as a Microsoft SQL Server DBA
Deep expertise in:
o Database installation, configuration, patching, and upgrades
o Performance tuning and troubleshooting
o Backup/recovery and DR planning
o 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)
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