SQL Server DBA

SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA)

Job Title: SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA)
Location: United States (Remote)
Job Type: Contract
Experience Level: Senior (12+ years)
Department: Information Technology / Database Administration
Reports To: Database Manager / Infrastructure Manager / IT Director
Duration: 3 Months

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) to manage, maintain, optimize, and secure Microsoft SQL Server environments supporting critical business applications. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in database administration, performance tuning, backup and recovery, high availability solutions, security implementation, and troubleshooting complex database issues.

The SQL Server DBA will work closely with application development teams, infrastructure teams, cloud engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure optimal database performance, reliability, scalability, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Database Administration
Install, configure, upgrade, patch, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments.
Manage SQL Server instances across Development, QA, UAT, Production, and Disaster Recovery environments.
Perform database creation, configuration, migration, and decommissioning activities.
Monitor database health, capacity, availability, and performance.
Maintain database standards, policies, and procedures.

Performance Monitoring and Tuning
Analyze and optimize database performance.
Identify bottlenecks related to:
Queries
Stored procedures
Indexes
Locks and blocking
Deadlocks
Resource contention
Optimize execution plans and query performance.
Implement indexing strategies and database maintenance plans.
Monitor CPU, memory, disk I/O, and network utilization.

Backup, Recovery, and Disaster Recovery
Design and maintain backup and recovery strategies.
Perform:
Full backups
Differential backups
Transaction log backups
Conduct database recovery testing and disaster recovery drills.
Ensure Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and Recovery Point Objective (RPO) requirements are met.
Maintain and document disaster recovery procedures.

High Availability and Business Continuity
Configure and support:
Always On Availability Groups
Failover Cluster Instances (FCI)
Log Shipping
Database Mirroring (legacy environments)
Replication
Monitor and troubleshoot HA/DR environments.
Participate in failover testing and business continuity planning.

Database Security
Implement database security best practices.
Manage: Logins, Users, Roles and Permissions
Configure encryption technologies 
Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments.
Support compliance initiatives such as: SOX, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and GDPR (where applicable)

Cloud Database Administration
Support cloud-based SQL environments
Participate in cloud migration initiatives.
Optimize cloud database performance and costs.

Automation and Scripting
Develop and maintain automation solutions using: T-SQL, PowerShell, SQL Agent Jobs, Azure Automation
Automate maintenance tasks and monitoring processes.
Improve operational efficiency through scripting and automation.

Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Collaboration and Support
Documentation

Required Qualifications
Education - Bachelor''s degree in Related field

Experience
8–12+ years preferred .
Experience managing large-scale production SQL Server environments.
Experience supporting mission-critical applications.

Technical Skills
Microsoft SQL Server - Strong experience with: SQL Server 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022

Database Technologies
T-SQL programming
Stored Procedures
Functions, Triggers, Views, Indexing, Optimization, Partitioning, Replication and High Availability

Experience with:
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SQL Server Profiler
Extended Events
Performance Monitor
Redgate SQL Monitor
SolarWinds DPA
SentryOne
Dynatrace
AppDynamics
Cloud Platforms

Preferred experience:
Microsoft Azure
Azure SQL Database and other relevant Azure tools
Operating Systems - Windows Server Administration and Linux Administration (preferred)
Automation
PowerShell
T-SQL scripting
Azure Automation
CI/CD integration
DevOps & Source Control
Jenkins
Database deployment automation

Preferred Certifications
Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) – Legacy
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
ITIL Foundation