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

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