Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA

Job Title: Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA (On-Premises & Azure)
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Role Overview

As a Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator, you will be responsible for the implementation, configuration, maintenance, and performance of SQL Server systems across production, staging, and development environments. This role involves managing both on-premises and Azure-based database platforms, ensuring high availability, robust security, and optimal performance for critical organizational applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and upgrade SQL Server instances across production, staging, and development environments.
• Manage server storage, system databases, and data file structures.
• Proactively monitor system health, resource allocation, and server metrics.
• Optimize database performance by writing or refining indexes, tuning complex queries, and resolving blocking or deadlock issues.
• Design, test, and execute reliable database backup and recovery policies.
• Implement High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions, such as Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping, Failover Cluster Instances, or database replication.
• Perform performance tuning and system configuration across multiple DBMS platforms.
• Collaborate with IT development staff to design DBMS architecture and establish standards for data exchange, including robust data security models.
• Apply an understanding of business intelligence concepts when developing standards and best practices.
• Create comprehensive documentation covering installation procedures, monitoring, security policies, configuration changes, migration processes, and best practices for development teams.
• Implement and enforce security standards established by the client and relevant state entities.
• Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC), manage user logins and database permissions, and configure encryption at rest and in transit.
• Assist development teams with schema refinement, table design, efficient data type selection, and code reviews for stored procedures, triggers, functions, and complex T-SQL queries.
• Write T-SQL, PowerShell, or command-line scripts to automate routine DBA maintenance tasks, including index maintenance, integrity checks, statistics updates, backups, monitoring, and reporting.
• Provide server administration for Microsoft SQL Server database products.
• Develop and orchestrate both Azure and on-premises Database Management System (DBMS) architectures, ensuring robust and scalable solutions.
• Administer Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server hosted on Azure Virtual Machines.
• Oversee the implementation and configuration of these DBMS platforms, aligning them with organizational objectives.
• Design and plan comprehensive High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) strategies, including careful hardware selection and recommendations.
• Configure and deploy HA/DR solutions and manage replication processes to ensure data integrity and accessibility.
• Configure and support Azure database backup, monitoring, security, migration, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Utilize Azure Monitor to monitor database performance and availability, and Azure Key Vault to securely store passwords and other sensitive information.
• Regularly monitor and fine-tune DBMS performance to optimize efficiency and reliability.
• Collaborate closely with IT Architecture staff and IT Managers to devise solutions that fulfill agency requirements.
• Contribute to the analysis and development of the solution design’s business case, authoring relevant sections to support decision-making.
• Handle complex technical challenges by providing Tier III resolution for critical issues, reinforcing system stability and continuity.
• Develop database strategies to meet business needs and apply project planning principles, theories, practices, and techniques.
• Conduct formal mentorship activities for peers and lower-level staff, providing guidance through verbal instruction or technical documentation.

Required Skills

• Performance Monitoring & Tuning (5 Years)
• Security & Compliance, including Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) (5 Years)