Job Description
<p><p><b>Job Summary :</b></p><p><p><b><br/></b></p>We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Azure SQL Server DBA to manage, optimize, and ensure the health and performance of our critical database systems.<br/><br/>With 810 years of hands-on experience as a SQL Server DBA, this individual will play a key role in tuning, monitoring, and maintaining database environments in Azure.<br/><br/>The ideal candidate will be proficient in performance optimization, cost management, and database hygiene, and will have a strong focus on ensuring high availability, scalability, and security in enterprise-grade environments.<br/><br/>This role is critical in supporting our organizations data-driven initiatives and ensuring our database systems align with business objectives.</p><p><br/></p><p><b>Key Responsibilities : </b><br/><br/></p><p>Database Performance Tuning and Optimization :</p><p><br/></p><p>- Analyze and optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, and indexes to improve database performance and execution times.<br/><br/></p><p>- Conduct execution plan analysis and resolve performance bottlenecks, deadlocks, and concurrency issues.<br/><br/></p><p>- Implement and maintain efficient indexing strategies to ensure quick data retrieval and responsiveness.<br/><br/>Monitoring and Maintenance :</p><p><br/>- Set up and maintain database monitoring solutions using Azure Monitor, SQL Profiler, Query Store, and other tools to identify and resolve issues proactively.<br/><br/></p><p>- Oversee regular maintenance tasks, such as backups, restores, index maintenance, and </p><p>integrity checks, to ensure database hygiene.<br/><br/></p><p>- Monitor database health, performance, and capacity to ensure uptime and scalability.<br/><br/>Cost Management and Optimization : </p><p><br/></p><p>- Evaluate database resource usage and optimize workloads to reduce Azure SQL costs, including resizing databases, consolidating workloads, and optimizing queries.<br/><br/></p><p>- Implement strategies to control database provisioning costs and scale resources efficiently based on workload patterns.<br/><br/>High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) :</p><p><br/>- Design, implement, and maintain HA/DR solutions, such as Always On Availability Groups, geo-replication, and failover clusters, to meet uptime and recovery SLAs.<br/><br/></p><p>- Develop and test backup and recovery procedures to ensure business continuity.<br/><br/></p><p>- Collaborate with engineering teams to minimize downtime during upgrades, migrations, or maintenance activities.<br/><br/>Security and Compliance :</p><p><br/>- Implement database security best practices, including role-based access control (RBAC), Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), and data masking.</p><p><br/>- Ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR, SOX, and other relevant -frameworks.<br/><br/></p><p>- Monitor and audit database activity to identify and resolve unauthorized access or security vulnerabilities.<br/><br/>Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement : </p><p><br/></p><p>- Work closely with engineering, product, and business teams to gather requirements and provide database solutions aligned with application needs.</p><p><br/>- Support application developers by providing guidance on data modeling, query optimization, and schema design.<br/><br/></p><p>- Serve as the subject matter expert for database technologies, providing insights and recommendations for improvements.<br/><br/>Database Hygiene and Best Practices :</p><p><br/></p><p>- Enforce database hygiene through routine tasks like maintenance plan execution, query optimization, and efficient storage management.<br/><br/></p><p>- Document best practices, procedures, and configurations to ensure consistency and scalability across : : </b></p><p><br/></p><p>- Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.</p><br/><b>Experience : </b><br/><br/></p><p>- 8 - 10 years of experience as a SQL Server DBA, with a focus on Azure SQL Database and SQL Server Managed Instances.</p><p><br/>- Proven expertise in tuning and optimizing queries, stored procedures, and indexing for performance.<br/><br/></p><p>- Strong experience with Azure database services, including monitoring, cost optimization, and scaling.<br/><br/></p><p>- Hands-on experience designing and implementing HA/DR solutions for critical business applications.<br/><br/><p><b>Technical Skills : </b></p><p><br/></p>- SQL Server Expertise : Advanced proficiency in managing and optimizing Azure SQL Database and SQL Server (2012/2014/2016/2019).<br/><br/></p><p>- Performance Tuning : Strong knowledge of execution plans, query optimization, and index strategies.<br/><br/></p><p>- Azure Tools : Proficient with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Azure Automation, and Application Insights.<br/><br/></p><p>- Scripting : Hands-on experience with T-SQL, PowerShell, and automation scripts.<br/><br/></p><p>- Monitoring & Troubleshooting : Expertise with tools such as SQL Profiler, Query Store, and Extended Events.<br/><br/></p><p>- Security : Familiarity with TDE, RBAC, and auditing features.<br/><br/></p><p>- HA/DR : Knowledge of Always On Availability Groups, geo-replication, and log shipping.<br/><br/><b>Soft Skills : </b><br/><br/></p><p>- Problem Solving : Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills to address database challenges.<br/><br/></p><p>- Communication : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.<br/><br/></p><p>- Organization : Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.<br/><br/></p><p>- Attention to Detail : Focused on maintaining database health, security, and Qualifications : </b></p><p><br/></p>- Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries.<br/><br/></p><p>- Familiarity with modern DevOps practices, such as CI/CD pipelines for database changes.<br/><br/></p><p>Certifications such as : <br/><br/></p><p>- Microsoft Certified : Azure Database Administrator Associate.<br/><br/></p><p>- Microsoft Certified : Azure Solutions Architect Expert (preferred but not required)</p><br/></p> (ref:hirist.tech)