Database Administrator

**Position Overview**:
**Key Responsibilities**:

- ** SQL Server Database Maintenance**: Ensure the smooth operation of all SQL Server instances by performing regular maintenance tasks such as database optimization, index rebuilding, statistics updates, and integrity checks.
- ** High Availability & Disaster Recovery**: Administer and maintain SQL Server high-availability solutions, including Always On Availability Groups, SQL Server Clusters, and database mirroring, to ensure maximum uptime and reliability.
- ** Troubleshooting & Incident Resolution**: Provide expert-level troubleshooting and support for complex database issues. This includes identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks, SQL Server crashes, transaction log issues, and other critical failures in production environments.
- ** Backup & Recovery Management**: Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive backup strategies for mission-critical SQL Server databases. Ensure robust disaster recovery procedures are in place, including point-in-time recovery, and monitor backup success/failures.
- ** Advanced Configuration & Optimization**: Configure and fine-tune advanced SQL Server features and options, such as database replication, clustering, partitioning, and data compression, to optimize performance, scalability, and availability.
- ** Performance Monitoring & Tuning**: Continuously monitor SQL Server performance using performance tools and native diagnostics to proactively identify and resolve performance issues.
- ** Database Security & Compliance**: Ensure that SQL Server databases are configured with the highest security standards. This includes managing user permissions, enforcing encryption policies, and ensuring compliance with data protection and security regulations.
- ** Automation & Scripting**: Create and maintain automation scripts to streamline repetitive tasks such as database backups, index optimization, and alerting for system performance issues. Leverage PowerShell and T-SQL for administrative automation.
- ** Capacity Planning & Scalability**: Evaluate and plan for future database capacity needs, including disk space, memory, and CPU, and proactively scale the environment as needed to support growing data volumes and business requirements.

**Required Qualifications**:

- ** Experience**: 5+ years of experience as a SQL Server Database Administrator, with significant expertise in high-availability solutions and troubleshooting.
- ** Technical Skills**:

- Extensive experience with Microsoft SQL Server, including installation, configuration, and maintenance (SQL Server 2012 or later).
- Hands-on experience with SQL Server Clustering, Always On Availability Groups, database mirroring, and replication.
- Advanced knowledge of T-SQL, including writing complex queries, stored procedures, triggers, and performance tuning queries.
- Experience with SQL Server monitoring and performance tools (SQL Profiler, DMVs, Extended Events, etc.).
- Strong understanding of SQL Server backup strategies, point-in-time recovery, and disaster recovery planning.
- Familiarity with PowerShell scripting for automation and routine tasks.
- ** Problem Solving**: Expertise in troubleshooting and resolving complex database issues related to performance, availability, and data integrity in a production environment.
- ** Communication Skills**: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical database issues to non-technical stakeholders.
- ** Education**: A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).

**Preferred Qualifications**:

- SQL Server certifications (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate, Microsoft Certified: SQL Server Database Administrator).
- Experience with SQL Server performance tuning and query optimization.
- Experience in designing and implementing disaster recovery solutions, including the use of SQL Server Failover Clustering and Availability Groups in complex environments.
- Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), and SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) is a plus.
- Familiarity with cloud-based SQL Server solutions (e.g., Azure SQL Database, Amazon RDS for SQL Server) is a plus.

**Working hours**

Willing to work EST time zone hours and occasional after-hours/weekend work.