SQL Server DBA - AWS EC2 - Performance Tuning Expertise is Key

SQL Server DBA - AWS EC2 - Performance Tuning Expertise is Key

Posted 1 week ago by 1754548443

Negotiable
Outside
Remote
USA

Summary: The role of SQL Server DBA focuses on performance tuning for mission-critical OLTP databases within a global Fortune 500 food services company. The position requires extensive experience in SQL Server, particularly in high-volume environments, and involves responsibilities such as performance analysis, index management, and automation. The role is fully remote and classified as outside IR35.

Key Responsibilities:

  • In-Depth Performance Analysis: Profile top-heavy queries using DMVs, capture and analyze Extended Events sessions and Query Store data.
  • Index & Statistics Management: Design and implement covering/non-clustered indexes, automate statistics updates and histograms.
  • SQL Refactoring & Plan Stabilization: Rewrite stored procedures and employ Plan Guides, Query Hints, and parameterization strategies.
  • Server-Level Tuning: Configure NUMA, affinity masks, MAXDOP, and optimize TempDB layout.
  • AWS & Infrastructure: Right-size EC2 instance types and integrate with AWS monitoring.
  • Automation & CI/CD: Script environment provisioning and integrate database deployment into Azure DevOps.
  • Benchmarking & Reporting: Develop load-testing scenarios and deliver detailed performance reports.

Key Skills:

  • Deep SQL Server Expertise: 8+ years tuning SQL Server 2016/2019/2022 in high-volume OLTP environments.
  • Performance-First Mindset: Mastery of execution plans, wait-stat analysis, index strategies, and statistics management.
  • AWS Savvy: Hands-on with EC2-hosted SQL Server; strong grasp of EBS volume types, networking, and CloudWatch.
  • Scripting & Automation: Proficient in PowerShell/Python for admin tasks and CI/CD integration.
  • Diagnostic Toolset: Comfortable with SQL Profiler/Extended Events, Query Store, Plan Explorer, and third-party profilers.
  • Communication & Collaboration: Ability to translate complex findings into actionable recommendations.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: undetermined

Country: USA

Working Arrangements: remote

IR35 Status: outside IR35

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: IT

Detailed Description From Employer:

SQL Server DBA - Performance Tuning Specialist / REMOTE

About our Customer:

Our direct customer, a global Fortune 500 company & a leader in the Food Services industry is looking for SQL Server DBA with Performance tuning experience to drive the end-to-end performance of a mission-critical OLTP databases supporting critical business operations.

Required Skills & Experience:

  • Deep SQL Server Expertise: 8+ years tuning SQL Server 2016/2019/2022 in high-volume OLTP environments ( 100M rows)
  • Performance-First Mindset: Mastery of execution plans, wait-stat analysis, index strategies, and statistics management
  • AWS Savvy: Hands-on with EC2-hosted SQL Server; strong grasp of EBS volume types, networking, and CloudWatch
  • Scripting & Automation: Proficient in PowerShell/Python for admin tasks and CI/CD integration (Azure DevOps or equivalent)
  • Diagnostic Toolset: Comfortable with SQL Profiler/Extended Events, Query Store, Plan Explorer, and third-party profilers (FogLight, SolarWinds, etc.)
  • Communication & Collaboration: Ability to translate complex findings into actionable recommendations for developers and architects in two-week sprints

Responsibilities:

  • In-Depth Performance Analysis:
    • Profile top-heavy queries using DMVs (e.g. sys.dm_exec_query_stats, sys.dm_io_virtual_file_stats)
    • Capture and analyze Extended Events sessions and Query Store data to identify plan regressions and parameter sniffing issues
  • Index & Statistics Management:
    • Design and implement covering/non-clustered indexes, filtered indexes, and indexed views
    • Automate statistics updates and histograms to optimize cardinality estimates
  • SQL Refactoring & Plan Stabilization:
    • Rewrite stored procedures, TVFs, and ad-hoc statements for set-based operations
    • Employ Plan Guides, Query Hints, and parameterization strategies to enforce optimal execution plans
  • Server-Level Tuning:
    • Configure NUMA, affinity masks, MAXDOP, cost threshold for parallelism, and lock escalation settings
    • Optimize TempDB layout (multiple data files, trace flags 1118/1117), autogrowth settings, and file-striping across EBS volumes
  • AWS & Infrastructure:
    • Right-size EC2 instance types (vCPU, memory) and EBS provisioning (IOPS vs. throughput)
    • Integrate with AWS monitoring (CloudWatch metrics, Enhanced Monitoring) and alert on disk queue lengths, buffer pool usage, wait stats
  • Automation & CI/CD:
    • Script environment provisioning and configuration via PowerShell, AWS CLI / CloudFormation / CDK
    • Integrate database deployment and migration into Azure DevOps
  • Benchmarking & Reporting:
    • Develop load-testing scenarios), capture baselines, validate and drive continuous improvement
    • Deliver detailed before/after performance reports with clear metrics (TPS, latency percentiles, CPU/IO utilization) aligned to business transactions and processes.

Nice-to-Haves

  • Familiarity with containerized SQL Server (Docker/Kubernetes) or managed services (RDS/Aurora)
  • Experience with Resource Governor, Partitioning, and In-memory technologies (In-Memory OLTP, Columnstore)
  • Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator, AWS Certified Database Specialty