SQL Database Administrator
Posted Today by ASA RECRUITMENT
£500 Per day
Outside
Hybrid
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Summary: ASA Recruitment is seeking a SQL Database Administrator for a Public Sector organization in Edinburgh. The role is hybrid, requiring a few days on-site each month, and is offered on an initial 12-month contract with a competitive daily rate. The position focuses on managing SQL Server environments and optimizing database performance while ensuring compliance with data governance standards.
Key Responsibilities:
- Administer, configure, and support SQL Server environments across development, test, and production.
- Manage, optimise, and monitor Azure Cosmos DB workloads.
- Perform proactive capacity planning, patching, and upgrades.
- Identify and resolve database performance issues.
- Improve query and indexing strategies, schema design, and execution plans.
- Ensure compliance with data legislation and security standards.
- Manage access controls, auditing, and data protection measures.
- Support the evolution of data platforms with modern architectures.
- Collaborate closely with engineering and delivery teams.
Key Skills:
- Strong SQL Server administration experience in live service environments.
- Expertise in performance tuning and troubleshooting database bottlenecks.
- Practical experience with Azure Cosmos DB.
- Understanding of HA/DR design principles and tooling.
- Commitment to secure, well-governed data management practices.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, service-focused environment.
Salary (Rate): £500 daily
City: Edinburgh
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: hybrid
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
ASA Recruitment’s client, a Public Sector organisation in Edinburgh, are currently looking to recruit a SQL DBA on a hybrid basis (a couple of days onsite per month), for an initial 12 month contract (with potential extensions) on a rate of c.£500/day outside of IR35 (based on experience).
Responsibilities:
- Database Operations
- Administer, configure, and support SQL Server environments across development, test, and production.
- Manage, optimise, and monitor Azure Cosmos DB workloads, ensuring cost-effective, scalable performance.
- Perform proactive capacity planning, patching, and upgrades to meet operational needs.
- Performance & Optimisation
- Identify and resolve database performance issues impacting legacy systems.
- Improve query and indexing strategies, schema design, and execution plans to reduce latency.
- Introduce monitoring and alerting improvements aligned to operational SLAs and KPIs.
- Data Quality, Governance & Security
- Ensure compliance with data legislation and security standards, including GDPR and government policy.
- Manage access controls, auditing, and data protection measures.
- Maintain documentation that supports transparency, continuity, and operational resilience.
- Continuous Improvement
- Support the evolution of data platforms with modern architectures where appropriate.
- Collaborate closely with engineering and delivery teams to support service transformation initiatives.
Essential Experience:
- Strong SQL Server administration experience in live service environments.
- Demonstrable expertise in performance tuning and troubleshooting database bottlenecks.
- Practical experience with Azure Cosmos DB, including throughput, indexing, and partitioning strategies.
- Understanding of HA/DR design principles and tooling.
- Commitment to secure, well-governed data management practices.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, service-focused environment.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in public sector IT services and associated compliance standards.
- Familiarity with cloud-hosted operational databases and Azure infrastructure.
- Knowledge of automation (PowerShell, ARM/Bicep, Terraform, DevOps pipelines).
- Experience supporting legacy application transformation or migration projects.