The Role
You will be responsible for supporting and administering mission-critical SQL Server environments, ensuring high levels of availability, performance, security and resilience.
Key responsibilities include:
- Administering and supporting SQL Server production, pre-production and development environments.
- Leading database incident resolution, root cause analysis and problem management activities.
- Delivering SQL Server patching, upgrades and migration projects.
- Managing high availability and disaster recovery solutions.
- Designing, implementing and testing backup and recovery procedures.
- Proactively monitoring and tuning database performance.
- Supporting application and development teams with deployments and releases.
- Maintaining database security, auditing and compliance standards.
- Producing technical documentation, operational procedures and runbooks.
- Driving automation, standardisation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Working within ITIL-aligned change, release and configuration management processes.
Essential Experience
- Minimum 5 years' experience supporting SQL Server in business-critical production environments.
- Minimum 3 years' experience in a dedicated SQL Server DBA position.
- Experience supporting mixed SQL Server estates from SQL Server 2012 through to SQL Server 2022.
- Strong expertise in:
- SQL Server Administration
- T-SQL
- PowerShell
- Database Performance Tuning
- Capacity Planning
- SQL Server Security
- Extensive experience with:
- Always On Availability Groups
- Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC)
- Failover Cluster Instances (FCI)
- Replication
- Log Shipping
- Database Mirroring
- Backup and Recovery
- Disaster Recovery Testing
- Experience using monitoring tools such as SCOM, Redgate SQL Monitor or SolarWinds DPA.
- Strong understanding of Active Directory, DNS, Kerberos/SPNs and Windows Server environments.
- Experience working within ITIL Incident, Problem and Change Management frameworks.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable Skills
- SSIS, SSRS and SSAS
- Azure SQL and Managed Instance
- Azure Arc
- Oracle, PostgreSQL or MySQL
- SQL Server on Linux
- VMware and EMC SAN
- Azure DevOps, SSDT, Git and Ansible
- CyberArk
- CIS Benchmark security hardening
- Defence, Government or secure environment experience
- DP-300 Certification
- ITIL Foundation Certification
Security Requirements
Applicants must hold active DV Security Clearance which must be transferable prior to commencement.