Senior Microsoft Windows SQL Server DBA

Role Overview: We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Microsoft Windows SQL Server DBA to take ownership of our enterprise database environments and drive application performance excellence. In this senior-level role, you will serve as the subject matter expert for all SQL Server platforms, leading performance engineering initiatives, mentoring junior DBAs, and acting as the primary escalation point for critical incidents. You will partner closely with application development teams, infrastructure architects, and business stakeholders to ensure database systems are available, secure, and tuned to meet end-to-end application performance goals. Job Responsibilities: Architect, install, configure, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server instances (2019, 2025, Azure SQL Database) across complex, multi-server Windows environments. Lead end-to-end application performance engineering: analyze execution plans, identify problematic queries, and work with development teams to implement lasting optimizations at the code and schema level. Proactively monitor application and database performance using Extended Events, DMVs, Wait Statistics analysis, and third-party tooling; establish baselines and SLAaligned alerting thresholds. Design, implement, and test robust backup and recovery strategies; own RTO/RPO targets and validate them through regular recovery drills. Architect and maintain HA/DR solutions including Always On Availability Groups and Log Shipping across production and DR environments. Govern database security: design role-based access controls, auditing frameworks, and encryption strategies in line with least-privilege and regulatory requirements. Own capacity planning and storage forecasting; collaborate with infrastructure teams to ensure database platforms scale ahead of demand. Lead database change governance: review and approve schema migrations, deployment scripts, and ORM-generated queries before they reach production. Drive automation of routine DBA tasks (index maintenance, integrity checks, job monitoring) through PowerShell and SQL Agent. Manage SQL Server patching and upgrades through a formal change management process, including pre- and post-upgrade validation. Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid-level DBAs; contribute to team knowledge-base and runbook documentation. Serve as the senior escalation point in the on-call rotation, leading the response and post-incident review for Severity 1 database outages. 7+ years of hands-on SQL Server DBA experience in large-scale, mission-critical production environments. Expert-level proficiency with Microsoft SQL Server 2019 / 2025 on Windows Server 2019 / 2022. Advanced T-SQL skills, including query optimization, execution plan analysis, index design, partitioning, and performance troubleshooting. Deep expertise in application performance tuning, collaborating with developers to resolve ORM anti-patterns, N+1 queries, lock contention, and blocking chains. Proven experience architecting and supporting Always On Availability Groups, Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC), and disaster recovery failover in enterprise environments. Strong command of Wait Statistics, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs), Extended Events, and Query Store for root-cause performance diagnosis. Solid experience with point-in-time database restores, high-availability failover, disaster recovery planning, and hands-on recovery testing. Experience with Windows Server administration and Active Directory / Kerberos authentication for SQL Server. Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and mentor junior team members. Familiarity with ITIL change, incident, and problem management processes. Preferred Qualifications Microsoft certification: DP-300 (Azure Database Administrator Associate) or legacy MCSE Data Management & Analytics. Experience with Azure SQL Database or SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines in hybrid environments. Exposure to APM tools such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics, or New Relic, with the ability to correlate application traces with database-level diagnostics. Proficiency with database monitoring platforms such as Redgate SQL Monitor, SolarWinds DPA, SentryOne, or equivalent. PowerShell scripting for DBA automation, including experience with dbatools. Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) in data warehousing or reporting environments. Knowledge of data governance and compliance frameworks, including GDPR, ISO 27001, or SOC 2. Exposure to DevOps CI/CD pipelines for database deployments using tools such as Flyway, Liquibase, or Redgate Deployment Manager.