Senior SQL Server Engineer

PALAS Consulting Pty Ltd.; Canberra; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

PALAS Consulting Pty Ltd. is seeking a Senior SQL Server Engineer to support a significant Federal Government ICT sustainment and upgrade program in Canberra. The role covers both application database work and platform ownership on an on-site basis, starting late 2026 for a multi-year engagement.

You will join a delivery team with application support, integration, and platform engineers, developing, tuning, and managing SQL Server databases in a secure environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive hands-on SQL Server experience in both DB development and DBA roles.
• Experience running SQL Server in enterprise DBA/managed service with HA/DR.
• Strong T-SQL with performance tuning and query optimisation.
• Experience with ITSM processes: incident, problem, change and release management.
• Clear written documentation and engagement with developers, infra teams & stakeholders.
• Australian citizenship is mandatory.
• AGSVA NV1+ security clearance required; NV2 preferred; NV1 holders should upgrade.
• Service Broker implementation or support experience.
• Experience with SSIS/SSRS in the Microsoft data platform.
• PowerShell for SQL Server automation.
• Experience supporting SQL Server in secure or highly governed environments.
• Microsoft certification in SQL Server or Azure database administration.

Responsibilities

• Administer and develop SQL Server databases supporting custom built and commercial applications in production use.
• Write and tune T-SQL, stored procedures and Service Broker components, and advise developers on database design.
• Operate SQL Server as a managed service, including patching, Always On availability groups or failover clustering, backup and recovery, and capacity planning.
• Diagnose performance and availability issues across the database, storage and application layers, resolving them within formal incident, change and release processes.
• Support releases, upgrades and migrations, including verification and rollback readiness.
• Maintain platform documentation, build standards and standard operating procedures.

Skills

SQL Server

T-SQL

Performance tuning

Stakeholder engagement

Documentation

Security clearance NV1+

Australian citizenship

Tools

SSIS

SSRS

PowerShell

Always On

Failover Clustering

Service Broker

Azure SQL (data platform)

Job description

Canberra | On-site | Federal Government ICT Sustainment and Upgrade Program

PALAS Consulting is seeking a Senior SQL Server Engineer for a significant Federal Government ICT sustainment and upgrade program commencing late 2026. This is a multi-year engagement, contracted yearly with extensions, supporting a large SQL Server estate on a secure Federal Government network.

The role combines application database work with platform ownership. On the application side you will support and enhance the databases behind business applications in daily use, including T-SQL development, schema change and Service Broker messaging. On the platform side you will run SQL Server as a managed service, covering patching, availability, backup and recovery, capacity and performance. You will work within a delivery team alongside application support specialists, integration engineers and platform engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and develop SQL Server databases supporting custom built and commercial applications in production use.
• Write and tune T-SQL, stored procedures and Service Broker components, and advise developers on database design.
• Operate SQL Server as a managed service, including patching, Always On availability groups or failover clustering, backup and recovery, and capacity planning.
• Diagnose performance and availability issues across the database, storage and application layers, resolving them within formal incident, change and release processes.
• Support releases, upgrades and migrations, including verification and rollback readiness.
• Maintain platform documentation, build standards and standard operating procedures.

Required Experience

• Extensive hands-on SQL Server experience spanning both database development and database administration.
• Demonstrated experience running SQL Server in an enterprise DBA or managed service capacity, with high availability and disaster recovery configurations in production.
• Strong T-SQL, including performance tuning and query optimisation.
• Experience working within structured ITSM processes for incident, problem, change and release management.
• Clear written documentation and confident engagement with developers, infrastructure teams and business stakeholders.
• Australian citizenship is mandatory.
• Must hold a current and active AGSVA security clearance at NV1 or higher. NV2 is preferred, and NV1 holders must be willing to upgrade.
• Service Broker implementation or support experience.
• SSIS, SSRS or other components of the Microsoft data platform.
• PowerShell for SQL Server automation.
• Experience supporting SQL Server in secure or highly governed environments.
• Microsoft certification in SQL Server or Azure database administration.

Location and Working Arrangements

This role is Canberra based and on-site. Commencement is expected in late 2026, with candidates holding notice periods encouraged to apply early.

About PALAS Consulting

PALAS Consulting is a Canberra-based consultancy supporting complex government transformation and technology initiatives. We are known for trusted delivery, professional credibility and long-term client relationships. Our consultants work on nationally significant programs and are supported by a professional, high-standard culture.