Senior Azure and Cloud Database Engineer

SNDL, Inc.; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Canada seeks a Sr. Azure Cloud & Database Engineer to manage and optimize SQL Server databases and oversee Azure platform services. This role involves significant technical responsibilities in cloud database strategy, ensuring optimal performance and cost management while collaborating with cross-functional teams. Candidates should have over 5 years of DBA experience and hands-on Azure expertise.

Qualifications

• Expertise in managing and optimizing SQL Server databases.
• Hands-on experience with various Azure services.
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage SQL Server databases on-premises and in Azure.
• Implement and monitor backup and recovery strategies.
• Oversee Azure services, ensuring optimal performance.

Skills

SQL Server database administration

Azure platform expertise

Backup and recovery

High availability (HA/DR)

Performance tuning

Automation and DevOps practices

Azure resource management

Education

5+ years as a SQL Server DBA

3+ years experience with Azure services

Microsoft certifications (e.g., Azure Database Administrator Associate)

Job description

Work Location

Edmonton Office

Overview

Sr. Azure Cloud & Database Engineer in a hybrid role combining SQL Server database administration with Azure platform expertise. Responsible for managing, optimizing, and securing the SQL Server environment (on-premises and cloud) and serving as the go-to authority for Azure platform services. This is a hands-on technical role with significant influence on cloud database strategy, platform governance, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

SQL Server Database Administration

• Manage, configure, and optimize SQL Server databases (on-premises and Azure SQL).
• Implement and monitor backup / recovery, high availability (HA / DR), and performance tuning strategies.
• Administer security, roles, and permissions, ensuring compliance with governance and regulatory requirements.
• Troubleshoot database incidents, ensuring minimal downtime and business disruption.
• Support both OLTP and OLAP / analytics environments.

Azure Platform Administration

• Oversee Azure services and technologies, serving as a subject-matter expert (SME) to the Technical Services team.
• Configure and manage Azure resources (VMs, networking, storage, monitoring, RBAC).
• Implement infrastructure-as-code (IaC), automation, and DevOps practices for Azure workloads.
• Monitor and manage cost optimization, usage, and performance of Azure services.
• Optimize Azure resource consumption and spend while ensuring resources provide consistent and reliable support for applications and workloads.
• Collaborate with security and compliance teams on Azure AD / Entra ID governance.

Strategic & Cross-Functional

• Partner with software developers, data engineers, and analysts to enable data product development and application / analytics workloads.
• Provide architectural input for hybrid and cloud-native solutions.
• Develop and maintain documentation, standards, and best practices for both SQL Server and Azure resources.
• Stay current with Microsoft's cloud and database roadmap, recommending upgrades and innovations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a SQL Server DBA, with strong knowledge of optimizing, managing, and securing OLTP and OLAP databases.
• 3+ years hands-on experience with Azure services including Storage, Security, VMs, Networking, Monitoring.
• Expertise in backup / DR planning, high availability, and database security.
• Strong background in Azure administration: RBAC, cost management, automation.
• Familiarity with DevOps and CI / CD pipelines for database and application deployments.
• Microsoft certifications (e.g., Azure Database Administrator Associate, Azure Solutions Architect, or Data Engineer) are highly desirable.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and ability to work cross-functionally.