SQL Server Database Administrator Specialist

RBC; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Toronto is seeking an experienced SQL Server DBA Specialist to ensure seamless database operations. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience and a strong understanding of SQL Server database architecture, performance tuning, and optimization. This position offers an opportunity to lead initiatives in a dynamic environment, providing expert technical support across business-critical applications.

Benefits

Comprehensive Total Rewards Program

World-class training program

Opportunities for career progression

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10+ years of strong understanding of SQL Server database architecture.
• Proficiency in SQL Query Tuning and performance optimization.
• Experience in providing technical leadership across database platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead application development and support teams in optimal database usage.
• Ensure optimal database design to minimize operational costs.
• Provide database-related technical support for production environments.

Skills

SQL Query Tuning

Performance Tuning

Collaboration

Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

10+ years of IT operations

Tools

Microsoft SQL Server

PowerShell

Job description

Job Description

What is the opportunity?

RBC is looking for an experienced SQL Server DBA specialist with a minimum of 10+ years of working experience. We are looking for someone to provide application DBA support and services and also lead initiatives across the group.

This is an exciting position working with SQL Server as leading initiatives in the group as well as working with databases in the cloud.

Data and Analytics (DNA) team is looking for a SQL Server DBA Specialist. The DBA will oversee predominantly on-prem and some Azure SQL, the creation and maintenance of database and transaction processing environments for application testing, pre-production verification, and production operation. You will provide technical leadership in enterprise level database design, performance tuning, database access, database recovery, HA/DR design to many business-critical applications. The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven success in a fast-paced dynamic environment and demonstrated critical thinking, agility, and innovation in executing on multiple, complex projects and supporting multiple business-critical applications. This role will provide thoughtful leadership in delivering a holistic, best-in-class DBA service to a portfolio of applications across lines of business and across the whole RBC enterprise.

What will you do?

• Lead in the support of database and transaction management technology and its deployment and usage standards.

• Lead application development and support teams in optimal use of database and transaction management technology through creation and communication of standards and walkthrough of critical application components.

• Ensure that databases are optimally designed, so that applications meet their defined SLAs, reuse of existing database structures is maximized and operational costs are minimized.

• Provide leadership in ensuring all database and environmental changes are appropriately tested and implemented in such a manner that there is no impact to RBC systems and clients.

• Provide strong technical knowledge and business subject matter expertise across a wide range of database technologies, with primary focus on SQL Server. Provide database-related technical support for development and production environments including required level of 7x24 on-call support.

• Define, develop and meet various SLAs for multiple database platforms used in the company. Improve and optimize database administration and management with coding and automation with a focus on performance, high availability, reliability, and reduce TOIL using SRE practices.

• Build self-service and self-managing capabilities of our database-as-a-service infrastructure.

What do you need to succeed?

Must-have

• A minimum of 10+ years of IT operation with strong understanding of SQL Server database architecture, structures, theories, principles, and practices. Proven working experience in Microsoft SQL Server technology as a database administrator specialist and current on SQL Server releases (i.e. SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019).

• Knowledge of Database Architecture and ability to redesign as per best practices.

• Expert knowledge to analyze performance issues, identify tuning opportunities, implement improvements and advise developers on SQL Server, and expert knowledge of supporting and maintaining SQL Server on Windows platform.

• Proficiency in SQL Query Tuning and Slow Query Optimizations with rewriting in an optimized way.

• Propose and build automated solutions with automation expertise. Experience with High Availability (e.g., FCI, Always On), data management and data processing flowcharting techniques.

• Deep knowledge of DB architecture for workload-specific configurations.

• Good understanding of the organization’s goals, objectives, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

• Ability to present ideas in user-friendly language. Strong root cause analysis, self-motivated and directed, with keen attention to detail. TSQL, PowerShell, CLI and coding expertise.

• Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.

• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

• Ability to work toward proactive solutions.

• Expert knowledge of indexes and index management. Ability to use Performance Monitor to gather metrics to define baselines.

• Experience using SQL Profiler and examining Execution Plans. Willingness to learn new technologies.

Nice-to-have

• Some knowledge of public cloud (e.g., Azure, AWS RDS) and containerization.

• Managing SQL Server on container (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift).

• Nice-to-have knowledge of other NoSQL databases, knowledge of DevOps pipelines (e.g., Git and JIRA).

• Coaching/mentoring skills, good verbal and written communication skills. Attention to client focus and client service.

What’s in it for you?

We thrive on the challenge to be our best, progressive thinking to keep growing, and working together to deliver trusted advice to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. We care about each other, reaching our potential, making a difference to our communities, and achieving success that is mutual.

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation, commissions, and stock where applicable.

• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities.

• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact.

• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.

• A world-class training program in financial services.

• Opportunities to do challenging work.

• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities.

• Opportunities to build close relationships with clients.

• Access to a variety of job opportunities across business and geographies.

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#TECHPJ

Job Skills

Customer Service, Customer Service Management, Detail-Oriented, Industry Knowledge, Information Technology Trends, IT Standards, IT Systems Integration, Resource Coordination, Service Platforms, Time Management

Additional Job Details

Address: RBC WATERPARK PLACE, 88 QUEENS QUAY W, TORONTO

City: Toronto

Country: Canada

Work hours/week: 37.5

Employment Type: Full time

Platform: TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS

Job Type: Regular

Pay Type: Salaried

Posted Date: 2025-10-08

Application Deadline: 2025-10-31

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Employment

At RBC, we believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.

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