SQL DBA (DV)

Experis (Austria); England; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

Experis is seeking a Senior SQL Server Database Administrator to join a highly secure, production-grade environment near Reading, Berkshire. The role is on-site for a 6-month contract starting December 2026, with active DV clearance required.

You will provide 2nd/3rd-line support across production, pre-production and development environments, ensuring high availability, security and performance of SQL Server platforms from 2012 to 2022. Strong monitoring and ITIL-aligned processes are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in business-critical SQL Server environments.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a dedicated SQL Server DBA role.
• Experience with SQL Server 2012 through 2022.
• Strong expertise in SQL Server Administration, T-SQL, PowerShell, and performance tuning.
• Experience with Always On, WSFC, FCI, replication, log shipping, and DR testing.
• Experience using monitoring tools such as SCOM, Redgate SQL Monitor or SolarWinds DPA.
• Strong AD/DNS/Kerberos knowledge and ITIL change management experience.

Responsibilities

• Administering SQL Server production, pre-prod and development environments.
• Leading incident resolution, root cause analysis and problem management.
• Handling patching, upgrades and migrations for SQL Server.
• Managing high availability and disaster recovery solutions.
• Designing backup and recovery procedures and testing them.
• Monitoring and tuning database performance.
• Supporting deployments and releases for applications and development teams.
• Maintaining security, auditing and compliance standards.
• Producing runbooks and technical documentation.
• Driving automation and continuous improvement in DB operations.

Skills

SQL Server Administration

T-SQL

PowerShell

Database Performance Tuning

SQL Server Security

Always On Availability Groups

WSFC

FCI

Replication

Backup and Recovery

Disaster Recovery Testing

Monitoring (SCOM/Redgate/SolarWinds)

Tools

SCOM

Redgate SQL Monitor

SolarWinds DPA

Job description

Senior SQL Server DBA

Location: Near Reading, Berkshire (Onsite)
Contract: 6 Months
Start Date: December 2026
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: Active DV clearance Required
Working Pattern: Full Time, Onsite Reading

We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Server Database Administrator to join a highly secure, business-critical environment supporting critical public sector operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced DBA to work within a complex enterprise estate, providing second and third-line support across production, pre-production and development environments. You will play a key role in maintaining, securing, optimising and modernising SQL Server platforms ranging from SQL Server 2012 through to SQL Server 2022.

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.