SQL Developer

Trace Solutions Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Life assurance

Group income protection

Hybrid working arrangements

Job summary

Trace Solutions Ltd in London is seeking a skilled SQL performance engineer to optimize slow reporting queries across legacy and cloud platforms. The role focuses on SSMS analysis, plan cache insights, and advanced indexing for read-heavy workloads.

You will write advanced T-SQL, refactor views and procedures, and collaborate with developers and 2nd/3rd-line support to diagnose data issues. Hybrid role with London office attendance.

Qualifications

• Extensive SQL Server experience with SSMS and plan cache analysis.
• Ability to read and optimize execution plans to fix bottlenecks.
• Experience with indexing strategies for read-heavy workloads.
• Proficient in T-SQL, views, and stored procedures.
• Experience diagnosing locking, blocking, or parameter sniffing.

Responsibilities

• Hunt down slow-running reporting queries across the legacy TRAMPS/BlueBox/o6ix system and Mojo platform workflows.
• Write clean, efficient, and highly optimised new T-SQL queries and procedures to support emerging product features in the cloud ecosystem.
• Partner with developers and 2nd/3rd-line support to diagnose, trace, and debug complex data-related application bugs.
• Design, monitor, and maintain indexing structures across property schemas to maximise read efficiency while minimising overhead.
• Assist engineering teams with complex query plans, test data design, and performance profiling in development and staging environments.

Skills

SSMS

Execution plans

T-SQL

Query optimization

Performance troubleshooting

Agile/Scrum

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Git

PowerBuilder

Claude Code

Job description

Salary: £39,000 - 39,000 per year

Requirements

• We expect familiarity with deep profiling of database queries using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), Plan Cache analysis, and Extended Events.
• We expect experience reading and evaluating execution plans to identify performance bottlenecks such as table scans, bad cardinality estimates, or costly joins.
• We expect experience designing and implementing advanced indexing strategies for heavy read and reporting workloads.
• We expect experience writing, refactoring, and optimising complex T-SQL queries, database views, and stored procedures.
• We expect experience diagnosing database resource issues such as locking, blocking, or parameter sniffing.
• We expect experience working with version control systems such as Git.
• Bonus points for experience working alongside legacy client-server application logic such as PowerBuilder where front-end code cannot easily be modified.
• Bonus points for exposure to property management software, multi-ledger accounting, or related business domains.
• Bonus points for interest in and some experience using AI tools such as Claude Code to assist with query construction, debugging, and productivity.
• Bonus points for experience with agile working practices and Scrum ceremonies.
• We are looking for strong analytical problem-solving skills and a genuine interest in understanding the cause of query or database performance issues.
• We value proactive growth and continuous improvement of technical and professional skills.
• We value resourceful collaboration, including the ability to investigate issues independently, seek input when appropriate, and share knowledge openly.
• We value pragmatic problem solving and comfort with trade-offs between complex redesigns and fast tactical fixes.
• We value clear communication with both technical and non-technical colleagues.

Responsibilities

• We will expect you to methodically hunt down, isolate, and resolve slow-running reporting queries across both the legacy TRAMPS/BlueBox/o6ix system and Mojo platform workflows.
• We will expect you to write clean, efficient, and highly optimised new T-SQL queries and procedures to support emerging product features in the cloud ecosystem.
• We will expect you to partner with developers and 2nd/3rd-line support to diagnose, trace, and debug complex data-related application bugs.
• We will expect you to design, monitor, and maintain indexing structures across our property schemas to maximise read efficiency while minimising structural overhead.
• We will expect you to assist engineering teams with complex query plans, test data design, and performance profiling in our development and staging database environments.

Technologies

• AI
• Claude Code
• Cloud
• Git
• Support
• PowerBuilder
• SQL
• Web
• Backbone
• Embedded

More

We are Trace Solutions, a pioneering, employee-owned software company that builds enterprise-grade property management and accounting systems. For over 50 years, our software has supported major UK managing agents and housing associations. We are a mid-sized organisation of around 60 people based in Clerkenwell in central London, with a strong focus on exemplary service and delighted customers. Our engineering team is split across legacy PowerBuilder development, modern web development for our cloud platform Mojo, and reliable data infrastructure that bridges the two. We work in small teams, operate a hybrid model with a minimum of 2 days per week in our London office, and value psychological safety, collaboration, and pragmatic excellence. We offer an enhanced pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, group income protection, and hybrid working arrangements. We are an equal opportunities employer committed to inclusion.

last updated 33 week of 2026