SQL developer

Candour Solutions; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days holiday

Family leave

Death in service cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Recognition schemes

Job summary

Candour Solutions in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior SQL Developer to own the SQL Server environment, lead design and development, and deliver scalable, high-performance database solutions.

You will mentor teammates, drive best practices, and partner with developers and analysts to implement robust data systems and strategy. This role blends hands-on SQL with technical leadership in a collaborative team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience developing and administering Microsoft SQL Server database solutions.
• Expert knowledge of T-SQL, including stored procedures, functions, views and performance optimisation.
• Strong experience with relational database design, ETL processes (SSIS or equivalent) and high-volume transactional databases.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and optimise SQL performance, including query tuning, execution plans, locking and deadlocks.
• Experience with SQL Server backup, recovery, disaster recovery and High Availability technologies (Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping and Replication).
• Experience with Azure SQL Database and/or Azure SQL Managed Instance.
• Familiarity with Git, Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, PowerShell and SQL monitoring tools is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder communication skills.
• Previous experience mentoring or coaching junior developers and helping to drive development best practices.
• Experience providing technical leadership and contributing to technical strategy and solution design.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the design, development and ongoing enhancement of SQL Server database solutions.
• Serve as the technical expert for the SQL Server environment, driving best practices and providing guidance across the team.
• Maintain and optimise business-critical databases to ensure high levels of performance, security and availability.
• Develop and enhance complex stored procedures, functions, views, triggers and database integrations.
• Monitor database health and identify opportunities to improve performance, scalability and reliability.
• Investigate and resolve complex database issues, including performance bottlenecks, locking, blocking and data integrity challenges.
• Oversee database backup, recovery and disaster recovery strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Work closely with developers, analysts and key stakeholders to deliver robust technical solutions.
• Review code, uphold development standards and champion best practices across the team.
• Support project delivery through technical input, solution design and accurate effort estimation.
• Keep up to date with emerging technologies and recommend improvements to database architecture and development processes.

Skills

SQL Server expertise

T-SQL

Problem-solving

Stakeholder communication

Mentoring juniors

Technical leadership

Tools

SSIS

Azure DevOps

Git

PowerShell

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Managed Instance

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Senior SQL Developer to take ownership of a Microsoft SQL Server environment, leading the design, development and optimisation of business-critical database solutions. This role offers the opportunity to provide technical leadership, influence database strategy, mentor other developers and deliver scalable, high-performance solutions that support a growing business.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys combining hands‑on SQL development with technical leadership in a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the design, development and ongoing enhancement of SQL Server database solutions.
• Serve as the technical expert for the SQL Server environment, driving best practices and providing guidance across the team.
• Maintain and optimise business-critical databases to ensure high levels of performance, security and availability.
• Develop and enhance complex stored procedures, functions, views, triggers and database integrations.
• Monitor database health and identify opportunities to improve performance, scalability and reliability.
• Investigate and resolve complex database issues, including performance bottlenecks, locking, blocking and data integrity challenges.
• Oversee database backup, recovery and disaster recovery strategies to ensure business continuity.
• Work closely with developers, analysts and key stakeholders to deliver robust technical solutions.
• Review code, uphold development standards and champion best practices across the team.
• Support project delivery through technical input, solution design and accurate effort estimation.
• Keep up to date with emerging technologies and recommend improvements to database architecture and development processes.

Key Skills & Experience

• 5+ years' experience developing and administering Microsoft SQL Server database solutions.
• Expert knowledge of T-SQL, including stored procedures, functions, views and performance optimisation.
• Strong experience with relational database design, ETL processes (SSIS or equivalent) and high-volume transactional databases.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot and optimise SQL performance, including query tuning, execution plans, locking and deadlocks.
• Experience with SQL Server backup, recovery, disaster recovery and High Availability technologies (Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping and Replication).
• Experience with Azure SQL Database and/or Azure SQL Managed Instance.
• Familiarity with Git, Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, PowerShell and SQL monitoring tools is advantageous.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder communication skills.
• Previous experience mentoring or coaching junior developers and helping to drive development best practices.
• Experience providing technical leadership and contributing to technical strategy and solution design.

• Up to 35 days holiday (including bank holidays).
• Enhanced family leave.
• Death in service cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee recognition schemes and social events.
• Annual eye tests and contribution towards prescription glasses.
• Ongoing professional development within a collaborative and supportive working environment.