SQL Server Architect

Sanderson Government & Defence; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 101,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence is seeking an experienced SQL Server Architect to design and optimise resilient SQL Server platforms hosted in AWS for a major government programme. The role combines architecture, HA/DR planning, and secure operation within a regulated environment.

You will lead design discussions, produce technical artefacts, and collaborate with cloud, security, and infrastructure teams to deliver scalable, compliant solutions while navigating DV and SC clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Active SC Clearance with eligibility to obtain DV Clearance.
• 10+ years designing and architecting Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Strong background delivering enterprise-scale SQL Server HA/DR solutions.
• Experience with Always On Availability Groups and Failover Cluster Instances (FCI).
• Knowledge of performance tuning, indexing, storage and I/O optimization.
• Networking principles supporting SQL Server resiliency (DNS failover, listeners).
• Experience producing architecture documentation and technical runbooks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and own SQL Server architecture for AWS-hosted enterprise platforms.
• Develop and validate HA/DR strategies and implement Always On/FCI solutions.
• Evaluate AWS-native services for resilience and recovery options.
• Define recovery objectives, test procedures, and runbooks.
• Assess performance, scalability, and operational complexity of SQL Server deployments.
• Produce architectural designs and technical artefacts for implementation.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cloud, security, and application teams.
• Provide clear technical recommendations to stakeholders.

Job description

SQL Server Architect
Hybrid - 3-4 days on-site in London
£550-£650 inside IR35
Requires Active SC Clearance and ability to undergo DV Clearance

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server Architect to support a major government and defence-focused digital transformation programme. This role will focus on designing, validating, and optimising highly resilient SQL Server platforms that underpin large-scale, mission-critical enterprise applications hosted within AWS cloud environments.

Initially, you will lead an intensive proof-of-value phase, evaluating high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) patterns for SQL Server on AWS. Following successful completion, the role will transition into a longer-term architecture and design engagement, delivering a scalable, secure, and compliant SQL Server solution aligned with stringent operational and security requirements.

Working alongside cloud, infrastructure, and platform specialists, you will play a key role in shaping the future-state database architecture for a complex enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and own SQL Server architecture supporting business-critical enterprise platforms hosted on AWS.
• Develop and validate High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) strategies.
• Design and implement SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances (FCI), and other resilience technologies.
• Evaluate AWS-native services and recommend the most effective resilience and recovery solutions.
• Define and test recovery objectives, failover procedures, and operational readiness.
• Assess performance, scalability, availability, maintainability, and operational complexity of different SQL Server deployment patterns.
• Produce architectural designs, technical documentation, implementation plans, and operational runbooks.
• Collaborate closely with infrastructure, cloud, security, and application teams to ensure designs align with wider enterprise architecture and security requirements.
• Support stakeholder engagement and provide clear technical recommendations across technical and non-technical audiences.

Technical Environment

You will be working with technologies including:

• Microsoft SQL Server (2016+)
• AWS EC2
• AWS EBS
• FSx for Windows File Server
• AWS Route 53
• AWS CloudWatch
• AWS Backup
• AWS Systems Manager (SSM)
• AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery
• AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
• PowerShell
• CloudFormation and/or Terraform

Essential Skills & Experience

• Active SC Clearance with eligibility to obtain DV Clearance.
• 10+ years' experience designing and architecting Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Strong background delivering enterprise-scale SQL Server HA/DR solutions.
• Extensive experience with:
  • Always On Availability Groups
  • Failover Cluster Instances (FCI)
  • Log Shipping
  • Replication Technologies
• Deep understanding of SQL Server performance tuning and optimisation, including:
  • Indexing strategies
  • Storage optimisation
  • I/O performance
  • Concurrency management
  • Wait statistics analysis
• Strong knowledge of networking principles supporting SQL Server resiliency, including listener design, DNS failover, and cluster quorum configurations.
• Experience producing high-quality architecture documentation and technical design artefacts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable Experience

• Hands-on experience deploying and architecting SQL Server workloads on AWS.
• Experience evaluating and implementing cloud-native resilience and disaster recovery solutions.
• Exposure to Azure SQL HA/DR technologies for comparative architecture assessments.
• Infrastructure-as-Code and automation experience using Terraform, CloudFormation, or PowerShell.
• Experience working within regulated, secure, government, or defence environments.
• Knowledge of security hardening, compliance, and operational governance frameworks.

Reasonable Adjustments:

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.