SQL Server Lead – Data & Performance Architect

HelloKindred; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

HelloKindred in the United Kingdom is seeking a SQL Server Lead to design, develop, and optimize enterprise‑scale SQL Server solutions. The role requires deep expertise in SQL Server development, data modeling, and governance, with hands‑on leadership to mentor engineers and collaborate with cross‑functional teams.

The position is hybrid (2–3 days in office per week) with an anticipated contract length until December 31, 2026, and BPSS eligibility is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a closely related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in SQL Server development with advanced T-SQL programming, including complex queries, stored procedures, functions, and set-based development.
• Strong experience designing and optimizing SQL Server workloads through execution plan analysis, indexing, partitioning, concurrency management, and performance tuning.
• Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise data models and database schemas.
• Experience developing secure database solutions with strong knowledge of access controls, auditing, sensitive data handling, and security best practices.
• Strong understanding of testing methodologies, including SQL unit testing, automated data quality validation, and reconciliation processes.
• Experience supporting production database environments, including incident management, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.
• Familiarity with Git or GitLab source control, branching strategies, pull requests, and code review processes.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and database deployment automation.
• Familiarity with artifact repository management tools such as Nexus.
• Experience with PowerShell, Linux shell scripting, Python, or similar automation technologies.
• Understanding of data governance, records management, retention policies, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Working knowledge of Java and/or Scala, particularly within Spark-based data processing environments, is preferred.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, mentoring, and technical leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of SQL Server components from requirements gathering through design, development, deployment, and documentation.
• Design, develop, and optimize complex T-SQL stored procedures, functions, views, and database objects.
• Build and maintain scalable data models and physical schemas that support security, risk, control, and records management reporting.
• Engineer resilient batch and near-real-time data processing solutions.
• Perform data profiling, root-cause analysis, incident investigation, and problem management.
• Optimize SQL Server performance through execution plan analysis, indexing strategies, partitioning, statistics management, and IO/CPU tuning.
• Implement automated testing, data quality checks, reconciliations, and repeatable validation processes.
• Support SIT, UAT, deployment, and release management activities.
• Ensure database solutions comply with security, classification, retention, access control, auditing, and segregation of duties requirements.
• Collaborate with engineers, analysts, architects, product owners, and governance teams to translate business and regulatory requirements into technical solutions.
• Review code, enforce development standards, and mentor team members on SQL Server best practices.
• Monitor production environments, troubleshoot issues, and implement performance improvements and automation.
• Maintain clear data lineage, documentation, and interfaces between upstream and downstream data products.
• Proactively manage delivery risks, dependencies, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

SQL Server

T-SQL

Data modeling

Performance tuning

Leadership

CI/CD

Git/GitLab

Python

PowerShell

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related

Tools

Git

GitLab

Nexus

CI/CD pipelines

PowerShell

Python

Linux shell scripting

Job description

HelloKindred in the United Kingdom is seeking a SQL Server Lead to design, develop, and optimize enterprise‑scale SQL Server solutions. The role requires deep expertise in SQL Server development, data modeling, and governance, with hands‑on leadership to mentor engineers and collaborate with cross‑functional teams.

The position is hybrid (2–3 days in office per week) with an anticipated contract length until December 31, 2026, and BPSS eligibility is required.