Senior Database Administrator

RIVO Holdings, LLC; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

RIVO Holdings, LLC is seeking an experienced Senior Database Administrator to own the design, performance, and reliability of our Microsoft Azure SQL database environment on-site in San Diego. You will lead the journey from legacy structures to a scalable, high-performing platform and will be the go-to expert for data storage, access, and scaling.

As both a strategic architect and hands-on engineer, you will drive data modeling, security, and pipelines moving data across the organization while

Qualifications

• 8+ years as a DBA/Database Engineer/Developer in Microsoft SQL Server environments, including 3+ years with Azure SQL Database.
• Deep expertise in relational modeling, normalization, and schema design for scale and maintainability.
• Advanced T-SQL and query tuning using execution plans, DMVs, indexing, partitioning, and statistics.
• Experience with backup/restore, geo-replication, access control, encryption, and auditing.

Responsibilities

• Own Azure SQL architecture end-to-end, including service tier and capacity strategy.
• Design scalable data models and schemas for new and existing applications.
• Modernize legacy database structures, procedures, and data access patterns.
• Automate schema changes, deployments, and maintenance.

Skills

Azure SQL Database

T-SQL

Data modeling

Performance tuning

Security & compliance

Automation (CI/CD)

Tools

Azure Data Factory

SSIS

Query Store

Job description

*This is a fully on-site role. Hybrid/remote work is not available at this time*

*We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time*

RIVO is seeking an experienced Senior Database Administrator to own the design, performance, and reliability of our Microsoft Azure SQL database environment.

We're looking for a builder. Someone who can assess where we are today, define where we need to be tomorrow, and help lead the journey.

As our Senior Database Administrator, you'll own our database architecture end to end: data modeling, performance, security, availability, and the pipelines that move data across the organization. You'll be the go-to expert for how our data is stored, accessed, and scaled.

As both a strategic architect and hands-on engineer, you'll play a key role in transforming a legacy database and data structure into a scalable, high-performing platform built for the future.

If you're energized by ownership, attracted to complex challenges, and motivated by the opportunity to build something lasting, we'd love to hear from you!

Job Description

What You'll Do

Database Architecture & Design

• Own the architecture of our Azure SQL environment (Azure SQL Databases), including service tier and capacity strategy.
• Design scalable data models and schemas for new and existing applications.
• Assess and modernize legacy database structures, stored procedures, and data access patterns.
• Define database development standards, naming conventions, and code review practices.

Performance Tuning & Query Optimization

• Diagnose and resolve performance bottlenecks using execution plans, Query Store, and Extended Events.
• Design and maintain indexing, partitioning, and statistics strategies.
• Optimize T-SQL, stored procedures, and application queries in partnership with developers.
• Proactively monitor workloads, blocking, deadlocks, and resource utilization.

Reliability, Security & Operations

• Own backup, restore, high availability, and disaster recovery (point-in-time restore, geo-replication, failover groups).
• Implement database security, including Entra ID authentication, role-based access, encryption, and auditing, protecting PII data.
• Automate schema changes, deployments, and maintenance.
• Manage Azure database cost, scaling, and capacity planning.

Data Engineering & Integration

• Build and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, SSIS, or similar tools.
• Design CDC and incremental load strategies to move data reliably between systems.
• Establish data quality, reconciliation, and monitoring processes.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with Engineering, Product, and Analytics teams to define data requirements and priorities.
• Translate business needs into scalable database solutions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on database architecture, performance, and data governance.

Qualifications

Must Have Qualifications

• Database Administration Experience: 8+ years as a DBA, Database Engineer, or Database Developer in Microsoft SQL Server environments, including 3+ years with Azure SQL Database
• Database Design & Architecture: Deep expertise in relational modeling, normalization, and schema design, and in architecting databases for scale, availability, and maintainability.
• Performance Tuning & Query Optimization: Advanced T-SQL with a proven track record tuning queries and workloads using execution plans, Query Store, DMVs, indexing, partitioning, and statistics.
• High Availability, Recovery & Security: Hands-on experience with backup and restore, geo-replication, access control, encryption, and auditing.
• Data Engineering: Experience building ETL/ELT pipelines (Azure Data Factory, SSIS, or similar), CDC, and incremental processing.
• Automation: Experience with database CI/CD and scripting

Nice to Have Qualifications

• Data Warehousing: Experience designing enterprise data warehouses using dimensional modeling (Star Schema, Snowflake Schema, Fact and Dimension Tables).
• Modern Data Platforms: Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, Databricks, Azure Data Lake Storage, or lakehouse architectures.
• Analytics & BI: Experience supporting Power BI, Tableau, semantic models, and self-service reporting.
• Near Real-Time & Data Science Workloads: Experience supporting low-latency data environments and ML pipelines.
• Data Governance: Experience with data classification, lineage, and retention (e.g., Microsoft Purview).
• Certifications: Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300) or equivalent.

Additional Information

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you will be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. A reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job is $160,000.00 to $200,000.00. Individual salaries within those ranges take into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to education; experience and training; licensure and certifications; knowledge and skill sets; and other business and organizational needs.

RIVO Holdings, LLC is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, disability, age (40 years old or older) and genetic information (including family medical history), past or present military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.