Senior Database Engineer

Datavail; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Datavail is seeking a Senior Database Engineer/SQL Server DBA to support mission-critical database systems across diverse clients and industries. This role emphasizes automation, cloud-native strategies, and proactive problem prevention.

Travel up to 20% domestic (US) for client onsite visits is expected. The position involves acting as a trusted technical advisor, leading service delivery, and owning the end-to-end database lifecycle with a strong emphasis on performance tuning and architecture

Qualifications

• T-SQL query optimization: read/modify execution plans, parameter sniffing, statistics issues, Query Store tuning.
• Rewrite/refactor existing T-SQL code and stored procedures for performance, including set-based approaches.
• Design/maintain indexing strategies: clustered/nonclustered/covering indexes, columnstore usage, fragmentation/maintenance.
• Root-cause performance diagnosis: wait-stats, CPU/memory/I/O bottlenecks, tempdb contention, blocking/deadlock resolution.
• Tuning for cloud-native platforms: Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, AWS RDS for SQL Server sizing and IOPS.
• Establish baselines and monitor performance to catch degradation before incidents.
• Proactive automation and remediation to prevent recurring issues.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted advisor to clients, proactively identifying performance and security risks.
• Advise on cloud database architecture, migration, and cost optimization (AWS and Azure).
• Lead architecture design, DR planning, and capacity forecasting initiatives.
• Own end-to-end database service lifecycle: backup, HA/DR, tuning, roadmap.
• Define and track SLOs for availability and performance, drive automated remediation.
• Lead root-cause analyses and post-incident reviews for major issues.
• Design scalable database structures, including partitioning and audits.
• Develop deployment/rollback scripts and coordinate version updates across environments.
• Build automation (Python, PowerShell) for backup validation, monitoring, and reporting integrations.

Skills

T-SQL tuning

Query optimization

SQL Server admin

Azure SQL

AWS RDS for SQL Server

Performance analysis

Automation

Python

PowerShell

Tools

SSMS

SSIS

SSAS

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Managed Instance

AWS RDS for SQL Server

Power BI

Job description

Datavail is hiring a Senior Database Engineer/SQL Server DBA to join our high-performing team supporting mission-critical database systems across a wide range of clients and industries. This isn't a traditional, reactive DBA role - we're looking for a forward-looking database professional who thinks like an engineer: automating instead of repeating manual work, treating cloud-native platforms as the default rather than the exception, and getting ahead of problems before they become a ticket. As a leading managed services provider, we deliver 24x7 support through a proven multi-tiered model, consistently meeting and exceeding client SLAs.

We're looking for a senior-level SQL Server specialist who operates as a trusted technical advisor - someone who goes beyond reactive troubleshooting to proactively identify risk, tune performance, and guide clients on cloud and architecture strategy. The ideal candidate will serve as the Primary DBA for one or more clients, building strong client relationships while leading service delivery with a blend of hands‑on engineering depth and consultative guidance. This is a full-time position with full medical benefits. Travel: Up to 20% domestic (US) travel for client onsite visits - this role is relationship-driven, and in-person time with clients is part of building that trust.

Performance Tuning & Cloud-Native Database Expertise (Core Focus)

This is a defining requirement for the role, not a secondary skill:

• T‑SQL query optimization - reading and rewriting execution plans, resolving parameter sniffing, statistics/cardinality issues, and Query Store‑based tuning
• Rewriting and refactoring existing stored procedures and T‑SQL code for performance - not just tuning execution plans, but redesigning logic and set‑based approaches where needed
• Indexing strategy - designing and maintaining clustered/nonclustered/covering indexes, evaluating columnstore where appropriate, and managing fragmentation/maintenance without breaking SLAs
• Root‑cause performance diagnosis - wait‑stats analysis, CPU/memory/I‑O bottleneck isolation, tempdb contention, and blocking/deadlock resolution
• Cloud‑native platform tuning - hands‑on optimization specific to Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and AWS RDS for SQL Server: correct service tier/vCore or DTU sizing, storage throughput/IOPS tuning, elastic pool configuration, and working within PaaS resource‑governor limits
• Proactive performance baselining - establishing and monitoring baselines so degradation is caught before it becomes a client‑facing incident, not just reactive firefighting

In this role, you will:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, proactively identifying performance, availability, and security risks before they become incidents
• Advise clients on cloud database architecture, migration, and cost optimization across AWS and Azure (IaaS and PaaS)
• Lead architecture design, disaster recovery planning, and capacity forecasting initiatives
• Own the end‑to‑end database service lifecycle - backup strategy, HA/DR configuration, proactive tuning, and platform roadmap planning
• Define and track service‑level objectives (SLOs) for database availability and performance, and drive automated remediation for recurring failure patterns rather than manually resolving the same issue repeatedly
• Lead root‑cause analysis and post‑incident reviews for major issues, translating findings into automation or process changes that prevent recurrence
• Design and implement scalable database structures, including partitioning strategies and audit specifications
• Develop and maintain deployment/rollback scripts and coordinate version updates across environments
• Build automation (Python, PowerShell) for backup validation, monitoring, alerting, and reporting integrations (e.g., Power BI)
• Migrate/support SSIS packages and SSAS cubes, and develop stored procedures for reporting
• Collaborate directly with client technical teams and executive stakeholders, translating technical findings into business‑relevant recommendations