Senior Enterprise Database Administrator

Dentons US LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k

Profit sharing

Disability insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Dentons US LLP is seeking a Senior Enterprise Database Administrator to ensure the reliability, modernization, security, and performance of the Firm’s SQL platforms, including on-premises and Azure managed services.

Responsibilities include leading production issue resolution, planning cloud migrations to Azure SQL, and collaborating with Infrastructure and business teams to maintain robust database environments and comprehensive documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or related field, or equivalent certifications.
• At least five years of experience in 24x7 global enterprise support, preferably in a professional services environment.
• Expert knowledge of SQL clustering, high-availability, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery concepts.
• Hands-on experience migrating workloads to Azure SQL Managed Instance and Azure SQL Database.
• Strong SQL Server security administration, including permissions, authentication, auditing and compliance.
• Experience tuning SQL Server performance and proactively resolving issues.
• Proficient in Transact-SQL, stored procedures, SSRS, and related stack.
• Knowledge of Windows Server, IIS, DNS, DHCP, and AD.
• Ability to document processes, data flows, and diagrams clearly.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills; able to handle production issues independently.

Responsibilities

• Assess platform needs and implement strategic initiatives for production databases.
• Design, secure, and manage on-premises and cloud database environments with HA, backup, and DR.
• Collaborate with Infrastructure and app teams to protect data per security and retention policies.
• Provide day-to-day administration and performance tuning for SQL systems and apps.
• Plan migrations, upgrades, and modernization across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Develop and maintain testing and change-control processes for changes and rollbacks.
• Support enterprise app implementations through installation and config of components as needed.
• Offer third-line support for escalated database/app issues and requests.
• Participate in lifecycle maintenance, patching, documentation, and on-call rotation.
• Perform additional duties to fully meet the role requirements.

Skills

SQL Server

Azure SQL

High Availability

Backup & DR

Security Administration

Performance Tuning

Windows Server

Stored Procedures

On-call Rotation

Migration to Azure

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS

Tools

SSMS

Azure Portal

Active Directory

Job description

Dentons US LLP is currently recruiting for a Senior Enterprise Database Administrator. This position reports to the Enterprise Business Systems team and is responsible for the reliability, modernization, security, and performance of the Firm’s database platforms and the enterprise applications that depend upon them.

This is a hybrid database platform and enterprise application support role. The successful candidate will provide advanced SQL Server administration, support application troubleshooting and implementation activities, and help lead the transition of appropriate database workloads from traditional infrastructure to Azure-managed database services, including Azure SQL Managed Instance and Azure SQL Database.

The role will take ownership of production issue resolution, database and application performance, cloud database migration, platform lifecycle management, technical documentation, and the implementation of tactical and strategic initiatives supporting core business functions.

Responsibilities

• Assess database platform needs and develop and implement tactical and long-term strategic initiatives for production databases in collaboration with data owners and business stakeholders.
• Design, implement, secure, and manage resilient on-premises and cloud database environments, including SQL high-availability clusters, mirroring, synchronization, backup, recovery, disaster recovery, data archiving, access controls, and retention requirements.
• Partner with Infrastructure teams and application stakeholders to ensure databases and critical data are protected in accordance with business requirements and the Firm’s security, disaster recovery, compliance, and data retention policies.
• Provide day-to-day administration and advanced support for the Firm’s SQL systems and dependent applications, proactively monitoring and tuning database and application performance and taking ownership of production issues through resolution.
• Plan and coordinate data migrations, database upgrades, and platform modernization initiatives across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Design, implement, administer, secure, and optimize Azure SQL Managed Instance and Azure SQL Database environments, including connectivity, resiliency, backup, recovery, and compliance configurations.
• Develop and maintain testing and change-control processes for database, application, infrastructure, and patching activities, ensuring proposed changes are appropriately tested and include rollback plans.
• Support enterprise application implementations from initiation through completion, including installation and configuration of middle-tier application components when required.
• Provide timely third-line support by troubleshooting and resolving escalated database and application issues and fulfilling backup, restore, mirroring, synchronization, access, and availability requests.
• Participate in platform lifecycle maintenance, patching activities, technical documentation, and the on-call rotation supporting the Firm’s operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned to fully meet the requirements of the position.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent relevant certifications.
• At least five years of experience serving as a technical subject-matter expert in a 24 x 7 global support environment; law firm or professional services experience is preferred.
• Expert knowledge of SQL clustering, high-availability implementations, backup, recovery, and disaster recovery concepts for database systems.
• Hands-on experience implementing, administering, securing, optimizing, and migrating workloads to Microsoft Azure SQL Managed Instance and Azure SQL Database.
• Demonstrated expertise in SQL Server security administration, including permissions, access controls, authentication, auditing, and compliance across on-premises and cloud environments.
• Strong SQL Server and application performance-tuning skills, including query analysis, proactive monitoring, and resolution of complex performance issues.
• Working knowledge of Transact-SQL, stored procedures, SQL Mail, SSRS, triggers, and the client/server application stack.
• Working knowledge of Windows Server, IIS, DNS, DHCP, and Active Directory.
• SQL Server administration experience with versions 2019 and later, including database upgrades and migrations to newer versions.
• Ability to develop and maintain clear processes, procedures, technical diagrams, and organizational data-flow documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical issues, present options, independently take ownership of complex production issues, and drive them through effective resolution.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and client-service skills, with the ability to collaborate tactfully and effectively with individuals at all levels.
• Sound judgment, accuracy, adaptability, and resilience, with the ability to work independently, remain calm under pressure, prioritize competing demands, meet tight project deadlines, and participate in an on-call rotation.

Salary

Pursuant with states' laws, the salary range for this position is $125,000 - $163,000, based on experience and local market.

Dentons US LLP offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, profit sharing, short-term/long-term disability, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, paid holidays and discretionary bonuses.

Dentons US LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Disability/Vet. Pursuant to local ordinances, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

If you need any assistance seeking a job opportunity at Dentons US, LLP, or if you need reasonable accommodation with the application process, please call our Talent Acquisition Lead at [phone] or contact us at [e-mail].