Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA (On-Premises & Azure) (813265)

Smart Cloud Solution; Ohio; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart Cloud Solution in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA to oversee on-premises and Azure SQL databases, ensuring high availability, security, and performance across production, staging, and development environments. Responsibilities include installing, patching, tuning, implementing HA/DR, backups, RBAC, and automation with PowerShell.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience, strong T-SQL skills, and proven ability to collaborate with IT teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or equivalent.
• 5+ years of hands-on SQL Server DBA experience.
• Experience with on-premises and Azure SQL environments.
• Strong understanding of HA/DR and RBAC.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and upgrade SQL Server across environments.
• Design and implement HA/DR solutions and backups.
• Monitor performance and tune queries and indexes.
• Collaborate with IT teams to enforce security and RBAC.
• Develop automation scripts for maintenance tasks.
• Migrate databases between on-prem and Azure.

Skills

RBAC security

Performance tuning

SSMS & T-SQL

Azure SQL

Azure Monitor

Backup & DR

PowerShell scripting

Azure SQL on VM

Data security

Azure networking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent

Tools

SSMS

Azure Monitor

Azure Key Vault

Log Analytics

Redgate

Job description

Job Title: Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA (On-Premises & Azure)
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Role Overview

As a Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator, you will be responsible for the implementation, configuration, maintenance, and performance of SQL Server systems across production, staging, and development environments. This role involves managing both on-premises and Azure-based database platforms, ensuring high availability, robust security, and optimal performance for critical organizational applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, and upgrade SQL Server instances across production, staging, and development environments.
• Manage server storage, system databases, and data file structures.
• Proactively monitor system health, resource allocation, and server metrics.
• Optimize database performance by writing or refining indexes, tuning complex queries, and resolving blocking or deadlock issues.
• Design, test, and execute reliable database backup and recovery policies.
• Implement High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions, such as Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping, Failover Cluster Instances, or database replication.
• Perform performance tuning and system configuration across multiple DBMS platforms.
• Collaborate with IT development staff to design DBMS architecture and establish standards for data exchange, including robust data security models.
• Apply an understanding of business intelligence concepts when developing standards and best practices.
• Create comprehensive documentation covering installation procedures, monitoring, security policies, configuration changes, migration processes, and best practices for development teams.
• Implement and enforce security standards established by the client and relevant state entities.
• Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC), manage user logins and database permissions, and configure encryption at rest and in transit.
• Assist development teams with schema refinement, table design, efficient data type selection, and code reviews for stored procedures, triggers, functions, and complex T-SQL queries.
• Write T-SQL, PowerShell, or command-line scripts to automate routine DBA maintenance tasks, including index maintenance, integrity checks, statistics updates, backups, monitoring, and reporting.
• Provide server administration for Microsoft SQL Server database products.
• Develop and orchestrate both Azure and on-premises Database Management System (DBMS) architectures, ensuring robust and scalable solutions.
• Administer Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server hosted on Azure Virtual Machines.
• Oversee the implementation and configuration of these DBMS platforms, aligning them with organizational objectives.
• Design and plan comprehensive High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) strategies, including careful hardware selection and recommendations.
• Configure and deploy HA/DR solutions and manage replication processes to ensure data integrity and accessibility.
• Configure and support Azure database backup, monitoring, security, migration, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Utilize Azure Monitor to monitor database performance and availability, and Azure Key Vault to securely store passwords and other sensitive information.
• Regularly monitor and fine-tune DBMS performance to optimize efficiency and reliability.
• Collaborate closely with IT Architecture staff and IT Managers to devise solutions that fulfill agency requirements.
• Contribute to the analysis and development of the solution design’s business case, authoring relevant sections to support decision-making.
• Handle complex technical challenges by providing Tier III resolution for critical issues, reinforcing system stability and continuity.
• Develop database strategies to meet business needs and apply project planning principles, theories, practices, and techniques.
• Conduct formal mentorship activities for peers and lower-level staff, providing guidance through verbal instruction or technical documentation.

Required Skills

• Performance Monitoring & Tuning (5 Years)
• Security & Compliance, including Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) (5 Years)
• Developer Support & Code Review (5 Years)
• Managing enterprise-level Microsoft SQL Server database environments, including on-premises and Azure-based platforms
• Deep expertise in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and underlying database internals
• Advanced command of Transact-SQL (T-SQL) language syntax
• Experience implementing SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages and Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) workflows
• Experience supporting Azure SQL Database
• Experience supporting Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Experience supporting SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
• Knowledge of Azure Monitor
• Knowledge of Log Analytics
• Knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID
• Knowledge of Azure Key Vault
• Knowledge of Azure Backup
• Knowledge of Azure role-based access control
• Experience migrating and integrating databases between on-premises SQL Server and Azure environments
• Understanding of Azure database security
• Understanding of Azure networking
• Understanding of Azure scalability
• Understanding of Azure cost optimization
• Understanding of Azure HA/DR capabilities
• Hands-on familiarity with third-party monitoring and backup tools (e.g., Redgate)
• Sharp analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to explain complex database issues to non-technical stakeholders

Years of Experience: 5+ years

Additional Notes

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or an equivalent technical field, or equivalent work experience.
• Ability to serve as a member of a Disaster Recovery/Business Resumption Team, Incident Response Team, or similar public health response team, which may require 24/7 operations at remote locations.