Sr Database Administrator

Cox Automotive; Overland Park (KS); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Cox Automotive is seeking a Senior Database Administrator to support Dealer Solutions, stabilizing the on-premises SQL Server environment and leading a phased migration to AWS. The role focuses on high-availability, performance tuning, and automation to ensure reliable data services across multiple product teams.

You will design cloud-native database architectures, implement Always On for resilience, and collaborate with DevOps and security to modernize the data platform while maintaining data

Qualifications

• 2+ years of AWS database migration experience.
• 5+ years of SQL Server experience on 10+ TB databases.
• Experience with SQL Server replication and troubleshooting latency.
• Experience with SQL Server upgrades, migrations and patching across environments.
• Strong Windows Server administration related to SQL Server hosting and configuration.
• Proven experience with SQL Server clustering and high-availability solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and support enterprise-scale SQL Server environments across development, QA, and production.
• Lead SQL Server upgrades, migrations, patching with minimal disruption to business applications.
• Design and maintain HA/DR solutions (Always On) and disaster recovery.
• Monitor and optimize database performance, including queries, indexes, and stored procedures.
• Develop automation using PowerShell, T-SQL, CI/CD pipelines, and IaC.
• Collaborate with engineering, DevOps, security, and product teams on modernization efforts.

Skills

AWS migration

SQL Server

High availability

Performance tuning

Automation

CI/CD

Infrastructure as Code

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related discipline

Tools

Atlas MongoDB

PostgreSQL

Job description

The Senior Database Administrator will support multiple product teams across Dealer Solutions and play a key role in working on (managed and optimized enterprise database systems) cloud migration initiatives.

This role will be responsible for managing, optimizing, and re-architecting the current on-premises database environment. As a key technical enabler of the organization's cloud strategy, the Senior Database Administrator will first stabilize and remediate the existing database infrastructure, then design and execute a safe, phased migration to AWS.

This position bridges the gap between the current aging, monolithic on-premises database environment running on on-prem infrastructure and a future-state scalable, cost-efficient, cloud-native database platform.

• Manage and support enterprise-scale Microsoft SQL Server environments, including databases in the 10+ terabyte range across development, QA, and production.
• Lead and participate in SQL Server upgrades, version migrations, patching, and maintenance efforts with minimal disruption to business-critical applications.
• Design, implement, and maintain high-availability and disaster recovery solutions, particularly Always On Availability Groups.
• Monitor and optimize database performance, availability, and reliability, including tuning queries, indexes, and stored procedures.
• Perform and validate database backup, recovery, and maintenance activities to ensure data integrity and operational continuity.
• Advanced SQL Server administration options (trace flags, DB options, and query hints).
• Develop automation using PowerShell, T‑SQL, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code.
• Support enterprise monitoring, alerting, and observability solutions tailored to SQL Server health, availability, and performance metrics.
• Establish operational standards, runbooks, and incident response procedures.
• Expertise in SQL Server replication across multiple databases; troubleshoot replication latency, distribution bottlenecks, and data consistency issues.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex database issues related to performance, connectivity, storage, security, and application integration.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of database migration and cloud transformation initiatives, with a focus on migrating to AWS (RDS for SQL Server, EC2‑hosted SQL Server).
• Implement database security best practices, including user access management, encryption, auditing, and compliance controls.
• Create and maintain automation scripts, monitoring solutions, operational procedures, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with software engineering, DevOps, infrastructure, product, and security teams to support business‑critical applications and modernization efforts.

Work Location Requirement

This position follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring employees to work onsite three days per week in Long Island, NY, Overland Park, KS, or Atlanta, GA.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 4 years' experience in a related field. The right candidate could also have a different combination, such as a master's degree and 2 years' experience; a Ph.D. and up to 1 year of experience; or 8 years' experience in a related field.
• Requires 2+ years of AWS database migration experience.
• Requires 5+ years of experience with Microsoft SQL Server database platform in the 10+ terabyte range.
• Strong hands‑on experience with SQL Server replication, including troubleshooting latency and consistency issues.
• Demonstrated experience with SQL Server upgrades, migrations, and patching across multiple environments.
• Solid understanding of Windows Server administration as it relates to SQL Server hosting and configuration.
• Proven experience with SQL Server clustering and high‑availability solutions (e.g., failover clustering).

Preferred Qualification

• Nice to have in Atlas MongoDB and PostgreSQL.

USD 121,800.00 - 203,000.00 per year

Compensation

Compensation includes a base salary in the range of $121,800.00 - $203,000.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.

Benefits

The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.

EOE, including disability/vets