Senior Database Administrator (DBA)

AES Global; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

AES Global is seeking a Senior Database Administrator to own our Microsoft SQL Server environments in a high-volume retail setting. You will manage installation, security, backups and performance, while guiding migration toward cloud platforms such as Azure SQL and AWS.

You’ll lead HA/DR design, implement automation with PowerShell, and act as the escalation point for critical incidents, including after-hours rotations.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of proven DBA experience, focused on Microsoft SQL Server.
• Deep expertise in T-SQL, SSMS and SSIS.
• Experience designing and managing HA/DR solutions.
• Solid security, RBAC and data governance practices.
• Backup, recovery strategies and regular restore testing.
• Collaborating with data engineers and developers on scalable DB architectures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee installation, configuration and maintenance of Microsoft SQL Server across the business.
• Proactively tune performance, resolve bottlenecks and optimise queries.
• Design, implement and test HA/DR solutions (AlwaysOn, failover, replication, log shipping).
• Manage security and encryption, ensure POPIA compliance.
• Maintain and validate backup/recovery strategies with regular restores.
• Collaborate on cloud migration toward Azure SQL, AWS, or other platforms.
• Automate routine tasks with T-SQL, SQL Server Agent or PowerShell.
• Serve as primary escalation point for database incidents, including after-hours.

Skills

T-SQL

SSMS

SSIS

Performance tuning

HA/DR

Security

POPIA

Tools

Azure SQL

PowerShell

Git

CI/CD

Job description

We’re working with an established retail business, and they’re looking for a Senior Database Administrator (DBA) to own its Microsoft SQL Server environments across the business.

You’ll take charge of database administration, performance, high availability and security in a demanding, high-volume retail environment, and help guide the move toward modern cloud data platforms.

What you’ll do

• Oversee installation, configuration, administration and maintenance of Microsoft SQL Server across the business
• Proactively tune performance — resolve bottlenecks, optimise queries and manage indexing
• Design, implement and test HA/DR solutions (AlwaysOn Availability Groups, failover clustering, replication, log shipping)
• Manage database security, role-based access control and encryption, ensuring POPIA compliance
• Maintain and validate backup and recovery strategies with regular test restores
• Collaborate with data engineers and developers on scalable database architecture, and support migration toward cloud platforms (e.g. Azure SQL, Microsoft Fabric, AWS)
• Automate routine DBA tasks with T-SQL, SQL Server Agent or PowerShell
• Act as primary escalation for database incidents, including after-hours rotations

What you’ll bring

• Extensive, proven DBA experience (6+ years), primarily in Microsoft SQL Server
• Deep expertise in T-SQL, SSMS and SSIS
• Demonstrated experience configuring and managing HA and DR solutions
• Strong performance tuning, query optimisation and execution-plan analysis
• Solid database security, user management and data governance
• Strong problem-solving and the resilience to perform under pressure during critical incidents

Advantageous

• Cloud database administration (Azure SQL, AWS RDS or GCP)
• PowerShell scripting, DevOps practices, Git and CI/CD for database deployments
• Retail, FMCG or supply-chain experience, and exposure to Databricks

Working model

Office-based in Cape Town.