Senior Microsoft SQL Platform Engineer

Staff Solutions; Oos-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 520,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Solutions is seeking a seasoned SQL Server DBA to design, implement, and maintain robust database environments across multiple client platforms in South Africa. Join a diverse team to optimise performance, ensure high availability with Always On AGs, implement backup/recovery strategies, and mentor junior engineers while delivering reliable, scalable data solutions.

You will automate routine tasks with PowerShell and contribute to capacity planning, security reviews, and ongoing

Qualifications

• Strong Microsoft SQL Server administration experience.
• SQL Server installation, configuration, and upgrade experience.
• Always On Availability Groups.
• Backup, recovery, and disaster recovery planning.
• SQL Server performance tuning and optimisation.
• Query optimisation and execution plan analysis.
• Advanced T-SQL skills.
• Windows Server administration.
• PowerShell scripting.
• Experience providing technical support in customer-facing environments.

Responsibilities

• Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Design, implement, and support Always On Availability Groups.
• Configure and manage SQL Server replication.
• Develop and maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimise SQL Server performance.
• Analyse execution plans and perform query tuning.
• Optimise indexes and database statistics.
• Conduct capacity planning and storage management.
• Perform SQL Server security reviews and implement best practices.
• Carry out scheduled maintenance, patching, and health checks.
• Support database migrations, upgrades, and infrastructure projects.
• Produce and maintain accurate technical documentation.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior team members.
• Participate in after-hours maintenance and support activities when required.
• Automate routine administration tasks using PowerShell and T-SQL.

Skills

SQL Server Administration

Always On Availability Groups

Backup & DR Planning

Performance Tuning

Query Optimisation

Advanced T-SQL

Windows Server

PowerShell Scripting

Customer Support

Replication & HA

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, upgrade, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments
• Design, implement, and support Always On Availability Groups
• Configure and manage SQL Server replication
• Develop and maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimise SQL Server performance
• Analyse execution plans and perform query tuning
• Optimise indexes and database statistics
• Conduct capacity planning and storage management
• Perform SQL Server security reviews and implement best practices
• Carry out scheduled maintenance, patching, and health checks
• Support database migrations, upgrades, and infrastructure projects
• Produce and maintain accurate technical documentation
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior team members
• Participate in after-hours maintenance and support activities when required
• Automate routine administration tasks using PowerShell and T-SQL

What Makes This Role Unique

You'll be responsible for supporting approximately 25 SQL Server environments across a diverse customer base. Each environment presents its own technologies, business requirements, and operational priorities, providing continuous exposure to new technical challenges.

You'll regularly work with:

• Multiple SQL Server versions
• Various backup and recovery solutions
• Different maintenance schedules
• Diverse storage platforms
• A range of third-party applications
• Different business requirements and service level expectations

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, continuous learning, and solving complex technical problems in different environments.

Requirements

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong Microsoft SQL Server administration experience
• SQL Server installation, configuration, and upgrade experience
• Always On Availability Groups
• Backup, recovery, and disaster recovery planning
• SQL Server performance tuning and optimisation
• Query optimisation and execution plan analysis
• Advanced T-SQL skills
• Windows Server administration
• PowerShell scripting
• Experience providing technical support in customer-facing environments

Advantageous

• SQL Server replication
• Windows Failover Clustering
• Disaster recovery design and implementation
• Enterprise storage platforms
• Azure SQL technologies
• Microsoft SQL Server certifications