Sql Server Dba

Watershed Consulting; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Watershed Consulting in Durban is seeking an experienced SQL Server DBA with PostgreSQL exposure to own HA/DR, performance, and automation across enterprise databases. You will drive replication architectures, monitor complex estates, and lead incidents with root cause analysis.

The role emphasizes cloud readiness and security governance. Join a team focused on modernizing infrastructure, implementing automated runbooks, and mentoring junior DBAs in a high-demand environment near Durban.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive experience in database administration within enterprise environments.
• Relevant degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Strong expertise in SQL Server and proven experience with PostgreSQL.
• Proven experience with high availability, disaster recovery and replication technologies.
• Advanced skills in database performance tuning and query optimization.
• Experience with automation and scripting such as PowerShell, Bash or Python.
• Exposure to observability and modern data technologies and cloud platforms.
• Solid understanding of security, compliance and data governance practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across technical and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain high availability and disaster recovery solutions such as clustering, availability groups and replication.
• Develop and manage complex data movement and replication architectures across large database estates.
• Monitor database environments and proactively address performance, stability and reliability issues.
• Perform advanced performance tuning using execution plans, wait statistics and profiling tools.
• Investigate incidents, conduct root cause analysis and implement effective remediation strategies.
• Drive database automation using scripting and self-service tooling to improve operational efficiency.
• Support infrastructure modernisation and cloud optimisation projects.
• Ensure database security, compliance and governance through encryption, auditing and access management.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks and operational standards.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior DBAs and participate in critical incident response, including after-hours support when required.

Skills

SQL Server

PostgreSQL

High availability

Disaster recovery

Clustering

Availability Groups

Replication

Performance tuning

Query optimization

Execution plans

Wait statistics

Profiling tools

Automation

PowerShell

Bash

Python

Security and compliance

Data governance

Encryption

Auditing

Access management

Monitoring

Incident response

Root cause analysis

Technical documentation

Runbooks

Mentorship

Infrastructure modernization

Education

Degree in Information Technology or Computer Science

Tools

ClickHouse

FoundationDB

Loki

Grafana

Tempo

Mimir

Rybbit

Valkey

AWS

Microsoft Azure

Google Cloud Platform

Job description

Job Title

SQL Server DBA with PostgreSQL knowledge - Location: Durban (Work from office) -

Description

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator with strong PostgreSQL exposure to design, implement, and maintain enterprise-scale database platforms. The successful candidate will own high availability and disaster recovery strategies, performance optimisation, automation initiatives, and will support infrastructure modernisation and cloud adoption efforts.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain high availability and disaster recovery solutions such as clustering, availability groups and replication.
• Develop and manage complex data movement and replication architectures across large database estates.
• Monitor database environments and proactively address performance, stability and reliability issues.
• Perform advanced performance tuning using execution plans, wait statistics and profiling tools.
• Investigate incidents, conduct root cause analysis and implement effective remediation strategies.
• Drive database automation using scripting and self-service tooling to improve operational efficiency.
• Support infrastructure modernisation and cloud optimisation projects.
• Ensure database security, compliance and governance through encryption, auditing and access management.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks and operational standards.
• Provide technical mentorship to junior DBAs and participate in critical incident response, including after-hours support when required.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive experience in database administration within enterprise environments.
• Relevant degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Strong expertise in SQL Server and proven experience with PostgreSQL.
• Proven experience with high availability, disaster recovery and replication technologies.
• Advanced skills in database performance tuning and query optimization.
• Experience with automation and scripting such as PowerShell, Bash or Python.
• Exposure to observability and modern data technologies and cloud platforms.
• Solid understanding of security, compliance and data governance practices.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across technical and business stakeholders.

Skills

• SQL Server
• PostgreSQL
• High availability
• Disaster recovery
• Clustering
• Availability Groups
• Replication
• Performance tuning
• Query optimization
• Execution plans
• Wait statistics
• Profiling tools
• Automation
• PowerShell
• Bash
• Python
• ClickHouse
• FoundationDB
• Loki
• Grafana
• Tempo
• Mimir
• Rybbit
• Valkey
• AWS
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform
• Security and compliance
• Data governance
• Encryption
• Auditing
• Access management
• Monitoring
• Incident response
• Root cause analysis
• Technical documentation
• Runbooks
• Mentorship
• Infrastructure modernization

. Skillset Required: SQL Server, PostgreSQL, High availability, Disaster recovery, Clustering, Availability Groups, Replication