Senior SQL Server Database Administrator

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Server Database Administrator with a strong banking or financial services background to manage, automate, and optimize mission-critical SQL Server environments. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in high availability, disaster recovery, and performance tuning with hands-on automation and cloud hosting experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain SQL Server database environments across production, DR, and non-production estates
• Design, implement, and manage High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions including Always On Availability Groups, Distributed AGs, replication, and mirroring
• Administer SQL Server failover clusters and ensure resilience of critical banking systems
• Automate routine DBA tasks such as provisioning, patching, and upgrades using tools like Ansible, Jenkins, Terraform, and ArgoCD
• Perform performance tuning and query optimization using Query Store, Profiler, and related tools
• Plan and execute SQL Server version upgrades, including in-place upgrades with AG, DAG, and Windows Failover Clustering
• Implement and maintain security controls including auditing, TLS, and access management
• Manage backup, restore, and recovery strategies across multiple recovery models
• Lead database migration projects, including cross-platform and cross-environment migrations
• Support hosting of SQL Server clusters on cloud platforms (OCI, AWS, Azure)
• Collaborate with infrastructure teams on OS and virtualization environments (Windows, VMware, Hyper-V)
• Write and maintain scripts using PowerShell, SQL/PL-SQL, Bash, or Python for operational efficiency
• Work within Agile delivery frameworks and manage multiple concurrent projects
• Provide professional communication and status reporting to stakeholders under pressure and tight deadlines

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or related field
• Relevant SQL Server certifications
• 6+ years of experience in SQL Server DBA roles within large organizations
• Prior experience in a banking or financial services environment
• Excellent knowledge of SQL Server database administration
• Excellent knowledge of automating routine DBA tasks (provisioning, patching, upgrades)
• Excellent knowledge of HA/DR options for SQL Server
• Excellent knowledge of SQL Server Always On cluster administration
• Excellent knowledge of performance tuning, query tuning, Query Store, and Profiler
• Excellent knowledge of SQL Server upgrades (in-place, with AG/DAG/WFC)
• Excellent knowledge of SQL Server security features (auditing, TLS)
• Excellent knowledge of backup, restore, and recovery models
• Excellent knowledge of database migration

Preferred Qualifications

• Good knowledge of designing and developing HA solutions (Always On AGs, Distributed AGs, replication, mirroring)
• Good knowledge of MSSQL features (SQL 2019 and higher)
• Good knowledge of hosting SQL Server clusters on cloud platforms (OCI, AWS, Azure)
• Technical knowledge of OS and virtualization (Windows, VMware, Hyper-V)
• Good knowledge of SQL and/or PL/SQL or PowerShell
• Good knowledge of Unix/Linux/Windows operating systems
• Good knowledge of Agile working practices
• Good knowledge of modern automation tools (Ansible, Jenkins, Terraform, ArgoCD)
• Good knowledge of scripting languages (Bash, Python)
• Good knowledge of other database platforms

Key Attributes

• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong professional communication skills
• Self-managed and accountable
• Ability to work across multiple projects simultaneously