Senior MS SQL Database Administrator

Key Responsibilities

• Database Administration & Support: Monitor databases to ensure maximum uptime and availability. Perform SQL Server installations (including 2022 and 2025+ with failover clustering), patching, upgrading, and migrations.

• Performance Tuning: Tune long-running SQL queries, optimize indexes, and minimize resource contention in Very Large Databases (2 TB+).

• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex application and database issues related to connectivity, access, security, deadlocks, and blocking utilizing extended events, Query Store, and wait statistic analysis.

• Process Optimization: Review existing database implementations; propose and execute necessary structural or procedural changes. Refine routine tasks to align with agency priorities.

• Automation & Scripting: Leverage O/S scripting utilities to support ongoing database maintenance, diagnosis, and support.

• Team Collaboration & Support: Work closely with Engineering and Operations professionals, participating in the team's application support and help desk rotation. Communicate technical requirements and design artifacts clearly.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or an equivalent combination of skills, knowledge, and work history.

• Core DBA Experience: 6+ years of specialized experience as a Microsoft SQL Server DBA working on a Windows platform.

• High Availability & Architecture: Deep expertise working with large SQL databases, SQL clustering, mirroring, and high availability configurations, alongside strong data modeling principles.

• Specialized Tolling Experience: Minimum 3–4 years of hands-on experience upgrading E-ZPass Virginia Tolling SQL Server environments from SQL 2012 to SQL 2019, including compatibility evaluations, Query Tuning Assistant, and Database Migration Assistant.

• Cloud Experience: At least 1 year of hands-on experience with Azure, Snowflake, or Databricks (a relevant certification is acceptable in lieu of direct experience).

• Technical Proficiency: Expertise in writing Transact SQL (T-SQL) and exposure to the MS BI Stack (SSIS, SSAS, & SSRS).