Job Title: Database Administrator III
Contract Duration: 1 year, possible extension
Location: Columbus, OH
Work Arrangement: Onsite
Pay Rate: $50/hour + benefits
Summary
The SQL Server Database Administrator III (DBA III) is responsible for the implementation, configuration, administration, maintenance, performance, security, and availability of Microsoft SQL Server database environments across both on-premises and Azure platforms. This role supports enterprise applications by ensuring database systems remain highly available, secure, scalable, and optimized. The DBA III partners with development, architecture, infrastructure, and security teams to design database solutions, establish standards, support disaster recovery initiatives, and resolve complex technical issues.
Responsibilities
Database Administration & Configuration
- Install, configure, patch, upgrade, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments across production, staging, and development systems.
- Manage server storage, system databases, database files, and overall database infrastructure.
- Develop and administer Azure and on-premises Database Management System (DBMS) architectures.
- Administer Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server hosted on Azure Virtual Machines.
- Oversee database migrations, upgrades, and environment integrations.
Performance Monitoring & Optimization
- Monitor database health, system resources, storage utilization, and performance metrics.
- Perform database performance tuning through query optimization, index design, statistics management, and troubleshooting of blocking and deadlock issues.
- Configure and optimize DBMS platforms to ensure reliability, scalability, and efficiency.
- Support application development teams with database performance recommendations and best practices.
High Availability, Backup & Disaster Recovery
- Design, implement, test, and maintain database backup and recovery strategies.
- Lead the planning and deployment of High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) solutions, including:
- Always On Availability Groups
- Log Shipping
- Failover Cluster Instances
- Database Replication
- Manage replication processes and disaster recovery readiness.
- Participate in Disaster Recovery, Business Continuity, Incident Response, and emergency response teams as assigned.
Security & Compliance
- Implement and maintain role-based access controls (RBAC), user permissions, and database security policies.
- Configure encryption for data at rest and in transit.
- Partner with security leadership to enforce enterprise and regulatory security standards.
- Support compliance initiatives by implementing secure database architectures and access management controls.
- Utilize Azure Key Vault and Microsoft Entra ID for identity and credential management.
Azure Database Administration
- Configure and support Azure database backup, monitoring, migration, security, and disaster recovery solutions.
- Monitor database performance and availability using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics.
- Support hybrid database environments spanning on-premises and Azure platforms.
- Ensure cloud database solutions align with scalability, cost optimization, security, and business continuity requirements.
Development Support & Database Design
- Collaborate with development teams on database architecture, schema design, and data modeling.
- Review and optimize stored procedures, triggers, functions, and complex T-SQL code.
- Establish standards for data exchange, database development, and business intelligence initiatives.
- Recommend efficient database structures and data types for optimal performance.
Automation & Documentation
- Develop automation solutions using T-SQL, PowerShell, and command-line scripting.
- Automate routine DBA tasks including backups, monitoring, integrity checks, index maintenance, and reporting.
- Create and maintain technical documentation covering:
- Installation procedures
- Database configurations
- Security policies
- Monitoring standards
- Migration processes
- Backup and recovery procedures
- Development best practices
Collaboration & Leadership
- Collaborate with IT Architecture, Infrastructure, Security, and Application Development teams to deliver enterprise database solutions.
- Contribute to solution design efforts and business case development.
- Provide Tier III support and technical leadership for complex production issues.
- Mentor junior database administrators and technical team members through formal and informal knowledge sharing.
- Support strategic database planning and long-term technology initiatives.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field; or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience administering enterprise Microsoft SQL Server environments.
- Experience supporting both on-premises and Azure-based database solutions.
- Experience implementing and managing high availability and disaster recovery solutions.
- Experience supporting complex enterprise applications and mission-critical database environments.
Required Technical Skills
- Expert knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server administration and database internals.
- Advanced proficiency with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
- Strong command of Transact-SQL (T-SQL).
- Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) and ETL processes.
- Experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines.
- Knowledge of:
- Azure Monitor
- Log Analytics
- Microsoft Entra ID
- Azure Key Vault
- Azure Backup
- Azure RBAC
- Experience with database migrations between on-premises and Azure environments.
- Understanding of database networking, security, scalability, performance optimization, and HA/DR solutions.
- Experience with third-party monitoring and backup solutions such as Redgate.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing enterprise database architectures.
- Experience supporting business intelligence and data integration initiatives.
- Knowledge of enterprise security frameworks and compliance requirements.
- Experience in large-scale public sector, healthcare, or highly regulated environments.
Soft Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent troubleshooting and root cause analysis skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong collaboration and mentoring capabilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
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