Sr. SQL Server DBA

Job Title: Database Administrator (SQL Server DBA)

Location: Columbus, OH (remote initially, may move to onsite later)

Employment Type: Contract

Important Requirement: Candidates must be local to Ohio. Interviews are held on Microsoft Teams.

---

About the Role

We’re looking for a senior SQL Server DBA to provide server administration for a State of Ohio agency. You’ll keep corporate applications available and running smoothly by implementing, configuring, maintaining and tuning SQL Server systems across on-premises and Azure environments. You’ll also serve as Tier III support for critical issues and mentor junior staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch and upgrade SQL Server instances across production, staging and development
• Monitor system health and tune performance: indexes, complex queries, blocking and deadlocks
• Design, test and run backup and recovery policies, and implement HA/DR (Always On Availability Groups, Log Shipping, Failover Cluster Instances, replication)
• Administer Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure VMs, including migration between on-premises SQL Server and Azure
• Implement role-based access control, manage logins and permissions, and configure encryption at rest and in transit
• Support developers with schema design, data type selection and code reviews for stored procedures, triggers, functions and T-SQL
• Automate DBA tasks with T-SQL and PowerShell (index maintenance, integrity checks, statistics, backups, monitoring)
• Build and support SSIS packages and ETL workflows
• Use Azure Monitor and Azure Key Vault for monitoring and secrets management
• Work with IT architecture, IT managers and the State CISO on solution design and security standards
• Write documentation, mentor peers and lower-level staff, and provide Tier III resolution for critical issues
• When assigned, serve on Disaster Recovery, Business Resumption or Incident Response teams, which may require 24/7 operations

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing enterprise-level Microsoft SQL Server environments, on-premises and Azure
• 5+ years of performance monitoring and tuning
• 5+ years of security and compliance experience, including RBAC
• 5+ years of developer support and code review
• Deep expertise in SSMS and SQL Server internals, and advanced T-SQL
• Experience with SSIS and ETL workflows
• Experience with Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure VMs
• Knowledge of Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Microsoft Entra ID, Azure Key Vault, Azure Backup and Azure RBAC
• Understanding of Azure database security, networking, scalability, cost optimization and HA/DR
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, and the ability to explain complex database issues to non-technical stakeholders

Preferred Skills

• Third-party monitoring and backup tools such as Redgate

eye