Sr. Microsoft SQL Server Database Engineer, Plano

About Us Data Analysis Incorporated (DAI) is the controlling entity of the O’Neil family of businesses, supporting organizations across global equity markets, healthcare, financial services, digital media, and insurance. We leverage technology and innovation to drive growth across our portfolio companies worldwide. Our teams build scalable, secure, and high-performing platforms that power mission-critical business operations. We value integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement, and we’re looking for engineers who thrive in complex enterprise environments. Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Database Engineer to design, optimize, and support high-performance Microsoft SQL Server environments that power critical enterprise applications. This role is ideal for someone with deep expertise in SQL Server architecture, query optimization, indexing strategies, high availability, disaster recovery, and secure database operations. You’ll work closely with development, infrastructure, security, and operations teams to ensure reliable, scalable, and secure database platforms. You will also contribute to modernization initiatives focused on database architecture improvements, platform resiliency, and scalable data solutions across hybrid environments. This is a hybrid position requiring 3 days per week onsite at our Plano, Texas corporate headquarters. Responsibilities SQL Server Performance & Optimization Design and optimize complex T-SQL queries, stored procedures, indexes, and database objects Analyze execution plans and troubleshoot performance bottlenecks Monitor and tune SQL Server environments using DMVs, Query Store, wait statistics, and enterprise monitoring tools Develop and maintain indexing strategies for high-volume transactional workloads Resolve issues related to CPU, memory, I/O, blocking, deadlocks, and storage latency Partner with engineering teams on schema design, query patterns, and database best practices High Availability & Disaster Recovery Implement and support SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, clustering, replication, and log shipping Develop backup, restore, and disaster recovery strategies aligned with business RPO/RTO requirements Conduct failover and recovery testing to ensure operational readiness Support resilient database architecture across on-premises and hybrid environments Security & Compliance Implement database security controls including encryption, access management, audit logging, and separation of duties Support compliance initiatives related to PCI, SOC 2, HIPAA, and other regulatory standards Manage technologies such as Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), Always Encrypted, and column-level encryption Operational Database Management Support database deployments and schema changes using structured release processes Work with version control and CI/CD tools such as Flyway, SSDT, and GitLab Investigate production incidents, identify root causes, and implement preventative improvements Monitor database health and performance using enterprise observability platforms Database Upgrades & Modernization Plan and execute SQL Server upgrades and migrations Identify compatibility risks, deprecated features, and remediation strategies Contribute to modernization initiatives involving scalable database architectures and reduced technical debt Evaluate appropriate use cases for relational, object storage, and NoSQL platforms Required Qualifications 5+ years of hands-on experience managing Microsoft SQL Server environments Strong expertise in: T-SQL development Query optimization Execution plan analysis Indexing strategies SQL Server architecture Experience troubleshooting production database performance issues Experience implementing SQL Server high availability and disaster recovery solutions Strong understanding of database security, encryption, and compliance best practices Experience supporting enterprise production environments Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience) Preferred Qualifications Experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databases Experience with SSIS, ETL workflows, or data integration pipelines Experience supporting cloud-hosted or hybrid database platforms Familiarity with monitoring tools such as: SolarWinds DPA Datadog Grafana Splunk Experience with automation, scripting, or infrastructure-as-code Familiarity with database CI/CD and deployment tooling Exposure to modernization initiatives involving microservices, NoSQL platforms, or service-aligned database design Compensation & Benefits Base salary range: $130,000 – $140,000 Target annual bonus: 10% Competitive benefits package Hybrid work environment Opportunities for professional growth and advancement What Success Looks Like The ideal candidate: Independently manages production SQL Server environments Has strong expertise in query execution, indexing, wait stats, and performance diagnostics Troubleshoots complex database issues with confidence and urgency Understands enterprise HA/DR architecture and recovery planning Balances modernization efforts with operational stability and risk management Maintains high standards for security, compliance, and reliability Equal Opportunity Employer Data Analysis Incorporated is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Pay: $130,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible schedule Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Professional development assistance Referral program Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance Application Question(s): Do you have a current or future need for Visa sponsorship to work in the U.S.? If yes, please explain. This is a hybrid position that requires on-site presence. Do you currently live within commuting distance to Plano, TX 75074? Do you have at least 5 years of hands-on experience administering and optimizing Microsoft SQL Server production environments? What is the largest SQL Server production environment you have supported? Less than 100 GB 100 GB – 1 TB 1 TB – 10 TB 10 TB+ Have you independently owned production SQL Server environments in a 24x7 enterprise setting? Do you have professional experience troubleshooting SQL Server performance issues using tools such as execution plans, Query Store, DMVs, wait statistics, or indexing analysis? Work Location: In person