Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) (MS SQL Engineer)

Dice is the leading career destination for tech experts at every stage of their careers. Our client, Xoriant Corporation, is seeking the following. Apply via Dice today!Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) (MS SQL Engineer)Role SummaryWe are seeking a highly experienced Senior Microsoft SQL Server DBA with 10 15+ years of enterprise database administration experience. This role is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle management of SQL Server environments, including installation, configuration, upgrades, patching, performance tuning, backup/recovery, and high availability architecture.The ideal candidate has deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, strong knowledge of enterprise database operations, and working familiarity with other major database platforms such as Oracle Database and PostgreSQL.Key ResponsibilitiesDatabase Installation & Lifecycle ManagementInstall, configure, and maintain enterprise SQL Server environments across development, QA, and productionManage full lifecycle of databases including provisioning, upgrades, migrations, and decommissioningStandardize database build processes and enforce configuration baselinesPatching & UpgradesExecute regular SQL Server patching cycles (CU, SP, security updates)Plan and implement major version upgrades with minimal downtimeValidate compatibility across applications and dependent systemsMaintain rollback and recovery strategies for all upgrade activitiesPerformance Tuning & OptimizationMonitor and tune database performance (queries, indexes, execution plans)Identify and resolve bottlenecks in CPU, memory, I/O, and locking/contentionWork with developers to optimize SQL queries and stored proceduresImplement indexing and partitioning strategies for large datasetsBackup, Recovery & Disaster RecoveryDesign and maintain backup strategies (full, differential, transaction log)Perform regular restore testing and disaster recovery drillsEnsure RPO/RTO requirements are met for business-critical systemsMaintain DR environments and replication strategiesHigh Availability & ScalabilityImplement and support high availability solutions such as:Always On Availability GroupsFailover ClusteringLog shipping and replicationEnsure database systems meet uptime and resilience requirementsProduction Support & Incident ManagementProvide Level 3 support for production database issuesLead root cause analysis (RCA) for database outages and performance incidentsCollaborate with infrastructure, application, and network teams during critical incidentsParticipate in on-call rotation for production environmentsSecurity & ComplianceManage database security, roles, and permissionsImplement encryption (TDE, data-at-rest, data-in-transit)Ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory standards (SOX, PCI, etc.)Automation & ToolingAutomate DBA tasks using PowerShell, T-SQL, Python, or scheduling toolsImprove monitoring, alerting, and maintenance automationIntegrate SQL Server with enterprise monitoring platformsCollaboration & DocumentationWork closely with application teams, system administrators, and architectsMaintain documentation for database architecture, procedures, and runbooksProvide guidance and mentorship to junior DBAsRequired Experience & Skills10 15+ years of hands-on experience as a Microsoft SQL Server DBADeep expertise in:Database installation, configuration, patching, and upgradesPerformance tuning and troubleshootingBackup/recovery and DR planningHigh availability solutions (Always On, clustering, replication)Strong T-SQL skillsExperience with Windows Server environments supporting SQL ServerFamiliarity with monitoring tools (e.g., SCOM, SolarWinds, Redgate, Splunk)Preferred / Nice To HaveExperience with additional database platforms:Oracle DatabasePostgreSQLExperience with cloud databases (Azure SQL, AWS RDS, Google Cloud SQL)Knowledge of ETL/BI tools:SQL Server Integration ServicesSQL Server Reporting ServicesExperience with automation tools like PowerShell and AnsibleExposure to DevOps and CI/CD pipelines for database deploymentsSoft Skills & LeadershipStrong problem-solving and analytical skills under pressureAbility to lead incident bridges and coordinate cross-team resolutionExcellent communication with technical and non-technical stakeholdersMentorship experience for junior DBAs and engineersCore Enterprise Database Ecosystem (Common in This Role)In addition to SQL Server, senior DBAs often interact with:Microsoft SQL ServerOracle DatabasePostgreSQLMySQLAzure SQL Database