Senior SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA)

About the Role

Join an international environment where you will contribute to the support and evolution of mission-critical Microsoft SQL Server platforms used by business and IT teams across Europe.

As a Senior SQL Server Database Administrator, you will be responsible for the administration, performance, availability, security and reliability of enterprise SQL Server environments.

You will operate in a production / BAU support environment, working closely with application, infrastructure, development and business teams, including French-speaking stakeholders.

This position requires strong hands-on SQL Server expertise, excellent troubleshooting capabilities and fluency in both French and English.
 
 

Your Responsibilities

• Install, configure, patch, upgrade and maintain Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Administer SQL Server environments across production, development, testing and Disaster Recovery.
• Monitor database availability, performance, capacity and growth.
• Analyse and optimise SQL Server performance, including queries, stored procedures, indexes, statistics and execution plans.
• Troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, locking, blocking, deadlocks and other production issues.
• Implement and maintain High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions.
• Administer technologies including Always On Availability Groups, SQL Clustering, Log Shipping, Replication and Database Mirroring.
• Design, test and maintain database backup and recovery solutions.
• Participate in Disaster Recovery planning, testing and business continuity activities.
• Support application development teams and business users across database-related topics.
• Develop and troubleshoot T-SQL, stored procedures, functions, views and triggers.
• Automate recurring DBA activities using SQL Agent, PowerShell and other automation tools.
• Implement and maintain database monitoring solutions, operational dashboards and technical documentation.
• Contribute to database migration, modernisation and Cloud adoption initiatives.
• Provide DBA expertise during production incidents, projects, upgrades and audits.
• Participate in production support and on-call rotations when required.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 8 years of hands-on Microsoft SQL Server DBA experience within enterprise environments.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft SQL Server, including SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019 and newer versions.
• Strong experience supporting production / BAU environments and mission-critical database platforms.
• Excellent knowledge of SQL Server performance tuning, optimisation and troubleshooting.
• Strong experience with High Availability and Disaster Recovery architectures.
• Hands-on expertise with Always On Availability Groups and good knowledge of SQL Clustering, Replication, Mirroring and Log Shipping.
• Strong experience with backup, recovery and Disaster Recovery strategies.
• Good command of T-SQL and the ability to troubleshoot stored procedures, functions, views and triggers.
• Good knowledge of Windows Server environments and Active Directory fundamentals.
• Fluent French, both written and spoken.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to communicate directly and effectively with French-speaking and English-speaking business and IT stakeholders.

Your Profile

• You have significant experience administering complex, business-critical SQL Server environments.
• You are comfortable independently managing production incidents and complex database performance issues.
• You have strong expertise in High Availability environments, backup strategies and Disaster Recovery.
• You are comfortable working in an international environment with both technical and business stakeholders.
• You demonstrate strong analytical, troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• You are autonomous, structured and service-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership.
• You value technical documentation, operational quality and robust processes.
• You are comfortable working remotely within multicultural and multilingual teams.

Additional Skills

• Experience with Azure SQL Database.
• Experience with Azure SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines.
• Knowledge of Azure Storage and Microsoft Cloud architectures.
• Experience automating DBA activities with PowerShell.
• Knowledge of monitoring solutions such as Idera SQL Diagnostic Manager, Redgate Toolset, SQL Sentry or SolarWinds DPA.
• Experience with Jenkins or CI/CD processes applied to database environments.
• Knowledge of VMware, SAN storage technologies and Windows Clustering.
• Experience with SSIS and SSRS.
• Experience with database migration and consolidation projects.
• Additional knowledge of Oracle, MySQL or PostgreSQL would be advantageous.
• Previous experience within insurance, financial services, healthcare, claims management or enterprise shared services environments would be an advantage.