Database Architect

Senior SQL Server Performance Consultant / Database Architect (Inside IR35)

📍 Glasgow (Hybrid)

📅 6-Month Initial Contract

💰 Competitive Day Rate (Inside IR35)

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server Performance Consultant to undertake a comprehensive assessment and optimisation of a large and complex SQL Server estate.

This is a hands-on role requiring deep expertise in SQL Server performance tuning, database architecture, query optimisation, indexing strategies, and operational best practices. The successful consultant will work closely with technical and business stakeholders to identify performance bottlenecks, improve database efficiency, and establish a long-term optimisation roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

Database Discovery & Analysis

• Analyse and document a SQL Server environment containing 1,100+ tables.
• Identify actively used and unused database objects.
• Review schema design, dependencies, and data flows.
• Assess data growth, storage utilisation, and retention strategies.

Performance Optimisation

• Query and stored procedure analysis and tuning.
• Execution plan review and optimisation.
• Index analysis, design, and maintenance.
• Blocking, deadlock, and wait-statistics analysis.
• SQL Server configuration and performance tuning.

Database Engineering

• TempDB optimisation and capacity planning.
• Data archiving and lifecycle management strategies.
• Statistics and maintenance plan review.
• High availability and disaster recovery recommendations.

Monitoring & Operational Excellence

• Implement or improve monitoring and alerting.
• Establish proactive database health checks.
• Create performance baselines and reporting.
• Produce a prioritised optimisation roadmap.

Essential Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of SQL Server administration and performance tuning experience.
• Proven experience analysing and optimising large, complex SQL Server environments.
• Advanced knowledge of:
• Query Store
• Execution Plans
• Indexing Strategies
• Wait Statistics
• Extended Events
• TempDB
• Locking, Blocking & Deadlocks
• Capacity Planning
• Performance Monitoring
• Strong troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Experience working within production-critical environments.

Desirable

• Oracle database administration and performance tuning.
• Experience with data archiving and partitioning strategies.
• Experience with monitoring platforms such as SQL Monitor, SQL Sentry, or Database Performance Analyzer.
• Experience within large enterprise or financial services environments.

Deliverables

• Current-state assessment report.
• Identification of unused and redundant database objects.
• Performance tuning recommendations and implementation plan.
• Monitoring and alerting framework.
• Knowledge transfer and supporting documentation.

If you have a track record of transforming SQL Server performance in complex enterprise environments and enjoy solving challenging database problems, we'd love to hear from you.