MS-SQL Database Administrator / Query Performance Optimiser

SQL Server Database AdministratorSummary

Location: London, UK, hybrid

Employment type: Full-time, permanent

Experience: 12 years

Salary: £65000–£85000 per year, depending on experience

Reports to: Head of Engineering

Role Description

We are looking for an experienced and highly skilled database administrator with excellent knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server, relational databases, and on-premises datacentre deployment of such technologies, as well as associated industry standards and best practices.

The database administrator will install, run, maintain, optimise, and support our Microsoft SQL Server environments deployed on servers physically located within our own datacentres. They will take ownership of the performance, security, and evolution of the production databases and data related infrastructure. Will play a central role in ensuring our large database ecosystem remains scalable, resilient, and highly available. Success will be defined by stable and secure database services: minimal outages, fast recovery, predictable performance, validated backups, high stakeholder confidence in operational readiness, and the ability to respond quickly to issues impacting critical business systems, .

Key Responsibilities

·        Administer and support enterprise SQL Server environments keeping core software platforms running smoothly, securely, and efficiently.

·        Ensure data flows reliably across products while protecting sensitive information and safeguarding business continuity.

·        Actively monitor, maintain, and fine-tune multiple production Microsoft SQL Server environments and databases, driving improvements in overall system performance with a focus on database performance tuning and optimisation.

·        Design and implement shared data solutions that unify information across core software platforms, enabling integrated reporting and intelligence.

·        Enforce strict database security measures, including role-based access controls, auditing, encryption, and patch management to maintain compliance with industry standards.

·        Design and test geo-redundant backup and disaster recovery strategies, alongside managing controlled database releases using modern version control processes.

·        Work alongside product managers, software engineers, and senior technical leaders to help align database architecture with broader product roadmaps and technical standards.

·        Establish proactive monitoring and alerting to manage capacity, alongside providing occasional out-of-hours support for planned maintenance or critical incidents when needed.

·        Analyse execution plans, indexes and query performance, and optimise T-SQL code including stored procedures, functions, views and triggers.

·        Monitor database performance, health and availability.

·        Diagnose and resolve production issues in real time.

·        Perform SQL Server upgrades, migrations and patching activities.

·        Support and administer SSIS, SSRS and SSAS environments.

·        Automate routine administration tasks in line with industry standards and best practices.

Required experience and skillsMandatory

·        Excellent understanding of the latest trends, direction of travel, technologies, technical roadmaps within the Microsoft SQL Server and RDBMS spaces.

·        Excellent understanding of database design and architecture concepts.

·        Excellent understanding of Microsoft SQL Server performance aspects.

·        Excellent understanding of Microsoft SQL Server data types and their implications in database design and architecture.

·        Excellent understanding of Microsoft SQL Server enterprise environments.

·        Excellent SQL Server Administration expertise.

·        Experience supporting large-scale database estates.

·        Advanced T-SQL development and optimisation skills.

·        SQL Server Performance Tuning and Troubleshooting.

·        SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).

·        SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).

·        SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS).

·        SQL Server Backup and Recovery.

·        Database Upgrades and Migrations.

·        PowerShell scripting experience.

·        Windows Server administration knowledge.

·        Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

·        Always On Availability Groups.

·        Good understanding of log shipping, database mirroring, and clustering.

·        Microsoft SQL Server replication technologies.

Desirable

·        Experience working in highly regulated or secure environments

·        Experience working with enterprise storage platforms

·        Change management and audit support

·        Data governance alignment