SQL DBA

Location: Buffalo, NY (Onsite / Hybrid)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Experience: 8 15 Years

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced SQL Server DBA with strong Windows Administration exposure to manage, support, and optimize database environments in a high-availability production setup. The ideal candidate should bring hands-on expertise in SQL Server, Always On, Clustering, Performance Tuning, and Patching activities, along with strong troubleshooting and operational skills.

Key Responsibilities

SQL Server Administration

• Install, configure, and manage SQL Server (multiple versions)
• Perform backup, restore, recovery, and database migrations
• Design and maintain high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions
  • Always On Availability Groups
  • Failover Clustering

Performance Tuning & Troubleshooting

• Analyze and resolve database performance issues
  • CPU spikes, slow queries, blocking, deadlocks
• Optimize:
  • Queries, indexes, execution plans
  • Resource utilization (memory, tempdb, logs)
• Use tools such as:
  • DMVs, Query Store, execution plans

Always On & Clustering

• Configure and manage Always On Availability Groups
• Work with Windows Failover Clusters
• Handle:
  • Failover scenarios
  • Synchronization issues
  • Resolving state / recovery state troubleshooting
• Understand commit modes (sync/async) and architecture differences

Patching & Maintenance

• Plan and execute SQL Server and Windows patching
• Follow best practices:
  • Node-wise patching in clusters
  • Failover before patching
• Handle:
  • Patch failures and rollback scenarios
  • Compatibility validation in lower environments

Windows Administration Support

• Troubleshoot server-level issues
  • CPU, memory, disk, network
• Work with:
  • Event Viewer, system logs
  • Services troubleshooting
• Provide support for cluster-level and OS-level issues

Security & Access Management

• Manage database security
  • User access, roles, permissions
• Follow best practices:
  • Use AD groups instead of individual logins

Monitoring & Incident Management

• Monitor system health and performance
• Respond to incidents:
  • Failovers, outages, production issues
• Analyze logs to determine root cause
• Work with application teams for resolution

Required Skills

Must Have

• Strong experience in SQL Server DBA (8 years)
• Hands-on with:
  • Always On Availability Groups
  • Windows Failover Clustering
• Advanced performance troubleshooting skills
• Experience in patching clustered environments
• Strong production support experience

Good to Have

• Experience with:
  • Azure / Cloud database environments
  • Migration tools (Azure DMS, etc.)
• Knowledge of:
  • ETL processes
  • Replication / Log shipping

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Ability to handle production-critical incidents
• Understanding of high availability architectures
• Good communication and stakeholder management

Why Join

• Work on enterprise-scale banking / financial systems
• Exposure to mission-critical production environments
• Opportunity to work on modern HA/DR and cloud integrations

Summary

This is a critical SQL DBA role requiring hands-on expertise in clustering, Always On, and performance tuning, combined with Windows system knowledge, in a fast-paced production environment.