Senior MS SQL Database Administrator

Senior MS SQL Database Administrator

Client: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
Location: Mechanicsville, VA 23116
Work Model: Onsite
Contract: 10/26/2026 – 06/30/2027
Interview: Webcam + In-Person
Background Check: Fingerprint-based background check required

Position Overview

VDOT ITD Tolling is seeking an experienced Senior MS SQL Database Administrator / SQL Server Cloud DBA to join the Tolling Engineering and Operations team.

The selected candidate will administer, support, upgrade, migrate, and tune SQL Server and cloud databases supporting tolling operations. The role will also include application and help desk support as part of the Tolling team's operational rotation.

The ideal candidate must have strong SQL Server DBA, performance tuning, database migration, and production troubleshooting experience, with specific experience supporting E-ZPass/Virginia tolling SQL Server environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and support enterprise Microsoft SQL Server databases in production environments.
• Upgrade E-ZPass/Virginia Tolling SQL Server environments from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019.
• Perform compatibility evaluations and use Query Tuning Assistant (QTA) and Database Migration Assistant (DMA) during migrations.
• Diagnose and resolve SQL Server deadlocks, blocking, and performance issues in production tolling workloads.
• Use Extended Events, Query Store, wait statistics, and other performance tools for troubleshooting and analysis.
• Tune very large databases, including 2TB+ databases, indexes, queries, and long-running workloads.
• Minimize resource contention and improve overall database performance and availability.
• Install, upgrade, patch, migrate, configure, and maintain SQL Server databases.
• Support SQL Server clustering, mirroring, and high availability environments.
• Perform SQL Server installations and support newer versions including SQL Server 2022 and future releases.
• Write, debug, and optimize Transact-SQL (T-SQL).
• Support and troubleshoot SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS environments.
• Monitor databases to maintain uptime, availability, security, and performance.
• Troubleshoot application/database connectivity, access, security, and performance issues.
• Use Windows/O/S scripting utilities for database maintenance, diagnosis, and support.
• Review existing database processes and recommend improvements aligned with agency priorities.
• Work with Engineering and Operations teams to troubleshoot complex production issues.
• Create and maintain standard requirements, technical, and database design artifacts.
• Provide clear written and verbal communication to technical and business stakeholders.
• Participate in application/help desk support activities as part of the Tolling team rotation.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of MS SQL Server Database Administration experience.
• 3–4+ years of hands-on E-ZPass/Virginia Tolling SQL Server experience.
• Experience upgrading E-ZPass tolling databases from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019.
• Experience with compatibility evaluations, Query Tuning Assistant, and Database Migration Assistant.
• 3+ years of experience diagnosing and resolving deadlocks and blocking in tolling production workloads.
• Strong experience with Extended Events, Query Store, and wait statistics.
• 3+ years of SQL Server performance tuning experience.
• 2+ years tuning very large databases (2TB+), including index optimization and long-running workload analysis.
• 3+ years of SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS experience.
• Experience coding and debugging T-SQL.
• 4+ years installing, upgrading, patching, and migrating SQL Server databases.
• Experience with SQL Server clustering, mirroring, and high availability.
• Strong experience working in Windows environments.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, communication, and documentation skills.

Cloud / Modern Data Experience

Candidates must have at least 1 year of experience with Azure, Snowflake, or Databricks. A relevant certification may substitute for the experience requirement.

Preferred experience includes:

• Azure Cloud / Azure Database Administration
• Snowflake
• Databricks
• Cloud database administration
• SQL Server cloud migration and support

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SQL Server 2019+
• Azure SQL / Azure database administration
• Snowflake
• Databricks
• Cloud database migration
• Large-scale production/tolling database environments
• Data modeling principles
• O/S scripting and automation

Key Skills

MS SQL Server DBA, SQL Server Administration, SQL Server Performance Tuning, E-ZPass, Tolling Databases, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2019, Database Migration, Database Migration Assistant (DMA), Query Tuning Assistant (QTA), Query Store, Extended Events, Deadlocks, Blocking, Wait Statistics, 2TB+ Databases, Index Optimization, T-SQL, SSIS, SSRS, SSAS, SQL Clustering, Database Mirroring, High Availability, SQL Server Installation, Patching, Upgrades, Azure, Snowflake, Databricks, Windows Server, Cloud Database Administration.

Pay: $50.00 - $54.00 per hour

Work Location: In person