Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA)

Job Title: Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA)

Location: Richmond, VA

Employment Type: Contract

End Date: 06/30/2027

Experience Required: 8+ years

Primary Technology: Microsoft SQL Server

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a Senior Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA) to support database administration, migration, troubleshooting, backup/recovery, monitoring, and day-to-day production support activities.

The DBA will play a key role in migrating existing databases from an end-of-life hosted/hardware platform to a new SQL Server environment. The role will also be responsible for post-migration validation, production database support, incident response, troubleshooting, backup/recovery, and database maintenance .

The ideal candidate will have extensive hands-on experience administering Microsoft SQL Server in production environments , with strong troubleshooting and database migration experience. Experience with Oracle databases is a plus, but Microsoft SQL Server will be the primary focus.

Key Responsibilities

• SQL Server Administration
• Administer and manage production Microsoft SQL Server databases .
• Perform day-to-day database administration, maintenance, monitoring, and support.
• Support SQL Server environments ranging from SQL Server 2008 through SQL Server 2019 .
• Perform database configuration, deployment, upgrades, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Provide day-to-day break/fix and incident response support for the SQL Server environment.
• Monitor database health, availability, performance, and capacity.
• Troubleshoot database, connectivity, performance, and system-related issues.

Database Migration & Validation

• Support the migration of existing databases from legacy/end-of-life platforms to new hosted or hardware environments.
• Perform database migrations, upgrades, and related configuration activities.
• Validate databases and applications following migration to ensure functionality and data integrity.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues identified during or after migration.
• Assist with ongoing SQL platform migration initiatives.

Backup, Recovery & Disaster Recovery

• Manage database backup and recovery processes.
• Perform production database backups, restores, and recoveries as required.
• Monitor backup jobs and troubleshoot backup/recovery failures.
• Validate backup integrity and ensure databases can be successfully restored when required.
• Support recovery activities during production incidents.

Security & Access Management

• Perform database security assessments and reviews.
• Manage and review database access, permissions, and security configurations.
• Ensure database administration practices align with security and access requirements.
• Assist with identifying and resolving database security issues.

Troubleshooting & Production Support

• Provide advanced troubleshooting and root-cause analysis for SQL Server issues.
• Respond to production incidents and service requests in a timely manner.
• Diagnose database performance, availability, connectivity, and configuration issues.
• Work closely with infrastructure, application, and project teams to resolve technical issues.
• Provide customer-facing and team-based technical support as required.

Documentation & Process

• Maintain accurate technical documentation related to database administration and support activities.
• Document migration procedures, configurations, troubleshooting steps, and operational processes.
• Ensure project and workload documentation is accurate, complete, timely, and properly maintained.
• Follow established database administration, change management, and operational procedures.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• 8+ years of experience administering Microsoft SQL Server databases in production environments.
• 8+ years of advanced SQL Server troubleshooting experience.
• 5+ years of experience with database backup, recovery, and monitoring.
• 5+ years of experience with database security assessment, administration, and access management.
• 5+ years of experience designing, configuring, deploying, troubleshooting, administering, and maintaining database systems.
• 5+ years of experience maintaining technical documentation and following established processes.
• 8+ years of experience communicating effectively within technical teams and in customer-facing environments.
• Hands-on experience with database migration and post-migration validation .
• Strong experience with SQL Server backup, restore, and recovery .
• Experience supporting production databases in a highly available and performance-sensitive environment.
• Strong incident response, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Oracle database administration is a plus.
• Experience migrating databases from end-of-life hardware or hosted platforms .
• Experience with SQL Server performance tuning and optimization.
• Experience supporting dedicated SQL Server hardware/platform environments.
• Experience with large-scale database migration projects.
• Experience working in enterprise or government environments.

Technical Environment

• Microsoft SQL Server 2008-2019
• Production SQL Server environments
• Database backup and recovery
• Database monitoring
• Database security and access management
• Database migration and validation
• SQL Server troubleshooting and performance management
• Oracle - nice to have