Senior SQL Server Database Administrator
GSSTech Group · Bengaluru
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Server Database Administrator with a strong banking or financial services background to manage, automate, and optimize mission-critical SQL Server environments. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in high availability, disaster recovery, and performance tuning with hands-on automation and cloud hosting experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Administer and maintain SQL Server database environments across production, DR, and non-production estates
- Design, implement, and manage High Availability and Disaster Recovery solutions including Always On Availability Groups, Distributed AGs, replication, and mirroring
- Administer SQL Server failover clusters and ensure resilience of critical banking systems
- Automate routine DBA tasks such as provisioning, patching, and upgrades using tools like Ansible, Jenkins, Terraform, and ArgoCD
- Perform performance tuning and query optimization using Query Store, Profiler, and related tools
- Plan and execute SQL Server version upgrades, including in-place upgrades with AG, DAG, and Windows Failover Clustering
- Implement and maintain security controls including auditing, TLS, and access management
- Manage backup, restore, and recovery strategies across multiple recovery models
- Lead database migration projects, including cross-platform and cross-environment migrations
- Support hosting of SQL Server clusters on cloud platforms (OCI, AWS, Azure)
- Collaborate with infrastructure teams on OS and virtualization environments (Windows, VMware, Hyper-V)
- Write and maintain scripts using PowerShell, SQL/PL-SQL, Bash, or Python for operational efficiency
- Work within Agile delivery frameworks and manage multiple concurrent projects
- Provide professional communication and status reporting to stakeholders under pressure and tight deadlines
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science or related field
- Relevant SQL Server certifications
- 6+ years of experience in SQL Server DBA roles within large organizations
- Prior experience in a banking or financial services environment
- Excellent knowledge of SQL Server database administration
- Excellent knowledge of automating routine DBA tasks (provisioning, patching, upgrades)
- Excellent knowledge of HA/DR options for SQL Server
- Excellent knowledge of SQL Server Always On cluster administration
- Excellent knowledge of performance tuning, query tuning, Query Store, and Profiler
- Excellent knowledge of SQL Server upgrades (in-place, with AG/DAG/WFC)
- Excellent knowledge of SQL Server security features (auditing, TLS)
- Excellent knowledge of backup, restore, and recovery models
- Excellent knowledge of database migration
Preferred Qualifications
- Good knowledge of designing and developing HA solutions (Always On AGs, Distributed AGs, replication, mirroring)
- Good knowledge of MSSQL features (SQL 2019 and higher)
- Good knowledge of hosting SQL Server clusters on cloud platforms (OCI, AWS, Azure)
- Technical knowledge of OS and virtualization (Windows, VMware, Hyper-V)
- Good knowledge of SQL and/or PL/SQL or PowerShell
- Good knowledge of Unix/Linux/Windows operating systems
- Good knowledge of Agile working practices
- Good knowledge of modern automation tools (Ansible, Jenkins, Terraform, ArgoCD)
- Good knowledge of scripting languages (Bash, Python)
- Good knowledge of other database platforms
Key Attributes
- Ability to work under pressure
- Strong professional communication skills
- Self-managed and accountable
- Ability to work across multiple projects simultaneously