SME - AzureMSSQL DBA, Microsoft Azure

We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Server Engineer to join our team in London. This role requires a seasoned professional who can combine deep technical database expertise with formidable team management capabilities. The ideal candidate can work independently, help drive database strategy, optimization, and administration.

• Technical Core Requirements:
  Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft SQL Server, including distributed Always On, and at least one open-source RDBMS platform (MySQL or PostgreSQL). Deep knowledge of database architecture, performance tuning, optimization, database design, backup/recovery, high availability, and disaster recovery.
• Cloud Database Expertise:
  Multiple years of production experience with AWS services such as RDS, Redshift or Snowflake, DynamoDB/Document DB; experience in migration, scaling, optimization, security best practices, compliance, and cost optimization.

• Automation & Scripting (Python, Power Shell, Ansible) and building automated deployment pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, monitoring solutions, and operational dashboards.

• Team Leadership: Mentor a team of Offshore Database Administrators, provide technical guidance and best‑practice recommendations, foster a collaborative, learning‑focused environment.
• Strategic Execution: Define and execute database strategy aligned with business objectives, establish standards, procedures, and operational documentation, drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with development teams, architects, and infrastructure teams globally, communicate technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders, participate in capacity planning and architectural reviews.
• Off‑hours Production Support: Participate in a rotation of one weekend every 8 weeks; major events may require all‑hands support.

• Experience: 8+ years of database administration with at least 2 of 3 relational databases (SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL), 3+ years in a client‑facing leadership or team‑lead capacity, 3+ years working with AWS cloud database services, proven history managing large mission‑critical production databases.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Advanced SQL programming and query optimization, partitioning, compression, database security, access control, auditing, compliance, active/passive clusters, Always On clusters, Azure Database (plus), performance monitoring, troubleshooting, data modeling, schema design, version control (Bitbucket).
• Soft Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, strong problem‑solving and analytical thinking, ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities, collaborative mindset with cross‑functional teams, strategic thinking with attention to operational detail.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or related field.
• AWS Certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Database – Specialty, Solutions Architect).
• Database vendor certifications (Microsoft, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL).
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and Dev Ops practices.
• Experience with monitoring tools such as Cloud Watch, Datadog, Grafana.
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and exposure to data warehousing concepts and ETL processes.

• Opportunity to lead and shape database strategy for a growing organization.
• Work with innovative cloud technologies and modern database platforms.
• Collaborative, innovative team environment.