SQL Database Administrator

Job Summary

We’re looking for a highly skilled Database Administrator (Level
3) on a 12‑month contract based in Pretoria or Durban. The role focuses on managing large SQL Server estates, ensuring high availability, performance, and scalability, and driving automation and modernisation initiatives.

• Design, implement, and maintain high‑availability and disaster‑recovery solutions such as clustering, availability groups, and replication frameworks.
• Develop and manage complex data‑movement and replication architectures.
• Monitor database environments and proactively address performance, stability, and reliability issues.
• Perform advanced performance tuning using execution plans, wait statistics, and profiling tools.
• Investigate incidents, conduct root‑cause analysis, and implement remediation strategies.
• Drive database automation initiatives using scripting and self‑service tooling to improve operational efficiency.
• Support infrastructure modernisation projects, including cloud adoption.
• Ensure database security, compliance, and governance through controls such as encryption, auditing, and access management.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, runbooks, and operational standards.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior database administrators.
• Participate in critical incident response and provide after‑hours support when required.

• 6+ years of progressive experience in database administration within enterprise environments.
• Strong expertise in SQL Server or a comparable relational database management system.
• Proven experience with high‑availability, disaster‑recovery, and replication technologies.
• Advanced skills in database performance tuning and query optimisation.
• Experience with automation and scripting (e.g., Power Shell, Bash, or Python).
• Experience with modern database technologies such as Click House, Foundation DB, LGTM stack (Loki, Grafana, Tempo, Mimir), Rybbit, or Valkey.
• Exposure to cloud platforms and modern infrastructure environments.
• Solid understanding of security, compliance, and data governance practices.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to manage critical incidents independently.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across technical and business stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player who values knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Flexible work arrangements and a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).

Zensar is an equal‑opportunity employer. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. Zensar is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities and reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities or religious observances.