Senior SQL Database Administrator

For a leading Islamic Bank, we are seeking a hands-on Microsoft SQL Server DBA with 7+ years of experience to manage SQL Server databases across Production, UAT, DR, and Development environments. The role covers operations, backup & recovery, HA/DR, performance tuning, security & compliance, automation, incident/problem management, and documentation/reporting. Basic Oracle knowledge is preferred to support small ad-hoc needs and coordination/escalation when required.Key ResponsibilitiesDatabase Administration & OperationsAdminister and manage SQL Server databases across Production, UAT, DR, and Development environments.Perform daily operational monitoring of database health, services, jobs, disk space, blocking, and performance indicators.Configure and manage SQL Server Agent Jobs (creation, scheduling, troubleshooting).Implement and maintain database standards, naming conventions, and documentation.Manage logins, users, roles, and permissions following the Principle of Least Privilege.Backup, Restore & Disaster RecoveryDesign and implement a comprehensive backup strategy (Full, Differential, Transaction Log).Configure and maintain High Availability (HA) and Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions including Always On Availability Groups, Failover Cluster Instances (FCI), Log Shipping, and Replication.Define and maintain RPO/RTO requirements.Participate in DR drills and document recovery procedures.Note: This scope will be done on the native SQL engine and does not include any work on backup tools.Performance Monitoring & OptimizationMonitor database performance using DMVs, Extended Events, Query Store, and monitoring tools.Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks (CPU, Memory, I/O, Blocking, Deadlocks).Optimize queries, indexes, execution plans, and statistics.Implement index maintenance and database integrity checks.Capacity planning and growth forecasting.Note: Monitoring will use either native engine monitoring or a customer-provided monitoring tool.Installation, Configuration & UpgradesInstall, configure, and patch SQL Server instances.Perform version upgrades and migration projects (e.g., 2016/2017/2019 to 2022).Apply Service Packs and Cumulative Updates.Harden SQL Server configurations according to security best practices.Security & ComplianceImplement database security standards (TDE, Always Encrypted, SSL, Auditing).Monitor and respond to security vulnerabilities.Conduct periodic security reviews and access audits.Ensure compliance with corporate and regulatory policies.High Availability & ReplicationConfigure and support Always On Availability Groups.Support Database Mirroring (legacy environments).Configure and support Transactional and Snapshot Replication.Troubleshoot synchronization and failover issues.Monitor cluster health and availability metrics.Automation & ScriptingDevelop automation scripts using T-SQL and PowerShell.Automate maintenance, monitoring, and reporting tasks.Maintain a version-controlled scripts repository.Incident & Problem ManagementProvide L1/L2 support for database-related incidents.Prepare Root Cause Analysis (RCA) documentation.Support critical production issues within agreed SLA.Coordinate with Application, Infrastructure, and Security teams.Required Experience & Qualifications7+ years of hands-on experience as Microsoft SQL Server DBA supporting enterprise production environments.Strong knowledge of backup/restore and recoverability on the native SQL engine (excluding backup tools).Hands-on experience with HA/DR: Always On Availability Groups, FCI, Log Shipping, and Replication.Strong troubleshooting and performance tuning using DMVs, Extended Events, and Query Store.Strong security background: user/role management, least privilege, and security controls (TDE, Always Encrypted, SSL, Auditing).Experience with SQL Server installation, patching, upgrades, and migrations (including upgrade paths to SQL Server 2022).Automation experience with T-SQL and PowerShell; ability to maintain reusable scripts in a controlled repository.Ability to produce clear documentation, runbooks, and periodic health reports.Preferred / Nice to HaveBasic Oracle administration exposure (monitoring, routine checks, backup validation concepts, and coordination/escalation).Experience in banking or regulated environments with audit/compliance practices.Familiarity with ITIL-aligned incident/problem management and RCA.