SQL Server Database Engineer – Contractor

We are looking for a SQL Server Database Engineer (Contractor) for a 6-month role with a global media company to administer, optimize, and secure SQL Server databases in a fast-paced, enterprise environment.

Role Overview: 

As a SQL Server Database Engineer, you will be responsible for the administration, design, development, and optimization of SQL Server databases across multiple environments. You will ensure performance, availability, and security for all database systems, collaborate with development teams to optimize queries, and implement best practices in database architecture and disaster recovery. You will also provide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performance Tuning & Optimization: Perform analysis and performance tuning, optimize SQL queries, indexing, and schema designs to ensure efficient database performance.
• High Availability & Disaster Recovery (HA/DR): Implement robust high availability and disaster recovery solutions such as SQL Server Always On, Log Shipping, Database Mirroring, and Replication.
• Backup & Recovery: Implement, maintain, and test backup and recovery strategies to ensure minimal downtime and data loss during disaster recovery scenarios.
• Database Security: Implement security measures, including user roles, permissions, encryption, and auditing to ensure databases are secure and compliant with organizational standards and regulations.
• Database Migration & Upgrades: Support efforts to migrate and upgrade SQL Server versions, ensuring minimal downtime and data integrity during these processes.
• Automation & Scripting: Automate routine database maintenance tasks using T-SQL scripts, PowerShell, or other automation tools to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
• Database Monitoring & Maintenance: Monitor the health and performance of production and development databases using tools like SQL Server Profiler, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), or third-party monitoring tools, and perform proactive maintenance to avoid performance issues.
• Collaboration & Troubleshooting: Work closely with developers, system administrators, and DevOps teams to troubleshoot and resolve database-related issues, including query performance, deadlocks, and locking problems.

Required Skills:

• Experience: 8-10 years of experience as a SQL Server Database Engineer.
• SQL Server: Experience with SQL Server 2016 and newer versions, including installation, configuration.
• Performance Tuning & Query Optimization: knowledge of SQL Server performance tuning, query optimization, indexing strategies, execution plans, and the tools available in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
• Security Management: Understanding of database security, including encryption, user authentication, role-based access control, and auditing.
• Backup & Recovery: Expertise in creating and managing backup strategies, and testing restoration processes to ensure data integrity.
• Scripts, and other automation tools to streamline database tasks.
• Monitoring & Diagnostics: Experience with SQL Server Profiler, Extended Events, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs), and third-party monitoring tools for diagnosing and troubleshooting database issues.
• Tools & Technologies: Familiarity with SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services), SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services), and SSAS (SQL Server Analysis Services) is a plus.
• Version Control: Experience working with version control systems (e.g., Git) to track database changes and deployments.