Sr. SQL Server & Azure Database Administrator

Job Title: Sr. SQL Server & Azure Database Administrator Location: Hybrid; New York, NY (3 days onsite, 2 remote) Hours: 37.5/week (required 4 weeks unpaid vacation) Duration: 12+ Month Contract, likely extension Pay range: $95/hr (W2), depending on experience Interview: Could be onsite in New York, NY or remote via Teams (up to hiring manager). Likely 1-2 rounds of interviews Our Government client located in New York, NY is seeking a Senior SQL Server & Azure Database Administrator to design, implement, administer, maintain, tune, and optimize mission-critical enterprise database environments. This is a senior hands-on database engineering and administration role with a strong focus on Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Windows Server, high availability, database performance, security, backup/recovery, migrations, and automation. The DBA will be responsible for ensuring database platforms meet application availability, performance, security, and operational requirements while supporting both existing systems and future technology initiatives. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with application development, infrastructure, systems administration, networking, help desk, and other technical teams. This individual will also help establish database standards and best practices, evaluate emerging technologies, engineer database solutions, and provide technical direction to less senior team members. Key ResponsibilitiesSQL Server & Azure Database Administration Design, implement, configure, administer, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server database environments. Design, implement, and support Azure SQL Managed Instance environments. Perform SQL Server and database installations, upgrades, migrations, configuration, and ongoing maintenance. Administer database environments across enterprise infrastructure and cloud platforms. Monitor database availability, health, capacity, and performance. Troubleshoot and remediate complex database and infrastructure-related issues. Support database requirements for enterprise software applications and systems. Ensure database platforms meet established availability and performance objectives. Azure Cloud & Infrastructure Support database workloads within the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Administer and support technologies including Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Storage Accounts, and Azure security capabilities. Collaborate with infrastructure teams on Windows Server and database platform requirements. Coordinate regularly scheduled operating system and database patching activities. Support database infrastructure across Windows and, where applicable, UNIX/Linux environments. Work with systems and network administrators to coordinate infrastructure dependencies. Evaluate new database and cloud technologies and provide recommendations regarding their potential use within the enterprise. High Availability, Backup & Recovery Design, implement, administer, and troubleshoot SQL Server Always On high-availability solutions. Develop and maintain database backup and recovery strategies. Establish backup schedules and perform verification and recovery testing. Help ensure databases can meet business continuity and availability requirements. Maintain supporting backup, recovery, and operational documentation. Participate in database migration and infrastructure resiliency initiatives. Performance Optimization & Troubleshooting Monitor and optimize SQL Server database performance. Perform SQL and query tuning to improve application and database performance. Identify database bottlenecks and perform root-cause analysis. Troubleshoot database, operating system, storage, connectivity, and application-related issues. Analyze database workloads and recommend appropriate performance improvements. Collaborate with application developers to optimize database interactions and application performance. Provide both remote and onsite technical support when required. Database Engineering & Architecture Design and engineer database solutions and technical standards. Perform database administration activities involving data modeling, data process flows, migrations, security, and performance tuning. Configure and install database software, modules, and related applications. Support database architecture and infrastructure planning. Participate in technical evaluations of new database products and technologies. Assess the potential operational impact of introducing new technologies into a large enterprise environment. Contribute to the planning and coordination of database installations, upgrades, support, and maintenance activities. Security & Compliance Implement and maintain database security controls. Help ensure database environments comply with organizational security policies and standards. Support Azure and SQL Server security requirements. Maintain accurate system, database, and operational documentation. Ensure required records associated with database infrastructure and IT assets are maintained accurately and in accordance with established policies. Collaborate with appropriate technical teams on security remediation and platform hardening. Automation & Scripting Develop and maintain scripts used to automate recurring database administration activities. Use SQL and scripting/programming technologies to improve operational efficiency. Support shell scripting used for database administration and automation. Develop automation for database maintenance, monitoring, deployment, and administrative activities. Apply general-purpose programming and scripting capabilities to database operational requirements. Utilize Python for database or infrastructure automation where applicable. Technical Leadership & Documentation Develop and maintain database procedures, technical documentation, standards, and best practices. Provide advanced technical direction to less senior database administrators and technical staff. Guide team members in database installation, administration, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities. Collaborate effectively with developers, systems administrators, network administrators, infrastructure teams, and support personnel. Communicate technical issues, risks, and recommendations clearly to appropriate stakeholders. Help establish consistent database engineering and operational standards across the organization. Required Qualifications 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Microsoft SQL Server Database Administrator. 8+ years of experience installing, maintaining, administering, and supporting database products, operating systems, and related enterprise infrastructure. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline, or significant equivalent professional experience. Strong hands-on expertise with Microsoft SQL Server. Strong knowledge of Windows Server environments. Strong experience with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform. Hands-on experience with Azure SQL Managed Instance. Knowledge of Azure Storage Accounts and Azure security fundamentals. Experience implementing and supporting SQL Server Always On high availability. Strong SQL skills, including database troubleshooting and performance/query tuning. Experience with SQL Server installation, configuration, upgrades, and migrations. Experience developing and implementing database backup and recovery strategies. Experience with database security and enterprise compliance requirements. Experience troubleshooting complex database and infrastructure issues. Knowledge of database design, data modeling, migrations, and performance optimization. Experience working with operating systems and infrastructure supporting enterprise database platforms. Experience with scripting and database task automation. Strong analytical and logical troubleshooting skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to independently engi