About this role
Salary: £60,000 - 65,000 per year
Requirements: Proven experience as a SQL Server DBA, Senior Database Administrator or Database Performance Engineer.Strong Microsoft SQL Server administration and troubleshooting skills.Advanced T-SQL skills, including query optimisation and understanding of the SQL Server query optimiser.Excellent knowledge of execution plans, indexing, statistics and performance tuning.Experience administering and optimising multiple SQL Server instances.Strong understanding of Entity Framework and how application code generates SQL queries.Experience proactively monitoring and diagnosing database performance issues.Commercial experience with SQL Server in AWS environments, ideally EC2 and/or RDS.Understanding of AWS infrastructure, storage and networking considerations that affect database performance.Experience with database backup and recovery, high availability and disaster recovery.Familiarity with Always On Availability Groups and/or AWS Multi-AZ configurations.Experience planning for database scalability and growing data volumes.Scripting skills using PowerShell, dbatools or similar tools.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent communication skills and ability to work closely with software developers.A proactive approach, with the ability to work independently, prioritise issues and drive improvements through to completion.Beneficial experience with Redgate SQL Monitor, SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer (DPA), Datadog, AWS CloudWatch, Application Insights, Entity Framework Core logging, MiniProfiler, load testing, performance benchmarking, database partitioning, data archiving, large tables, high-volume databases, DACPACs, Flyway, Redgate deployment tools, or Microsoft SQL Server or AWS database certifications.Methodical, analytical and self-motivated, with an interest in investigating complex technical problems.Comfortable working directly with developers, challenging inefficient queries or application designs where necessary, and explaining technical findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Responsibilities: Administer, maintain and optimise multiple Microsoft SQL Server instances.Monitor database performance and proactively identify potential issues.Investigate slow-running queries, blocking, deadlocks, indexing problems and execution plan regressions.Use Query Store, execution plans, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) and Extended Events to diagnose performance issues.Optimise T-SQL queries, indexing strategies, database statistics and SQL Server configuration.Investigate SQL generated by Entity Framework, identifying N+1 queries, excessive data retrieval and inefficient application-to-database interactions.Collaborate with software developers to resolve application-level and database-level performance bottlenecks.Plan and implement database improvements to support increasing customer numbers and data volumes.Support SQL Server environments hosted on AWS, including EC2 and/or RDS.Evaluate database sizing, storage, infrastructure performance and cost efficiency.Maintain backup, recovery, high availability and disaster recovery processes.Support SQL Server Always On Availability Groups and relevant AWS resilience configurations.Lead technical investigations during database performance incidents and deliver permanent fixes.Develop monitoring, dashboards and alerts to identify performance issues before they affect users.Automate routine administration and maintenance tasks using PowerShell and related tools.Maintain documentation covering database configuration, performance, resilience and operational procedures.Proactively monitor database health, identify performance bottlenecks, and use evidence to recommend and implement improvements.Take ownership and initiative to improve the reliability and performance of business-critical systems. Technologies: AWSCloudWatchDatadogEC2FlywaySupportPowerShellRedgateSQLCloud More:
We are seeking a Senior SQL Server Database Administrator to take ownership of database performance, reliability and optimisation across our AWS environment. Youll work closely with software developers and technical stakeholders, with significant autonomy to shape database standards, monitoring and long-term performance strategy. This is a full-time, permanent, on-site role in Birmingham, with a salary of £60,000–£65,000 depending on experience. The role offers the opportunity to become the primary specialist responsible for database performance and to influence scalability, reliability and resilience across SQL Server, AWS and modern application architecture. We are unable to provide sponsorship; candidates must be based in the UK.
last updated 42 week of 2026