Sql Server Database Administrator

Role & responsibilities

We are Hiring Contract to hire

Experience 5-15

Location :Bangalore

Notice :Immediate- 15 Days

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with subject line as SQL Server DBA to mailme@ manasa.cp@techwisedigital.com

Preferred candidate profile

Experienced SQL Server DBA

Azure migration programme • Contract • Bangalore

Role at a glance

Location

Bangalore, India

Employment type

Fixed-term contract, 6 months

Joining

Immediate to 30 days notice preferred

Experience

5+ years as a SQL Server DBA, including 2+ years on Azure IaaS (SQL Server on Azure VMs)

Key focus

Hands-on build, migration and cutover execution, working to the migration plan and runbooks

Reports to

Senior SQL Server DBA / Database Manager

About the project

We are migrating our SQL Server estate to newly built, standardised virtual machines on Azure. The work covers designing and automating the build, migrating databases and server-level objects, and cutting over with minimal downtime, delivered in planned migration waves.

This is a fixed six-month engagement with no extension. All migration work, documentation and knowledge transfer must be complete within the contract period.

Phase

Timeline

Focus

Phase 1

Month 1

Assessment, standard build and automation scripts, pilot migration

Phase 2

Months 2 to 5

Wave-wise migrations and cutovers

Phase 3

Month 6

Hypercare, documentation, knowledge transfer and decommission support

Key responsibilities

Assessment and discovery

• Inventory source instances: version, edition, size, configuration, dependencies and criticality.
• Identify edition-specific feature usage and any feature, compatibility or version gaps, and report them to the Senior DBA.
• Document dependencies such as linked servers, SQL Agent jobs, SSIS/SSRS/SSAS, application connection strings and DNS aliases.
• Contribute to wave plans, runbooks, rollback plans and cutover checklists, and provide downtime estimates for each instance.

Azure VM build and post-build configuration

• Work with the infrastructure team on VM sizing, managed disk layout (data, log, tempdb), VNet/NSG, availability zones and storage performance.
• Install and configure SQL Server to the standard build: collation, MAXDOP, cost threshold, max server memory, tempdb layout, Instant File Initialization, Lock Pages in Memory, service accounts/gMSA and trace flags where needed.
• Configure Database Mail, SQL Agent alerts and operators, and maintenance jobs (backups, CHECKDB, index and statistics maintenance).
• Register VMs with the SQL IaaS Agent extension and set up patching, monitoring and alerting.
• Automate builds with PowerShell, dbatools and ARM/Bicep/Terraform. Automation is essential to meet the timeline.

Automation and AI-assisted delivery

• Use AI assistants such as Claude Code or ChatGPT to speed up PowerShell, dbatools and T-SQL scripting, build automation, troubleshooting and runbook drafting.
• Review, test and validate all AI-generated scripts and documentation before use. The DBA remains accountable for the result.
• Follow organisational policy on AI tool usage and data protection: never share credentials, connection strings, customer data or other confidential information with AI tools.

Migration and cutover

• Execute migrations using the method set in the plan: backup/restore, log shipping, distributed availability groups or detach/attach.
• Migrate server-level objects: logins (with SIDs), permissions, jobs, linked servers, credentials, certificates, operators and server configuration.
• Handle TDE certificates and keys securely, and fix orphaned users.
• Validate data after migration (row counts, checksums, application smoke tests) and share the evidence with the Senior DBA for sign-off.
• Carry out assigned cutover and rollback tasks within the agreed downtime window, keep the Senior DBA updated on progress, and provide post-cutover hypercare.

High availability and disaster recovery

• Build and support Always On Availability Groups on Azure to the agreed design: WSFC, cloud witness, listeners (ILB/DNN) and multi-subnet setups.
• Run failover tests and document the results.

Replication and CDC

• Migrate and reconfigure transactional, snapshot and merge replication across publisher, distributor and subscriber roles.
• Migrate CDC-enabled databases without breaking downstream consumers, and validate capture and cleanup jobs afterwards.

Backup and recovery

• Implement full, differential and log backups using Backup to URL (Azure Blob) and/or Azure Backup for SQL VMs, to the agreed retention and RPO/RTO targets.
• Run regular restore tests and document point-in-time recovery and DR procedures.

Security and compliance

• Implement least-privilege access using Windows/Microsoft Entra authentication and role-based permissions.
• Configure TDE, TLS encryption in transit, SQL Audit and Microsoft Defender for SQL.
• Apply security baselines (for example CIS), patching and vulnerability remediation.

Performance and validation

• Capture pre-migration baselines and compare post-migration performance.
• Use Query Store, DMVs and wait statistics to resolve issues, and review compatibility levels and statistics.

Documentation and knowledge transfer

• Keep the migration tracker, build documents, runbooks and as-built records up to date throughout, not only at the end.
• Take part in shadowing and walkthrough sessions with the permanent DBA team in the final month, and hand over scripts and procedures.
• Support decommissioning of the old servers.

Required skills

• Strong hands-on SQL Server administration (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022): installation, configuration and troubleshooting.
• Experience taking part in SQL Server migrations, including backup/restore based cutovers.
• Always On Availability Groups: setup, troubleshooting and failover.
• Replication (transactional, snapshot, merge) and Change Data Capture.
• Backup/restore and disaster recovery, including Backup to URL.
• SQL Server security: TDE, auditing, permissions and certificate management.
• Azure IaaS: VMs, managed disks, VNet/NSG, load balancers, Azure Monitor and Azure Backup.
• Windows Server and Windows Failover Clustering fundamentals.
• Strong PowerShell scripting; dbatools experience strongly preferred.
• T-SQL and performance tuning.
• Practical experience using AI assistants (Claude Code, ChatGPT or similar) for scripting and automation, with the judgement to validate their output.
• Ability to be productive from week one, with no ramp-up period.

Good to have

• Azure DevOps, Terraform or Bicep.
• SSIS, SSRS or SSAS migration experience.
• Azure Database Migration Service or Azure Migrate exposure.
• Ola Hallengren maintenance solution and monitoring tools (for example SolarWinds, Redgate, Grafana).
• Entra ID integration, Key Vault and Defender for Cloud.
• Experience building reusable prompts, scripts or workflows with Claude Code or similar tools for repetitive DBA tasks.
• ITIL and change management experience in large organisations.

Preferred certifications

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate (DP-300)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104)
• Any MCSA/MCSE SQL Server certification

Deliverables and success measures

• Standardised, repeatable VM build and post-build scripts by the end of Month 1.
• Migration of all assigned servers per the wave plan, with minimal downtime.
• Zero data loss, with validation evidence supplied for every instance.
• Up-to-date trackers, runbooks, backup and DR test results, and as-built records.
• Completed knowledge transfer and decommission readiness before the contract ends.

Soft skills

• Clear communication with the Senior DBA and with infrastructure and security teams.
• Ownership, and discipline in following change windows and documentation standards.
• Ability to work independently, flag issues early and meet fixed deadlines.