Microsoft SQL Server DBA

Key Responsibilities

Administration & Operations
Install, configure, and upgrade SQL Server (2016/2017/2019/2022) across on-prem and/or cloud (Azure).
Manage Always On Availability Groups, Failover Clustering, Log Shipping , and replication where applicable.
Implement and maintain backup/restore strategies (Full/Diff/Log), including off-site retention and regular test restores .
Own security hardening : least-privilege access, AD integration, encryption ( TDE , backup encryption), auditing.
Maintain Agent jobs, maintenance plans, Ola Hallengren or equivalent , CHECKDB cadence, index and statistics maintenance.
Performance & Capacity
Monitor and tune performance using wait statistics , Query Store , execution plans, and index design.
Troubleshoot blocking/deadlocks, long-running queries, parameter sniffing, and I/O bottlenecks.
Capacity planning (CPU/RAM/IOPS/Storage), growth forecasting, and cost/performance optimization.
Automation & Monitoring
Automate routine tasks with PowerShell/T-SQL , and maintain infrastructure-as-code/scripts where feasible.
Operate and improve monitoring/alerting (e.g., SentryOne, SQL Monitor, Azure Monitor, Zabbix/Prometheus ), and create weekly/monthly health reports .
Reliability & Change
Enforce SLA/SLO targets, conduct root-cause analysis (RCA), and drive preventive actions.
Plan and execute patching/CUs with minimal downtime; coordinate change windows via ITSM/CAB .
Create and maintain runbooks, SOPs, and disaster-recovery documentation; participate in DR drills.
Collaboration
Work closely with application, BI/ETL, and infrastructure teams; advise on schema/index design and release readiness.
Provide on-call support in a rotation and handle priority incidents professionally.

Required Qualifications & Experience

5–8 years hands-on administration of Microsoft SQL Server in enterprise environments.
Strong knowledge of HA/DR (Always On AG, FCI, Log Shipping) and backup/restore strategies.
Proven experience with performance tuning : Query Store, DMVs, wait stats, execution plans, indexing strategies.
Solid T-SQL skills (scripting, automation) and practical PowerShell for DBA tasks.
Experience with security : AD/Windows authentication, roles/permissions, TDE , auditing.
Comfortable with Windows Server , networking basics (firewalls/ports), and storage fundamentals (IOPS/latency).
Track record of documentation , change management, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Good communication skills in English (Arabic is a plus, if relevant).

Nice-to-Have (Preferred)

Azure SQL (IaaS VMs, Azure SQL Managed Instance , or Azure SQL DB) administration and migrations.
Exposure to security/compliance frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, NCA-ECC) and data masking/subsetting tools.
Scripting beyond PowerShell (e.g., Python) for tooling and automation.
Microsoft certification (e.g., DP-300: Administering Microsoft Azure SQL Solutions , legacy MCSA/MCSE).

Education