Job Description: Senior MS SQL Server & Azure Database Administrator (L3)
Location: Montreal, QC
Work Model: Hybrid
Experience: 8–14 Years
Employment Type: Full-Time
Primary Skills: Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, Database Performance Tuning, High Availability & Disaster Recovery
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior MS SQL Server & Azure DBA (L3) to manage, optimize, secure, and support enterprise database environments across on-premises infrastructure and Microsoft Azure.
The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience in SQL Server administration, Azure SQL services, advanced performance tuning, high availability, disaster recovery, database migrations, and production incident management. The role requires expertise in troubleshooting complex database issues, automating administrative tasks, improving database performance, and ensuring high availability and operational stability.
Key Responsibilities
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Administer and support Microsoft SQL Server across on-premises environments, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines.
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Perform advanced database performance tuning and troubleshooting using Query Store, execution plans, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs), Extended Events, wait statistics, and Azure monitoring tools.
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Optimize complex T-SQL queries, stored procedures, indexing, statistics, partitioning, TempDB, memory, CPU, storage I/O, and transaction logs.
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Troubleshoot and resolve blocking, deadlocks, query-plan regressions, and database performance bottlenecks.
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Establish performance baselines, monitor database health, forecast capacity, and implement measurable performance improvements.
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Manage Azure SQL automatic tuning, Database Advisor recommendations, service tiers, elastic pools, scaling, geo-replication, and cost-performance optimization.
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Design, implement, and support high availability and disaster recovery solutions using Always On Availability Groups, failover groups, clustering, replication, and log shipping.
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Manage database backup, restore, point-in-time recovery, and disaster recovery testing to meet business continuity requirements.
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Plan and execute database migrations, upgrades, patching, consolidation, and cloud modernization with minimal business disruption.
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Implement database security best practices, including least-privilege access, Microsoft Entra authentication, managed identities, encryption, auditing, and vulnerability remediation.
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Automate database provisioning, configuration, health checks, maintenance, backup validation, and reporting using PowerShell, T-SQL, Azure CLI, and infrastructure-as-code practices.
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Lead P1/P2 production incidents, perform root-cause analysis, implement corrective and preventive actions, and coordinate stakeholder and vendor communications.
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Maintain database standards, operational runbooks, recovery procedures, monitoring dashboards, and technical documentation.
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Mentor L1/L2 support teams and contribute to change management, release readiness, and continuous service improvement.
Required Skills & Qualifications
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8–14 years of relevant database administration experience, including strong L3-level Microsoft SQL Server and Azure DBA expertise.
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Advanced hands-on experience with:
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Microsoft SQL Server administration and troubleshooting.
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Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines.
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T-SQL development, query optimization, indexing, and execution-plan analysis.
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Query Store, DMVs, Extended Events, performance monitoring, and capacity management.
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Strong experience troubleshooting blocking, deadlocks, CPU and memory pressure, TempDB contention, and storage I/O issues.
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Proven expertise in high availability and disaster recovery, including Always On Availability Groups, replication, clustering, backup, and recovery.
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Experience with database migrations, upgrades, patching, and production change management.
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Hands-on scripting and automation experience using PowerShell, T-SQL, and Azure CLI.
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Strong production support experience, including major incidents, outages, root-cause analysis, and preventive actions.
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Understanding of database security, access controls, encryption, auditing, and compliance requirements.
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Graduate degree or equivalent educational qualification.
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Excellent communication, troubleshooting, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred / Nice-to-Have Skills
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Experience with Azure SQL automatic tuning, Database Advisor, elastic pools, geo-replication, and Azure cost optimization.
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Knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID authentication, managed identities, private connectivity, firewall configuration, and secrets management.
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Exposure to infrastructure-as-code practices and automated database deployments.
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Experience improving operational processes, maintaining runbooks, mentoring support teams, and reducing recurring incidents through automation.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a hands-on senior DBA with strong L3 production support capabilities, deep SQL Server performance-tuning expertise, and practical Azure database administration experience. They should be comfortable managing critical database environments, leading major incident investigations, implementing resilient HA/DR solutions, and driving automation and continuous improvement.
