SQL Server DBA

Job Title: SQL Server Database Administrator (Contract)

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Location: Chester - 3 days per week onsite

Contract: 12 months

Rate: £500.00 - £525.00 per day via umbrella company

The Opportunity

We're partnering with a leading global financial services organisation to find an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator. This role sits within a high-performing technology environment responsible for supporting large-scale, business-critical database platforms.

You'll work as part of a collaborative team ensuring database systems remain secure, highly available, and optimised for performance across a complex enterprise environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain SQL Server database environments, ensuring data integrity, security, and availability.
• Implement and maintain data models, database designs, and access structures.
• Monitor database health and performance, proactively diagnosing and resolving issues.
• Support high availability and disaster recovery solutions, including clustering, database mirroring, log shipping, and AlwaysOn replication.
• Perform database performance tuning and optimisation using tools such as SQL Profiler, Extended Events, Database Engine Tuning Advisor, execution plans, and Performance Monitor.
• Develop and optimise T-SQL code, including stored procedures, functions, triggers, and views.
• Manage backup and recovery processes, index design, and database capacity planning.
• Support SQL Server upgrades, migrations, and instance management.
• Troubleshoot and resolve database issues in real time within high-availability environments.
• Work closely with development teams on query tuning and schema refinement.
• Help automate routine database processes and maintain documentation of system changes.

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience administering Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Experience working with SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS.
• Hands-on experience implementing or supporting high availability solutions (AlwaysOn, clustering, mirroring, log shipping).
• Strong T-SQL development and optimisation skills.
• Experience troubleshooting database performance and capacity issues.
• Familiarity with ITIL service management processes (incident, change, release, and problem management).
• Working knowledge of Windows Server administration.
• Exposure to PowerShell scripting is beneficial.
• Experience with tools such as BMC Remedy and enterprise storage systems is advantageous.

Candidates will ideally show evidence of the above in their CV to be considered please click the "apply" button.

We use generative AI tools to support our candidate screening process. This helps us ensure a fair, consistent, and efficient experience for all applicants. Rest assured, all final decisions are made by our hiring team, and your application will be reviewed with care and attention.

Please be advised if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion, we may however keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you accordingly.