Senior Database Engineer

Senior Database Engineer

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse and rationalise a 1TB+ SQL Server database, identifying redundant, obsolete, or high-risk tables and data structures.
• Map database objects back to application functionality to determine what is required, what can be archived, and what can be safely removed.
• Document and implement data retention and archival strategies aligned to business and regulatory requirements.
• Improve performance through indexing, partitioning, query optimisation, and schema refinement.
• Reduce single points of failure and improve database-level resilience.
• Strengthen database security (encryption, access control, auditing).
• Collaborate with developers to improve data access patterns and eliminate inefficient queries.
• Work closely with architects and SREs to ensure database design supports system reliability objectives.
• Safely promote database changes through development, test, and production environments using controlled release strategies.
• Ensure rollback and recovery mechanisms are in place for structural changes.
• Build on previous analysis rather than restarting discovery work.

Required Skills & Experience

• Deep hands-on expertise in Microsoft SQL Server.
• Proven experience analysing and optimising large enterprise databases (hundreds of GB to TB scale).
• Strong experience with query tuning, execution plans, indexing strategies, and partitioning.
• Experience designing and implementing data retention and archival strategies.
• Experience supporting large .NET Framework-based applications.
• Strong understanding of database reliability patterns (HA, failover, backup/restore validation).
• Experience deploying schema changes safely via controlled CI/CD or release processes.
• Strong understanding of security principles at the database layer.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve complex database issues under tight timelines.
• Knowledge of performance monitoring and telemetry tools.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working in hybrid or Azure-integrated environments.
• Familiarity with Well-Architected Framework principles applied to database systems.
• Experience reducing technical debt in legacy monolithic systems.
• Experience in regulated or secure environments.

• Reduction in unnecessary or redundant data structures.
• Clear understanding and discussion of database schema and business functionality.
• Measurable improvements in reliability and performance.
• Reduced storage growth and improved capacity planning.
• Safe, controlled promotion of database changes without production instability.
• Improved alignment between database architecture and system reliability objectives.