Senior Sql Database Administrator

Direct End Client: Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA)

Department: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)Job Title: SQL Server / Cloud Database Administrator (DBA) – Expert

Duration: 12 Months

Position Type: Contract

Location: 9120 Lockwood Blvd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Interview Type: Agency Interview

Work Arrangement: As per VDOT/Agency requirements Position Summary:-The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Information Technology Division (ITD) Tolling group is seeking an experienced SQL Server / Cloud Database Administrator (DBA) to join the Tolling Engineering and Operations Team. The selected consultant will administer, support, monitor, tune, upgrade, patch, and migrate SQL Server and cloud databases supporting VDOT's Tolling environment. The position will focus heavily on SQL Server database administration, performance tuning, high availability, troubleshooting, database migrations, and cloud database technologies. The consultant will also participate in help desk and application support responsibilities as part of the Tolling team's operational rotation. The selected candidate will work closely with Engineering and Operations professionals and will be expected to independently perform complex database administration and troubleshooting activities.

Responsibilities: -Administer and support SQL Server and cloud databases within the VDOT Tolling environment. Monitor databases to maintain and ensure database uptime, availability, and performance. Troubleshoot application and database issues involving connectivity, access, security, performance, and availability. Tune long-running SQL queries and database workloads. Diagnose and resolve deadlocks and blocking within production Tolling workloads. Analyze Extended Events, Query Store, and wait statistics to identify and resolve database performance issues. Perform SQL Server installations, upgrades, patching, migrations, and configuration. Support SQL Server 2022, SQL Server 2019+, and future SQL Server versions with failover clustering. Upgrade and migrate E-ZPass Virginia Tolling SQL Server environments, including SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019 migrations. Perform compatibility evaluations and utilize Query Tuning Assistant and Database Migration Assistant (DMA) during database upgrades and migrations. Tune Very Large Databases (2 TB+), including index optimization, long-running workload analysis, and minimizing resource contention. Design, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot SQL Server clustering, mirroring, and high-availability environments. Write, code, debug, and optimize Transact-SQL (T-SQL).Review and refine existing database tasks and processes to align with agency and team priorities. Utilize operating system scripting utilities to support database maintenance, diagnosis, and troubleshooting. Review existing database implementations and recommend, execute, or direct necessary technical changes. Work with Azure Cloud database technologies and cloud-based data platforms. Support and troubleshoot database connectivity, access, authentication, security, and application integration issues. Work with SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS environments. Apply data modeling principles to support database design and implementation. Provide application and help desk support as part of the Tolling Engineering and Operations team rotation. Collaborate with Engineering and Operations professionals to resolve production and operational issues. Communicate technical information clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Independently plan and accomplish complex database administration and operational tasks. Support continuous improvement of database environments, processes, and operational procedures. Follow applicable VDOT security, operational, and technology standards. Complete required continuing education at the contractor's own expense to remain current with VDOT technologies.

Required Skills: -Minimum 6 years of experience working with Microsoft SQL Server databases. Expert-level experience as a SQL Server Database Administrator (DBA).Strong experience with SQL Server database administration, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance tuning. Hands-on experience with SQL Server clustering, mirroring, and high availability. Experience working with large and Very Large Databases (2 TB+).Strong experience writing, coding, debugging, and optimizing Transact-SQL (T-SQL).Experience diagnosing and resolving deadlocks and blocking in production SQL Server workloads. Experience using Extended Events, Query Store, and wait statistics analysis for SQL Server troubleshooting and performance optimization. Experience with index optimization, long-running workload analysis, resource contention, and SQL performance tuning. Expert experience installing, upgrading, patching, and migrating SQL Server databases. Minimum 3–4 years of hands-on experience upgrading E-ZPass Virginia Tolling SQL Server environments from SQL Server 2012 to SQL Server 2019.Experience performing compatibility evaluations, Query Tuning Assistant analysis, and Database Migration Assistant (DMA) activities. Experience working on Windows platforms in support of SQL Server environments. Experience with SSIS, SSAS, and SSRS.Experience working with Azure Cloud. Minimum 1 year of experience with Azure, Snowflake, or Databricks; a relevant certification may be accepted in lieu of experience. Experience supporting SQL Server 2019+ environments. Experience with cloud databases, including Azure, Snowflake, and/or Databricks. Knowledge of data modeling principles. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively using standard requirements and design artifacts. Master’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent combination of skills, knowledge, and work history. Ability to independently perform complex database administration, troubleshooting, tuning, migration, and operational tasks. Strong communication and collaboration skills with Engineering and Operations teams.