Senior Sql Database Administrator

For more details, please connect with Sagar Kaushik at sagark@vgroupinc.comor call at 609-371-5400 x 168

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.