Senior SQL Server DBA

About the role

As a Senior SQL Server DBA, you will make an impact by administering and supporting enterprise Azure cloud environments and Microsoft SQL Server platforms. You will be responsible for maintaining highly available, secure, and resilient infrastructure services, managing production support activities, driving operational excellence, and ensuring business continuity through effective monitoring, automation, backup, and recovery strategies. You will collaborate with application, security, and operations teams to deliver reliable and compliant IT services across global enterprise environments.

In this role, you will

• Administer and support Azure infrastructure services, including resource management, identity and access management, monitoring, governance, and operational support.
• Manage MSSQL Server environments, including installation, configuration, patching, performance tuning, backup, recovery, and capacity management.
• Monitor infrastructure and database performance, proactively identify issues, and resolve incidents to maintain high service availability and reliability.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring production issues.
• Execute production support activities, including infrastructure administration, service enablement, access management, and environment maintenance.
• Coordinate infrastructure patching, maintenance activities, upgrades, and configuration changes while adhering to change management processes.
• Implement and maintain SQL Server backup, disaster recovery, high availability, and business continuity solutions.
• Optimize Azure resource utilization and cloud spending through ongoing performance reviews, capacity planning, and cost-management initiatives.
• Develop and maintain automation solutions and operational scripts to improve efficiency, consistency, and service reliability.
• Partner with application development, security, and infrastructure teams to support new deployments, platform enhancements, and operational improvements.
• Maintain infrastructure documentation, operational procedures, system configurations, and knowledge repositories.
• Support compliance, audit, and governance requirements through accurate documentation, reporting, and adherence to operational standards.
• Drive continuous service improvement initiatives by analyzing operational metrics, identifying trends, and implementing process enhancements.
• Collaborate with global support teams to manage escalations, major incidents, and service restoration activities.

Work model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 3 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Atlanta, GA. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• 10+ years of experience in infrastructure operations supporting enterprise production environments.
• Strong experience administering Microsoft Azure services, including compute, networking, storage, monitoring, governance, and identity management.
• Extensive experience managing MS SQL Server environments, including performance tuning, backup and recovery, high availability, and troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting enterprise production environments, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service restoration activities.
• Proficiency with Azure monitoring, diagnostics, and operational management tools.
• Experience implementing and supporting backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.
• Hands-on experience with scripting or automation technologies such as PowerShell, Azure Automation, or related infrastructure automation tools.
• Strong understanding of ITIL-based service management processes, including Incident, Change, Problem, and Configuration Management.
• Experience managing access control, security standards, compliance requirements, and operational governance.
• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to support mission-critical systems in fast-paced enterprise environments.
• Experience collaborating with globally distributed teams in hybrid work environments.

These will help you stand out

• Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Database Administrator Associate certification.
• Experience supporting large-scale cloud migration and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) technologies such as Terraform, ARM Templates, or Bicep.
• Experience with Azure Cost Management and FinOps best practices.
• Knowledge of enterprise monitoring, observability, and automation platforms.
• Experience working in highly regulated, SLA-driven enterprise environments.
• Strong focus on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and automation-driven efficiencies.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role