Job Description

About Us

Data Analysis Incorporated (DAI) is the controlling entity of the O’Neil family of businesses. DAI and its subsidiaries operate in diverse industries worldwide, including global equity markets, health care, financial services, digital news, and insurance. Our global footprint allows our teams to be responsive to customer needs in a timely and efficient manner. We are dedicated to using technology and innovation to bring change and growth to our businesses. We believe in a dynamic workplace, creating engaging, informative products and services that help our customers succeed. Integrity is an essential characteristic for our firms and our associates; if this describes you, please apply!

Summary

The Senior Database Engineer is responsible for designing, optimizing, and maintaining high-performance database systems that support critical business applications. This role requires deep expertise in Microsoft SQL Server architecture, performance tuning, and production operations, with the ability to diagnose complex database performance issues and maintain highly available database environments.

The engineer will work closely with development, infrastructure, and operations teams to design scalable database solutions, troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, and ensure reliable data platform operations. This position requires hands-on experience managing production database environments, implementing high availability and disaster recovery solutions, and maintaining strong security and compliance standards.

Key Responsibilities

SQL Server Architecture & Performance Optimization

• Design, develop, and optimize complex T-SQL queries, stored procedures, and database objects to support application performance and scalability.
• Analyze SQL Server execution plans and tune queries using advanced performance diagnostics tools and methodologies.
• Investigate and resolve performance issues using SQL Server DMVs, wait statistics, and query analysis tools.
• Implement effective indexing strategies including clustered, nonclustered, and filtered indexes while balancing read performance with write overhead.
• Monitor long-running transactions and optimize query performance through indexing improvements and optimized query design.
• Diagnose and resolve database bottlenecks including CPU contention, I/O latency, memory pressure, and query inefficiencies.
• Troubleshoot and resolve concurrency issues such as blocking, deadlocks, and transaction conflicts in high-transaction environments.
• High Availability & Disaster Recovery
• Design, implement, and maintain SQL Server high availability solutions, including Always On Availability Groups, clustering, and log shipping.
• Manage failover configurations and ensure database resilience during outages.
• Develop and maintain enterprise backup and restore strategies for large and high-transaction databases.
• Design and test disaster recovery procedures aligned with RPO and RTO requirements.
• Conduct regular recovery validation and failover testing to ensure operational readiness.

Security & Compliance

• Implement and maintain database security practices including encryption, access controls, and audit logging.
• Manage and support encryption technologies such as Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), Always Encrypted, and column-level encryption.
• Support security and compliance initiatives involving data classification and regulatory requirements (PCI, SOC2, HIPAA, etc.).
• Ensure appropriate separation of duties between development and database administration roles.

Operational Database Management

• Deploy database schema changes safely using structured release and change management processes.
• Support database version control and deployment frameworks (e.g., Flyway, SSDT, or similar tools).
• Monitor and maintain production databases using both native SQL Server monitoring tools and enterprise observability platforms.
• Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on database design, query optimization, and performance best practices.
• Investigate and resolve production database incidents and implement preventive improvements.

Database Upgrades & Platform Evolution

• Plan and execute SQL Server upgrades and migrations, including transitions from legacy SQL Server versions to modern releases.
• Identify upgrade blockers and plan remediation strategies.
• Support modernization initiatives involving database platform improvements and architecture optimization.

Cloud & Hybrid Environments

• Experience supporting SQL Server deployments on AWS EC2 or Amazon RDS.
• Familiarity with AWS database operations including snapshot backups and parameter groups.
• Exposure to cloud migration strategies for SQL Server workloads.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience managing and optimizing Microsoft SQL Server environments
• Strong expertise in T-SQL development, performance tuning, and database architecture
• Experience diagnosing database performance issues using DMVs, wait statistics, and execution plan analysis
• Experience implementing high availability solutions such as Always On Availability Groups
• Experience designing and maintaining enterprise backup and disaster recovery strategies
• Strong troubleshooting skills in high-transaction production environments
• Experience supporting database security, access control, and compliance practices
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PostgreSQL environments
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
• Familiarity with cloud database platforms (AWS EC2 / RDS)
• Experience with database monitoring and observability tools (Datadog, SolarWinds DPA, etc.)
• Knowledge of database automation or scripting languages

What Success Looks Like in This Role

The ideal candidate:

• Can own production SQL Server environments independently
• Has deep understanding of query execution, indexing, wait stats, and performance diagnostics
• Can troubleshoot complex database issues such as deadlocks, blocking, CPU spikes, and storage latency
• Understands high availability architecture, backup strategies, and disaster recovery planning
• Maintains strong security and compliance standards for enterprise databases

Working Conditions

Must be able to perform essential job duties. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods (66%+ each work day), the ability to hear the telephone, the ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift to 10 pounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Data Analysis Inc is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.