EDE SQL on Prem Engineer

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced EDE SQL On-Prem Engineer to provide proactive engineering support, database optimization, and incident prevention for enterprise customers leveraging Microsoft SQL Server in on-premises environments.

As part of our Enhanced Designated Engineering (EDE) offering, you will work closely with enterprise customers to design, deploy, and optimize SQL Server environments, ensuring high availability, performance, security, and compliance. This role is not just about troubleshooting-it's about proactively identifying risks, improving database performance, and ensuring scalable and resilient SQL Server deployments.

As a trusted advisor, you will assist customers in database administration, performance tuning, disaster recovery planning, security hardening, and SQL migrations while also providing feedback to Microsoft's SQL Server product teams to enhance SQL Server capabilities.

This is a remote-friendly position with flexibility to work from home.

Responsibilities SQL Server Architecture & Performance Optimization

• Design and maintain high-performance SQL Server environments, including standalone, clustered, and Always On Availability Groups.
• Optimize SQL query performance, indexing strategies, and execution plans to improve efficiency.
• Configure and maintain SQL Server Replication, Log Shipping, and Failover Clustering.
• Improve backup, recovery, and disaster recovery (DR) strategies for mission-critical databases.
• Tune SQL Server memory, CPU, and storage settings to optimize database performance.

Security, Compliance & Governance

• Implement SQL Server security best practices, including role-based access control (RBAC), encryption, auditing, and compliance policies.
• Ensure SQL environments comply with regulatory requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53).
• Secure SQL Server endpoints, connections, and authentication mechanisms using Windows Authentication, Kerberos, and TLS encryption.
• Configure and manage SQL Server Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Always Encrypted.

Incident Prevention & Monitoring

• Conduct proactive health checks, performance assessments, and security audits for SQL Server environments.
• Utilize SQL Server Profiler, Extended Events, and Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) to monitor and troubleshoot performance issues.
• Automate database administration tasks using PowerShell and T-SQL scripts.
• Optimize SQL Server Agent jobs, alerts, and scheduled maintenance plans.

Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership

• Act as a designated SQL Server expert, helping customers optimize and secure their on-premises database infrastructure.
• Lead SQL Server training sessions, workshops, and knowledge-sharing discussions for database administrators and developers.
• Provide technical recommendations on database migrations, consolidation, and licensing.
• Collaborate with IT administrators, application teams, and cloud architects to align SQL Server capabilities with business needs.

Collaboration with Microsoft & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Microsoft's SQL Server product engineering teams to provide feedback on database performance, security, and scalability enhancements.
• Participate in early-access preview programs and testing of new SQL Server features.
• Contribute to best practice documentation, internal knowledge-sharing, and SQL Server governance strategies.

Requirements

• 3 years of experience in SQL Server administration, database engineering, or performance tuning.
• 8 years working with MS Technologies
• English: B2 or higher
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex technical issues, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to non-technical end users, ensuring a smooth and efficient resolution of issues.
• Hands-on expertise with SQL Server 2014/2016/2019/2022 in on-premises environments.
• Strong experience with SQL query optimization, indexing strategies, and database performance tuning.
• Proficiency in backup and recovery strategies, log shipping, replication, and Always On Availability Groups.
• Experience with SQL Server security hardening, encryption (TDE, Always Encrypted), and auditing best practices.
• Proficiency in PowerShell scripting for SQL Server automation and administration.
• Ability to learn fast.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Certifications (e.g., DP-300: Administering Relational Databases on Microsoft Azure, MCSE: Data Management and Analytics).
• Experience with SQL Server migration strategies, including upgrading from legacy versions.
• Knowledge of SQL Server licensing, cost optimization, and compliance reporting.
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Reporting Services (SSRS), and Analysis Services (SSAS).
• Familiarity with SQL Server on virtualized environments and Hyper-V/VMware optimizations.