We are seeking an Azure Data Administrator who owns the reliability, performance, security, and cost efficiency of SQL-based data platforms running in Microsoft Azure.

This role blends traditional DBA judgment with cloud-native execution. You will manage SQL workloads end-to-end: from architecture decisions and performance tuning to backups, restores, security, and cost governance.

This is not a pure infrastructure role and not a pure development role. You are the accountable steward of data platforms in Azure.

You are the person the organization relies on when data availability, performance, or integrity actually matters.

Pay is negotiable based upon experience match.

This is a full-time remote position with after-hours on-call responsibility for emergencies. Position is for W2 employees only, and requires US Citizenship, OIG/GSA clearance, 7 year multi-state criminal background check, and drug screen. No 1099 or C2C candidates will be considered.

Core Responsibilities

Database Administration (Foundational)

• Administer and support:
  • SQL Server (Azure IaaS)
  • Azure SQL Database
  • Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Performance tuning:
  • query optimization
  • index strategy
  • execution plan analysis
• Design and validate:
  • backup and restore strategies
  • point-in-time recovery
  • retention policies
• Own HA/DR:
  • failover groups
  • geo-replication
  • business continuity testing (not just configuration)

Azure Platform Ownership (Database-Focused)

• Design and manage Azure database architectures:
  • vCore vs DTU sizing
  • elastic pools vs single databases
  • regional and zone placement
• Cost governance:
  • right-sizing databases
  • monitoring and reducing waste
  • advising teams on cost/performance tradeoffs
• Security:
  • Azure AD authentication
  • role-based access control
  • encryption, auditing, and compliance controls
• Networking:
  • private endpoints
  • VNet integration
  • secure connectivity patterns

Operations & Reliability

• Monitor performance and availability using:
  • Azure Monitor
  • Log Analytics
  • custom alerts and dashboards
• Participate in incident response:
  • root-cause analysis
  • recovery execution
  • prevention improvements
• Regularly test:
  • restores
  • failover scenarios
  • upgrade paths

Collaboration & Advisory

• Partner with:
  • application developers
  • Azure administrators
  • security and compliance teams
• Advise on:
  • schema design
  • query patterns
  • workload placement
• Translate application requirements into sound database architecture

What This Role Is Not

• Not a general Azure tenant administrator
• Not a data engineer building pipelines
• Not a developer writing application code
• Not a “set it and forget it” managed service babysitter
• Not a staff management position. This is active, hands on application and data support.

What Success Looks Like

• Databases are fast, reliable, secure, and recoverable
• Costs are understood and defensible
• Outages are rare and well-handled
• Restores are tested, not assumed
• Developers trust your guidance
• Leadership trusts your risk assessments

 Required Skills & Experience Must Have

• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • SQL Server internals
  • query tuning and indexing
  • backup/restore and recovery scenarios
• Practical experience administering SQL workloads in Azure
• Clear understanding of:
  • IaaS vs PaaS tradeoffs
  • database cost drivers in Azure
  • security best practices for data platforms
• Ability to diagnose problems across:
  • application behavior
  • database engine
  • cloud platform constraints

Nice to Have (but not required)

• Experience with:
  • Azure automation (PowerShell, ARM, Bicep, Terraform)
  • CI/CD patterns involving databases
  • compliance frameworks (HIPAA, SOC 2, etc.)
• Familiarity with:
  • performance testing
  • capacity forecasting
  • hybrid cloud environments