At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and optimise databases for performance and scalability in a dynamic remote environment.
- Company: Join Black Rainbow, a leader in innovative case management solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible hours, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on software that improves lives globally.
- Qualifications: 8+ years DBA experience with strong SQL Server and Azure skills.
- Other info: Be part of a passionate team dedicated to continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: UK (remotely from home)
Employment Type: Full Time
Minimum Experience: 8 years relevant experience
Compensation: Competitive
Black Rainbow is looking for a Senior Database Architect to join the growing Product Engineering team, with strong experience in optimising architecture, performance, and maintainability of the database underpinning our complex multi‑tier applications.
Who We Are
BlackRainbow was created to solve Investigation Case Management inefficiencies faced by investigators across Law Enforcement, Government Intelligence, and large enterprise organisations. Since launching our NIMBUS product, we have scaled rapidly and are establishing ourselves as the global standard for innovative, intelligence‑driven case management solutions. Our team brings decades of experience working with investigators in over forty countries, enabling us to understand real‑world investigative challenges and build software that genuinely improves how people work.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a Senior Database Architect who combines deep database expertise with strong communication skills and an ability to work closely with development teams and customers. This role is central to optimising the architecture, performance, and maintainability of the databases underpinning our complex multi‑tier applications. We’re looking for a true DBA specialist - not just a developer with SQL knowledge - but someone with proven experience designing scalable architectures, solving complex SQL performance problems, and guiding customers through best practices across both cloud and on‑prem deployments.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, configure, and optimise our Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL databases for scalability, performance, resilience, and cost‑efficiency.
- Improve existing database architecture, indexing strategies, and schema design to support both SaaS and on‑prem installations.
- Investigate and resolve complex SQL issues including slow queries, blocking, deadlocks, and execution‑plan inefficiencies.
- Work with different ways the application interacts with the database, including:
- .NET Core Entity Framework
- Stored procedures
- Custom SQL generation
Collaboration With Development Teams
- Work daily with our agile product & engineering teams to ensure tight integration between application logic and underlying data structures.
- Participate in code reviews, database change reviews, and architectural discussions.
- Support integration tests using Docker‑based database instances.
- Contribute to deployment processes using dacpacs, bacpacs, and established database‑change pipelines (MS Devops).
- Engage in the full “end‑to‑end” story lifecycle to ensure database considerations are included from design through to delivery.
- Attend daily standup with whole team.
Customer Advisory & Support
- Act as a trusted technical advisor for customers and partners, helping them diagnose issues, optimise configurations, and adopt best practices.
- Investigate database performance and maintenance issues (sometimes without direct access) using logs, telemetry, exported data, and customer‑provided information.
- Guide customers on security, data management, maintenance routines, and long‑term optimisation strategies.
- Feed insights from customer environments back into the core product to drive continuous improvement.
- Advise customers on database sizing and growth planning, including capacity forecasting, storage optimisation, and ensuring deployments are appropriately scaled for current and future workloads.
Monitoring & Operational Excellence
- Develop and enhance monitoring strategies across SQL Server and Azure SQL, including:
- Query performance
- Index usage and fragmentation analysis
- AppInsights analysis
- Deadlock analysis
- Execution‑plan evaluation
- Track cost indicators (particularly in Azure) to recommend efficient storage and compute configurations.
Essential Requirements
- Eligible to work in the UK (no sponsorship available).
- Able to meet vetting requirements for Security Clearance (SC) and NPPV3.
- 8+ years hands‑on DBA experience within large and complex systems.
- Expert‑level knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL.
- Experience supporting multi‑tier architectures (databases, app servers, web, mobile).
- Highly proficient in performance optimisation: indexing strategies, execution‑plan analysis, deadlock resolution, and efficient SQL design.
- Familiarity with DevOps concepts and agile/scrum delivery environments.
- Ability to interpret and optimise SQL generated by .NET Entity Framework Core, including understanding how LINQ expressions translate into database queries.
- Experience working with SQL Server Database Projects in Visual Studio, including contributing to schema changes as part of a larger C# application.
- Experience designing and optimising granular, SQL‑level permission models, ensuring that complex security predicates perform efficiently at scale.
- Experience managing storage, cost optimisation, and monitoring in Azure.
- Strong understanding of database access security, roles, and complex permission schemes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication; able to document changes and explain decisions clearly.
- Strong teamwork skills and ability to be customer‑facing when required.
- Solid understanding of software architecture and how database design impacts application behaviour.
- Ability to work in a fast‑moving, dynamic, agile environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent professional experience.
Desirable Requirements
- Experience with multi‑tenant database solutions.
- Experience working with encrypted datasets.
- Knowledge of PostgreSQL.
- Exposure to AWS S3.
- Experience with Power BI (helpful, but not essential).
WHY JOIN BLACKRAINBOW?
BlackRainbow is ambitious, driven and deeply cares about the ability to make a difference to people’s lives with our software. Be a part of our team as we scale up.
Some Of Our Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Fully remote working
- Flexible working hours
- 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
- Pension
- Private healthcare (including family cover)
- Training and professional development support
If you have the skills and experience plus the drive and ambition to be successful in this role, please apply via the BambooHR link.
Senior Database Architect (Remote - UK) in London employer: Black Rainbow
Contact Detail:
Black Rainbow Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Database Architect (Remote - UK) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or other platforms. Let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior Database Architect role. You never know who might have a lead or can put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your SQL skills and database architecture knowledge. Practice common interview questions and scenarios related to performance optimisation and troubleshooting. We want you to shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to showcase your soft skills! Communication is key, especially when working with development teams and customers. Be ready to discuss how you've effectively collaborated in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining Black Rainbow and being part of our mission to improve case management solutions.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Database Architect (Remote - UK) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your experience with database architecture and performance optimisation. Use keywords from the job description to show we’re on the same page!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Database Architect role. Share specific examples of your past work that align with our needs, especially around SQL performance and multi-tier architectures.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves working closely with teams and customers, don’t forget to demonstrate your communication skills in your application. We want to see how you can explain complex concepts clearly!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you get the best chance to shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Black Rainbow
✨Know Your Databases Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL. Be ready to discuss your experience with performance optimisation, indexing strategies, and how you've tackled complex SQL issues in the past. This role demands a true DBA specialist, so showcasing your deep expertise is key!
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this position involves working closely with development teams and customers, it's crucial to demonstrate your strong communication skills. Prepare examples of how you've effectively collaborated with others, advised clients, or resolved issues. Being able to explain technical concepts clearly will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Real-World Scenarios
Expect to be asked about specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially regarding database architecture and performance. Think of scenarios where you've improved existing systems or solved complex problems. Having concrete examples ready will help you illustrate your capabilities.
✨Understand the Company’s Mission
Familiarise yourself with Black Rainbow's mission and their NIMBUS product. Understanding their focus on solving inefficiencies in investigation case management will allow you to align your answers with their goals. Show that you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to their vision.