At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop high-quality T-SQL for critical business applications.
- Company: Join Davies Turner, a leading UK freight forwarder with a family-owned legacy.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 27 days holiday, private healthcare, and training opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a growing tech team while enhancing your database skills.
- Qualifications: Strong SQL Server experience and problem-solving skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
Davies Turner is hiring a SQL Server Database Developer to join our IT Development team in Dartford.
Location: Dartford, Kent (Hybrid working)
Salary: Competitive
Job Type: Full - Time, Permanent
Hours: Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours per week
Deadline: 31 May 2026 at 17:30
A little about Davies Turner Group: Davies Turner Plc is a British based multimodal freight forwarder specialising in logistics, e-commerce and warehousing. As one of the largest independent freight forwarding companies in the UK, we manage freight from around the world, by road and rail, through the air and across the oceans. The business remains family owned and was founded in 1870 with 19 branches across the U.K. Our turnover is in excess of £225 million and rapidly growing with nearly 1,000 colleagues.
The Role: We are expanding our IT Development capability at Davies Turner and are looking for a talented SQL Server Database Developer to join our growing team. This is a new role, created as part of our continued investment in technology and systems. You will play a key role in designing, building, and improving database solutions that underpin our business-critical applications and integrations. The role is focused on database development and performance, working closely with application and integration teams in a collaborative environment. This role is primarily development focused (database code, schema, data design, performance), with enough operational awareness to work safely in a production environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, develop and maintain high-quality T-SQL including stored procedures, views, functions, tables, and indexes
- Proactively analyse and resolve database performance bottlenecks using execution plans, indexing strategies, and query refactoring
- Optimise high-volume transactional queries, reporting workloads, and data integration jobs
- Design and support scalable database patterns suitable for high-availability environments
- Support application and integration development through all stages of delivery
- Support and promote controlled database changes across Development, Test, and Production environments
- Work closely with CI/CD or release processes to version database scripts, coordinate deployment sequencing, and reduce release risk
- Ensure database changes are repeatable, auditable, and rollback-ready
- Diagnose and resolve complex database-related incidents including failed deployments, data inconsistencies, and performance degradation
- Support restore, recovery, and synchronisation activities in coordination with DBA teams or managed service partners
- Contribute to improving database standards and documentation
You: You will be hardworking and enthusiastic, a self-learner with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You will be able to prioritise, plan and organise your work effectively, work well independently and as part of a team, communicate clearly, and build effective relationships with stakeholders.
Essential:
- Strong experience as a SQL Server Database Developer in a production environment (typically 5 years)
- Excellent T-SQL skills including performance tuning and optimisation
- Solid understanding of relational database design principles
- Experience supporting controlled database changes across multiple environments
- Proven ability to analyse and resolve complex database performance and data issues
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Desirable:
- Experience working alongside application development teams
- Exposure to high-availability or resilient SQL Server environments
- Familiarity with database deployment, version control, or monitoring tools
In addition, you will also need the right to work in the UK - we are not able to sponsor work permits.
Benefits:
- Up to 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Life Cover
- Profit related pay
- Defined contribution pension scheme
- Discounted store/shopping benefit scheme
- Private Healthcare
- Car Parking
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Training opportunities
To apply for this exciting SQL Server Database Developer opportunity, please click ‘Apply’ now.
SQL Server Database Developer employer: Davies Turner
Davies Turner is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Dartford where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, the company provides extensive training opportunities, competitive benefits including up to 27 days of holiday, private healthcare, and a supportive culture that values teamwork and individual contributions. As a family-owned business with a rich history, Davies Turner fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the logistics sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SQL Server Database Developer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Davies Turner on LinkedIn or other platforms. A friendly chat can give us insights into the company culture and maybe even a referral!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your T-SQL skills. We should be ready to discuss our past projects and how we tackled performance issues. Real examples will make us stand out!
✨Tip Number 3
Show off our problem-solving skills! Be ready to tackle hypothetical scenarios during the interview. Think about how we would optimise queries or resolve database incidents.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can tailor our submission to highlight our SQL Server expertise directly.
We think you need these skills to ace SQL Server Database Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the SQL Server Database Developer role. Highlight your T-SQL skills and any experience with performance tuning and optimisation. We want to see how your background fits with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about database development and how your skills can contribute to our team at Davies Turner. Keep it concise but impactful!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, don’t forget to mention specific examples of how you've tackled complex database issues in the past. We love seeing candidates who can think critically and resolve challenges effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Davies Turner
✨Know Your T-SQL Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your T-SQL skills before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience with stored procedures, views, and performance tuning. Practising some common queries and optimisation techniques can really help you stand out.
✨Understand Database Design Principles
Familiarise yourself with relational database design principles. Be prepared to explain how you've applied these in past projects. This shows that you not only know how to code but also understand the underlying architecture of databases.
✨Showcase Problem-Solving Skills
Think of specific examples where you've diagnosed and resolved complex database issues. Whether it’s performance bottlenecks or data inconsistencies, having a few stories ready will demonstrate your analytical skills and experience.
✨Be Ready for Collaboration Questions
Since this role involves working closely with application and integration teams, be prepared to discuss your experience in collaborative environments. Highlight any past experiences where teamwork led to successful project outcomes.
