At a Glance
- Tasks: Administer and optimise SQL Server environments in a secure, mission-critical setting.
- Company: Join a leading tech firm focused on public sector operations.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Onsite role near Reading with excellent career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a dynamic environment while enhancing your DBA skills.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of SQL Server experience and strong problem-solving abilities.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Location: Near Reading, Berkshire (Onsite)
Contract: 6 months
Start Date: December 2026
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: Active DV clearance Required
Working Pattern: Full Time, Onsite Reading
We are seeking an experienced Senior SQL Server Database Administrator to join a highly secure, business-critical environment supporting critical public sector operations.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced DBA to work within a complex enterprise estate, providing second and third-line support across production, pre-production and development environments. You will play a key role in maintaining, securing, optimising and modernising SQL Server platforms ranging from SQL Server 2012 through to SQL Server 2022.
The Role
You will be responsible for supporting and administering mission-critical SQL Server environments, ensuring high levels of availability, performance, security and resilience.
Key responsibilities include:
- Administering and supporting SQL Server production, pre-production and development environments.
- Leading database incident resolution, root cause analysis and problem management activities.
- Delivering SQL Server patching, upgrades and migration projects.
- Managing high availability and disaster recovery solutions.
- Designing, implementing and testing backup and recovery procedures.
- Proactively monitoring and tuning database performance.
- Supporting application and development teams with deployments and releases.
- Maintaining database security, auditing and compliance standards.
- Producing technical documentation, operational procedures and runbooks.
- Driving automation, standardisation and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Working within ITIL-aligned change, release and configuration management processes.
Essential Experience
- Minimum 5 years' experience supporting SQL Server in business-critical production environments.
- Minimum 3 years' experience in a dedicated SQL Server DBA position.
- Experience supporting mixed SQL Server estates from SQL Server 2012 through to SQL Server 2022.
- Strong expertise in:
- SQL Server Administration
- T-SQL
- PowerShell
- Database Performance Tuning
- Capacity Planning
- SQL Server Security
- Extensive experience with:
- Always On Availability Groups
- Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC)
- Failover Cluster Instances (FCI)
- Replication
- Log Shipping
- Database Mirroring
- Backup and Recovery
- Disaster Recovery Testing
- Experience using monitoring tools such as SCOM, Redgate SQL Monitor or SolarWinds DPA.
- Strong understanding of Active Directory, DNS, Kerberos/SPNs and Windows Server environments.
- Experience working within ITIL Incident, Problem and Change Management frameworks.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Desirable Skills
- SSIS, SSRS and SSAS
- Azure SQL and Managed Instance
- Azure Arc
- Oracle, PostgreSQL or MySQL
- SQL Server on Linux
- VMware and EMC SAN
- Azure DevOps, SSDT, Git and Ansible
- CyberArk
- CIS Benchmark security hardening
- Defence, Government or secure environment experience
- DP-300 Certification
- ITIL Foundation Certification
Security Requirements
Applicants must hold active DV Security Clearance which must be transferable prior to commencement.
If you receive suspicious outreach claiming to be from us, please contact us via the ManpowerGroup website.
We’re Hiring: SQL DBA (DV) employer: Experis It
As a Cloud Security Engineer at our Knutsford location, you will join a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to driving secure digital transformation. We offer a hybrid work model that promotes work-life balance, alongside competitive rates and opportunities for professional growth in a supportive environment. Our culture fosters collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring that you can thrive while making a meaningful impact on our cloud security capabilities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land We’re Hiring: SQL DBA (DV)
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Experis It or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
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✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Experis It.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Experis It that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace We’re Hiring: SQL DBA (DV)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Experis It.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Experis It and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Experis It
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Experis It uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
