At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and optimise SQL Server databases across on-prem and Azure environments.
- Company: Established European food manufacturer with a focus on modernising IT infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, high-ownership role, and opportunities for career progression.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with significant investment in infrastructure and technology.
- Why this job: Be the technical authority in a dynamic environment with real influence over technology direction.
- Qualifications: 5+ years DBA experience, deep SQL Server knowledge, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
A senior-level DBA role within a large, multi-site European food manufacturing business requiring deep SQL Server specialism.
On-site role based in Rushmere, Craigavon with a salary of £50,000 - £60,000 per annum.
Be the technical authority for a business-critical SQL estate and help shape the infrastructure roadmap.
About the Company
Our client is a large, well-established European food manufacturing business operating across multiple sites at significant scale. Their IT Operations function is undergoing meaningful modernisation, with a clear roadmap to evolve their SQL environment from on-prem into the cloud.
This is a business where infrastructure professionals are given genuine ownership and are expected to influence technology direction.
The Role
This is a senior individual contributor position within the Infrastructure team, reporting to the Infrastructure Manager. You will be the technical escalation point for everything database-related, owning a complex, business-critical SQL Server estate spanning on-premises and Azure.
You will collaborate closely with development, architecture, and wider infrastructure teams, and will have a seat at the table when it comes to design authority decisions and technology strategy.
The right person brings deep SQL expertise, thrives with autonomy, and is comfortable translating complex technical issues for non-technical stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and proactively manage the full portfolio of SQL Server infrastructure across on-premises and Azure environments.
- Lead technical escalation for high-priority database incidents and complex problem records, driving root cause analysis and resolution.
- Design, implement and maintain high availability and disaster recovery solutions for SQL Server.
- Drive performance tuning and optimisation across the SQL estate, identifying and resolving bottlenecks proactively.
- Lead database security patch management, access management, and compliance with IT change control processes.
- Deliver migration of SQL workloads from on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL and Managed Instance using Data Migration tooling.
- Contribute to the Infrastructure Roadmap and Technology Strategy, participating in design authority reviews for IT programmes.
- Produce health check reports and service performance reviews, with practical recommendations for risk mitigation and improvement.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to colleagues across the database and infrastructure teams.
- Manage third-party vendor relationships for technical support, build and maintenance activities.
What You'll Need
Essential:
- Significant experience (5+ years) in a DBA or senior database infrastructure role within a medium to large organisation.
- Deep, expert-level knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server administration, including security patch management and access management.
- Proven experience with performance tuning and optimisation, backups, restores, and recovery models.
- Strong experience with High Availability and Disaster Recovery options for SQL Server (Always On, clustering, log shipping, etc.).
- Hands-on experience supporting Azure PaaS databases including Azure SQL and Managed Instance.
- Experience migrating SQL workloads to Azure SQL using Data Migration tooling.
- Ability to troubleshoot database connectivity issues relating to firewalls, proxy, and networking.
- Scripting capability using SQL cmd and PowerShell.
- Experience with SSRS, SSAS, and SSIS.
- Thorough working knowledge of ITIL principles and Incident, Change and Problem Management.
- Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex database issues into plain language for business stakeholders.
- Full right to work in the UK.
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Degree-level qualification, ITIL Foundation (v3 or above), or Prince2 Foundation.
- Microsoft or relevant vendor certification.
- Experience with budgetary or financial controls within a technology function.
Why Apply?
- £50,000 - £60,000 salary.
- A senior, high-ownership role with genuine influence over technology direction and the infrastructure roadmap.
- Work across a complex, business-critical SQL estate spanning on-prem and Azure.
- Be the escalation point and technical authority for a database team in a business that invests in its infrastructure.
- Stable, established business with significant scale across Europe.
- Collaborative IT Operations culture with strong internal progression opportunities.
Next Steps
If this sounds like the right move, get in touch with Luke directly or connect on LinkedIn. Send over your CV and we'll take it from there.
Database Administrator employer: Ocho
Join a dynamic and innovative digital consultancy that champions a remote-first work culture, offering exceptional benefits such as a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a commitment to professional development. With a focus on quality and collaboration, you'll thrive in an environment that values your expertise and provides the autonomy to shape QA processes while working on complex, multi-component systems alongside a talented team in Northern Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Database Administrator
✨Tap into Local Tech Meetups
Get yourself to local tech meetups or database management conferences. It's a really great way to meet industry professionals and potentially uncover unadvertised full-time roles. When chatting with people, mention your skills and interests in database management; you never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects can not only sharpen your database skills but also get you noticed by employers. Many companies look for candidates who actively contribute to projects – it shows initiative and a real passion for the field. Plus, it's a perfect excuse to connect with other developers and expand your professional network.
✨Utilise Professional Bodies
Sign up for professional bodies related to database management, like the British Computer Society. They often host events and networking opportunities that can lead directly to job openings in the full-time market. Plus, it adds a nice touch to your professional profile!
✨Showcase Your Skills in a Public Portfolio
As you’re on the hunt for that full-time role, make sure to have a public portfolio that displays your best database projects. This can easily set you apart from the competition. And when you apply for roles, definitely mention it – it shows employers you mean business and are proud of your work!
We think you need these skills to ace Database Administrator
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your database skills:When applying for a full-time role in database management, it’s super important to highlight your skills with specific database technologies like SQL, NoSQL, or any relevant data visualisation tools. We want to see how you've used these tools in real projects, so don't shy away from detailing your hands-on experience!
Tailor your CV for data:Make sure your CV is structured clearly, focusing on your previous experience in database management. Use specific metrics to demonstrate your impact, like how you improved data retrieval times or reduced errors. This isn't just about what you've done; it’s about what you’ve achieved with your skills!
Craft a compelling cover letter:In your cover letter, share what excites you about database management and how you can contribute to Ocho. Mention any relevant projects where you tackled challenges or implemented new solutions. Let us know why you want to join our team and how your passion aligns with our goals.
Document your projects:If you've worked on interesting database projects—maybe during your studies or in previous roles—be sure to include those in your application. If you can, link to a portfolio or GitHub repo where we can see examples of your work. Having a tangible showcase of your skills will really make your application stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Brush Up on Database Tools
Make sure you're well-versed with popular database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. Incorporating real-world examples of how you've used these tools in past projects will show that you can put theory into practice, which is something Ocho will definitely appreciate.
✨Know Your SQL Inside Out
Get ready for some technical questions focused on SQL queries and database design. We should anticipate coding challenges where you might need to optimise queries or design a database schema on the spot. Practising these problems will build our confidence to impress in the interview.
✨Demonstrate Problem-Solving Skills
Besides just technical know-how, be prepared to answer scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Think about how you would approach data integrity issues or handle performance bottlenecks — Ocho will want to see your analytical side!
✨Show Your Collaboration Spirit
Since this is a full-time role, it's crucial to highlight how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams or contributed to team projects in the past. Emphasising our interpersonal skills will demonstrate that you’re not just a tech wizard, but also a team player who fits well with Ocho's culture.
