At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage a large SQL Server estate and ensure high availability and performance.
- Company: Established organisation with a strong commitment to technology and infrastructure.
- Benefits: Salary between £50,000 - £60,000, plus opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with structured processes and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Take ownership of critical SQL environments and influence technology strategy.
- Qualifications: 5 years of experience in MS SQL Server DBA role and expert-level SQL knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Senior SQL Server DBA role with ownership of a large-scale estate spanning 170 servers across live, test and dev environments. Deep technical focus across high availability, disaster recovery, performance tuning and Azure cloud. On-site position. Salary: £50,000 - £60,000.
Excellent opportunity to take expert ownership of a complex, business-critical SQL environment within an established, large-scale organisation.
About the Company:
Our client is a large, operationally driven organisation with a well-established IT Operations function and a clear infrastructure roadmap. Their SQL estate is extensive, spanning on-premise and Azure environments, and plays a critical role in the day-to-day running of the business. They invest seriously in their technology landscape and are actively modernising, giving the incoming DBA genuine scope to influence how things are done.
The Role:
Reporting to the Infrastructure Manager, you will be the subject matter expert for all things SQL Server across a substantial estate of 170 servers. This is a hands-on technical role with real breadth: from cluster management and replication to performance tuning, capacity planning and Azure migration. You will work closely with application, infrastructure and business teams, acting as the escalation point for high-priority incidents and providing guidance to colleagues across the department. If you thrive in a complex, high-stakes environment and want genuine ownership of a critical technology domain, this role is for you.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and proactively manage the full SQL Server estate, including installation, upgrade, patching and migration across clustered and standalone environments.
- Configure and maintain Always On high availability, SQL Server clustering and replication environments.
- Lead incident and problem management for all SQL-related issues, performing root cause analysis and delivering right-first-time resolution.
- Drive performance tuning, query optimisation, index and statistics management across the estate.
- Manage backup, restore and disaster recovery processes, including regular DR testing.
- Maintain the in-house data warehouse running on SQL Server 2019 and oversee ETL processes.
- Build and maintain job automation to track and record activity across SQL servers for diagnostics and historical analysis.
- Enforce DBA team standards including security strategies, login management and database integrity policies.
- Represent the SQL estate in the change control process, advising on upgrades, new services and retirements.
- Conduct capacity planning and produce health check reports with recommendations for risk mitigation.
- Support Azure PaaS databases including Azure SQL and Managed Instance, including data migration from on-prem SQL Server.
- Provide out-of-hours and on-call support for SQL-related incidents.
What You'll Need:
Essential:
- 5 years in an MS SQL Server DBA role within a medium to large organisation.
- Expert-level knowledge of SQL Server and 2019 across Enterprise, Standard and Express editions.
- Hands-on experience with Always On high availability, SQL Server clustering and replication.
- Strong background in performance tuning, query optimisation and index and statistics management.
- Solid experience with backup, restore and disaster recovery planning and testing.
- Proficiency in PowerShell scripting and SQL command scripting.
- Experience with SSIS and ETL processes.
- Working knowledge of Azure SQL and Managed Instance, including data migration tooling.
- Right to work in the UK.
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Experience with SSRS and SSAS.
- ITIL Foundation certification (v3 or above).
- Microsoft SQL Server certification.
Why Apply?
- Salary of £50,000 - £60,000.
- A large, complex SQL estate that will genuinely stretch and develop your technical skills.
- Real ownership and autonomy as the SQL subject matter expert for the business.
- Opportunity to input into the technology strategy and shape the future SQL roadmap.
- Stable, established employer with a serious commitment to infrastructure investment.
- Collaborative team culture with structured change control and ITIL-aligned ways of working.
Next Steps:
Interested? Connect with Luke on LinkedIn or send your CV directly to . We'd love to hear from you.
Database Administrator in London employer: Workcircle
At Rolls-Royce, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the aerospace industry, offering a dynamic work culture that values individuality and innovation. Our Derby location provides a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects like Test Bed 80, with ample training and growth opportunities for both experienced and early career engineers. With a comprehensive benefits package and a commitment to inclusivity, joining Rolls-Royce means becoming part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to shaping the future of aerospace technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Database Administrator in London
✨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 in London
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 Workcircle. 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 Workcircle
✨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 Workcircle 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 — Workcircle 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 Workcircle's culture.
