Database Architect

Title: Database Architect

Location: Halifax, CA (Remote)

Type: Contract

Database Architecture & Design:

• Design and implement scalable, secure, and high-performance database architectures.
• Create and maintain logical and physical data models.
• Define database standards, naming conventions, and best practices.
• Optimize database schema design for OLTP and reporting workloads.
• Collaborate with application architects and development teams to design efficient data solutions.
• Database Development

Develop and optimize:

• Tables
• Views
• Stored Procedures
• Functions
• Triggers
• Review and improve existing database code for maintainability and performance.
• Implement database versioning and deployment strategies.
• Performance Tuning & Troubleshooting
• Analyze and resolve database performance issues.
• Monitor execution plans and identify bottlenecks.
• Optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, and indexing strategies.
• Troubleshoot blocking, deadlocks, I/O bottlenecks, and resource contention issues.
• Conduct root cause analysis for database incidents.
• Indexing & Partitioning
• Design and maintain effective indexing strategies.
• Identify missing, duplicated, and unused indexes.
• Implement table and index partitioning for large-scale databases.
• Optimize data archival and retention strategies.
• High Availability & Disaster Recovery
• Support SQL Server Always On Availability Groups.
• Design backup, recovery, and disaster recovery solutions.
• Ensure database availability and business continuity requirements are met.
• Monitoring & Governance
• Implement database monitoring and health checks.
• Establish database security, auditing, and compliance standards.
• Perform capacity planning and growth forecasting.
• Ensure adherence to data governance standards.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Technical Skills
• 10+ years of experience working with Microsoft SQL Server.

Strong expertise in:

• SQL Server 2016/2019/2022
• T-SQL Development
• Database Schema Design
• Data Modeling (ER diagrams, normalization, denormalization)
• Stored Procedures, Functions, Views, Triggers
• Query Optimization and Execution Plans
• Index Design and Maintenance
• Table and Index Partitioning
• SQL Server Performance Tuning
• Database Security and Encryption
• Backup and Recovery Strategies
• Always On Availability Groups
• Performance & Troubleshooting Expertise

Deep understanding of:

• Wait Statistics
• Query Store
• Dynamic Management Views (DMVs)
• Extended Events
• SQL Profiler (legacy environments)
• Memory and CPU tuning
• Blocking and deadlock analysis
• Preferred Skills
• Experience with Azure SQL Database and Azure Managed Instance.
• Knowledge of SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS.
• Experience with CI/CD and DevOps for database deployments.
• Familiarity with PowerShell scripting and automation.
• Experience supporting large databases (multi-TB environments).

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field