[Hiring] Database Administrator @Winmill Software

Role Description

We are looking for a talented Database Administrator with strong Microsoft SQL Server and cloud database experience to support a 3-month migration project from an on-premises SQL Server environment to Amazon RDS for SQL Server.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

• Helping plan, execute, and validate a secure and reliable database migration with minimal downtime and no data loss.
• Working closely with engineering teams and the client throughout the migration.
• Assessing the existing SQL Server environment and planning the migration strategy.
• Executing the cutover and supporting the stabilization period.
• Contributing to database performance, security, backup, and disaster recovery practices.

If you enjoy solving complex database challenges, working on critical migration projects, and collaborating closely with technical teams and clients, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional experience as a Database Administrator managing Microsoft SQL Server in production environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft SQL Server, including administration, performance tuning, T-SQL, backups, recovery, and security.
• Hands-on experience with Amazon RDS for SQL Server or a comparable managed cloud database service.
• Practical experience with AWS Database Migration Service (DMS), AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT), or similar database migration tools.
• Strong T-SQL skills, including writing and optimizing queries, stored procedures, and indexes.
• Experience developing and implementing backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies.
• Familiarity with AWS services such as EC2, VPC, security groups, IAM, and CloudWatch.
• Experience planning and executing production database migrations with minimal downtime.
• Strong understanding of database performance, availability, security, and data integrity.
• Strong documentation skills, including migration plans, runbooks, technical documentation, and post-migration reports.
• Strong communication, collaboration, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

Requirements

• Assess the existing on-premises Microsoft SQL Server environment, including databases, instances, dependencies, jobs, integrations, and data volumes.
• Develop and maintain a detailed database migration plan, including timelines, dependencies, testing, cutover, and rollback procedures.
• Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) or similar migration technologies to migrate database schemas and data to Amazon RDS for SQL Server.
• Design and execute a low-downtime production cutover strategy, including full-load migration, CDC replication, validation, and rollback planning.
• Validate data integrity and application connectivity before and after migration using row counts, checksums, smoke tests, and other appropriate validation methods.
• Coordinate application connection updates, DNS/endpoints, and production cutover activities with engineering teams.
• Monitor and troubleshoot database performance, availability, and connectivity throughout the migration.
• Perform SQL Server performance tuning, including indexing, query optimization, and execution plan analysis.
• Manage database backups, restores, disaster recovery processes, and recovery testing.
• Administer database security, including logins, roles, permissions, and encryption such as TDE.
• Monitor database health and configure appropriate alerting and monitoring, including Amazon CloudWatch after migration.
• Support developers with T-SQL, stored procedures, database changes, and performance-related issues.
• Document the target RDS architecture, migration processes, backup and disaster recovery procedures, and operational runbooks.
• Support the stabilization period after migration and address any database-related issues that arise.

Benefits

• 💵 Competitive USD Salary
• 🌍 100% Remote Work
• 🚀 Project-Focused Experience – Work on a critical cloud database migration project.
• 📈 Career Growth Opportunities – Expand your expertise across SQL Server, AWS, and cloud database technologies.
• 🤝 Collaborative Engineering Culture – Work closely with experienced engineers and client teams.
• 💻 Modern Cloud Technologies – Gain hands-on experience with Amazon RDS and AWS migration services.
• 👊 Team Building Activities – Join a company that values collaboration and connection.

Nice to Have

• AWS Certified Database – Specialty or AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification.
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate or equivalent SQL Server certification.
• Experience with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, log shipping, or replication.
• Previous experience leading or contributing to a complete on-premises-to-cloud database migration.
• Scripting and automation experience with PowerShell.
• Experience with Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, or other Infrastructure-as-Code tools.
• Experience provisioning and managing AWS RDS environments through Infrastructure-as-Code.
• Experience working directly with clients or in a consulting environment.