Lead Senior SQL Database Administrator

Lead Senior SQL Database Administrator

*** A government contract requires that this position be restricted to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. You must provide documentation that you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident to qualify ***

SUMMARY
Cherokee Federal is building mission-critical data platforms that power federal, healthcare, and financial programs. We need a seasoned Lead SQL Senior Database Administrator to lead enterprise SQL Server and Azure data solutions with high availability, performance, and resiliency. You will architect, implement, and operate large-scale environments, guide standards and policy, and collaborate across teams to deliver secure, reliable, and compliant services.

Compensation & Benefits:

Estimated Starting Salary Range for Senior SQL Database Administrator: $125,000 - $145,000

Pay commensurate with experience.

Full time benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, and other possible benefits as provided. Benefits are subject to change with or without notice.

Position requires one day onsite located in Herndon, VA

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Architect, design, and administer enterprise SQL Server environments (2016/2019/2022), including Always On Availability Groups, Failover Clustering, Replication, and Log Shipping.
* Lead high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) strategy, including planning, testing, automation, and execution; maintain DR runbooks and recovery objectives.
* Design and support end-to-end database solutions for mission-critical applications; provide guidance on modernization and migration initiatives.
* Install, upgrade, and manage SQL Server Engine, SSIS, SSRS, and SSAS; optimize performance for large-scale databases using indexing strategies, partitioning, compression, and backup/restore tuning.
* Implement and maintain Microsoft security patches, cumulative updates, and version upgrades to ensure platform stability and compliance.
* Define and enforce data engineering standards, design patterns, and operational procedures; automate provisioning and configuration using PowerShell, DSC, or equivalent tooling.
* Improve operational efficiency through enhanced monitoring, observability, capacity planning, and performance tuning.
* Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into secure, scalable database architectures with strong HA/DR posture.
* Govern security and networking controls across data platforms, including Azure Storage, private endpoints, virtual networks, and database-integrated applications.
* Support hybrid and cloud data services including Azure SQL, Managed Instance, Cosmos DB, and other NoSQL platforms.
* Provide technical leadership to DBA Operations and Engineering teams; mentor staff, set priorities, and drive continuous improvement.
* Produce clear documentation including architectures, diagrams, DR plans, migration strategies, and standard operating procedures.
* Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders; deliver high-quality work with attention to detail.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

* Relevant certifications:
o Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900), Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Database Administrator (DP-300)
o Microsoft SQL Server certifications (2016+); legacy certifications may be considered with relevant experience
o CompTIA A+ or Network+
* NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator (optional based on environment)
* Experience with Azure data services (Azure SQL, Managed Instance, Storage Accounts, Cosmos DB, VNET integration, private endpoints).
* Experience supporting application platforms requiring SQL back-end integration (e.g., SharePoint 2016+ or equivalent).
* Knowledge of data warehousing and BI platform operations.
* Experience with security hardening, encryption, auditing, and compliance frameworks (NIST, FedRAMP, HIPAA, PCI, etc.).
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology preferred; equivalent experience accepted.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

* 7+ years of hands-on experience administering large-scale SQL Server environments (2016+), including VLDB performance engineering.
* Deep expertise with HA/DR technologies (Always On AGs, Failover Clustering, Log Shipping; replication as appropriate).
* Strong experience with SSIS, SSRS, SSAS deployment and performance tuning.
* Demonstrated ability to design enterprise database architectures and capacity plans for mission-critical workloads.
* High proficiency in automation and configuration management (PowerShell, DSC, or similar).
* Experience working in regulated industries (government, financial, healthcare) with strong understanding of auditing, compliance, and security requirements.
* Solid understanding of networking, security, and identity concepts relevant to data platforms (firewalls, NSGs, VNETs, authentication, encryption).
* Excellent communication, documentation, and leadership abilities.

Company Information:

Cherokee Nation Management and Consulting (CNIH) provides support, services, and solutions to federal and commercial customers. The company takes a personalized approach to solving our clients' toughest challenges, helping you make the most of your skills. CNIH is part of Cherokee Federal, a team of tribally owned federal contracting companies. For more information, visit cherokee-federal.com.

#CherokeeFederal #LI-Hybrid #LI-RG1

Similar Searchable Job Titles:

• Senior SQL Server Administrator
• SQL Server DBA (Senior / Lead)
• Database Administrator Team Lead
• Senior Database Engineer
• Senior Systems Administrator (SQL)
• SQL Server Infrastructure Engineer
• SQL Server Operations Engineer
• Database Platform Engineer
• SQL Server Architect

Keywords:

• Azure SQL Administrator
• Azure Database Administrator
• Azure Database Engineer
• Cloud Database Systems Administrator
• Hybrid Cloud SQL Engineer
• High Availability Engineer (SQL)
• Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE)
• SQL Performance Engineer
• Enterprise SQL Administrator
• SQL Server Engineer (Federal)
• Mission-Critical Systems Administrator

Legal Disclaimer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability or any other status protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Many of our job openings require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.