SQL DBA - Contractor

Job Title: Contract - SQL Database Administrator (DBA)

Location: Chicago, IL (60604) | On-site 4 days per week

Employment Type: Contract (Long Term w/ Option to Convert)

Check all associated application documentation thoroughly before clicking on the apply button at the bottom of this description.

Position Summary

This is a contract position responsible for the administration, performance, security, and reliability of the organization's SQL Server database environments, along with the design, execution, and monitoring of data load processes that bring data into SQL Server from upstream systems. Current upstream sources include AS/400 (IBM i) DB2, with additional systems such as ION expected to be added over time, and this role is expected to support a growing and evolving set of upstream data sources as the organization's integration needs expand.

Key Responsibilities

Database Administration

• Install, configure, and maintain SQL Server instances across development, test, and production environments.
• Monitor database health, performance, and capacity; tune queries, indexes, and server configuration to optimize performance.
• Design and maintain backup, recovery, and disaster recovery strategies; perform and test restores on a regular schedule.
• Manage database security, including user access, roles, permissions, and compliance with data governance and security policies.
• Plan and execute SQL Server upgrades, patching, and version migrations with minimal disruption to business operations.
• Set up and maintain high-availability and replication solutions (e.g., Always On Availability Groups, log shipping, replication) as needed.
• Troubleshoot and resolve database incidents, deadlocks, blocking, and performance bottlenecks; participate in on-call support rotation.
• Maintain documentation of database architecture, configurations, and standard operating procedures.

Data Integration & Load Management

• Design, build, and maintain data load and ETL/ELT processes that extract data from upstream systems, currently including AS/400 (IBM i) DB2, and load it into SQL Server.
• Support the onboarding of additional upstream data sources as they are introduced (e.g., ION), including analyzing source structures, designing new load processes, and integrating them into existing scheduling and monitoring frameworks.
• Monitor scheduled data load jobs (e.g., SSIS packages, scripts, scheduled tasks/agent jobs) to ensure timely, accurate, and complete data delivery across all upstream sources.
• Troubleshoot data load failures, connectivity issues between SQL Server and upstream systems, and data quality discrepancies.
• Coordinate with upstream system owners and business teams on data feed schedules, file formats, and changes to source data structures.
• Validate data integrity after loads, including reconciliation between source systems (e.g., AS/400 DB2, ION) and target (SQL Server) data.
• Maintain and improve documentation for data flows, source-to-target mappings, and job scheduling dependencies.
• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, or modernize existing data load processes.

Collaboration & Support

• Partner with the applications development team on database design reviews, deployment support, and production release coordination now that SQL development ownership has transitioned to that team.
• Provide guidance to developers on database best practices, indexing strategy, and query performance as a subject matter expert.
• Support audits and compliance reviews related to data access, retention, and security.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience administering Microsoft SQL Server in a production environment.
• Hands-on experience building and supporting data loads/ETL processes from AS/400 (IBM i) DB2 or similar legacy/upstream systems into SQL Server.
• Ability to learn and support new upstream source systems as they are added (e.g., ION), including understanding new data structures and connectivity methods.
• Strong understanding of SQL Server backup/recovery, security, performance tuning, and high-availability concepts.
• Experience with SSIS, scheduled jobs/SQL Server Agent, or comparable ETL/scheduling tooling.
• Working knowledge of SQL for troubleshooting and validation purposes (development ownership sits with the applications team, but reading/writing diagnostic queries is expected).
• Strong troubleshooting skills and ability to work independently under time-sensitive conditions (e.g., failed overnight loads).
• Experience with IBM DB2 for i, ODBC/JDBC connectivity, and AS/400 data structures.
• Familiarity with ION or similar integration/middleware platforms as a data source.
• Familiarity with PowerShell or another scripting language for automation of DBA and data load tasks.
• Experience with monitoring/alerting tools for database and job health.
• Microsoft certification (e.g., Azure Database Administrator Associate) or equivalent.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Primarily standard business hours, with occasional off-hours work required for maintenance windows, upgrades, or troubleshooting overnight data loads. xhyhwjd
• May participate in an on-call rotation for production database and data load support.